Sightseeing

Hoa Lo Prison Museum

Hanoi · Vietnam

Hoa Lo Prison Museum is a cultural institution , housing collections and exhibitions documenting the heritage, history, or artistic achievements of the region. Visitors can explore thoughtfully curated displays offering insights into the cultural and historical life of this destination.

View in Google Maps →Start planning Vietnam

Share this place

Map explore

Explore this place

Hanoi · Vietnam

Places to stop

Nearby places

Food

Quan An Ngon Hanoi

Quán Ăn Ngon is one of Hanoi's most enjoyable and genuinely Vietnamese dining experiences, conceived as a covered village market that brings together the best street food dishes from across Vietnam under one roof in a colonial-era villa near Hoan Kiem Lake. Around the perimeter of the central courtyard, individual stalls staffed by specialist cooks prepare bánh cuốn, bún bò Huế, bánh xèo, nem cuốn, and dozens of other regional specialties to order, creating a self-curated Vietnamese food tour without leaving a single address. The atmosphere is festive, the portions generous, and the quality consistently high — making Ngon one of the most effective ways for first-time visitors to sample the breadth of Vietnamese regional cuisine.

Hanoi · Vietnam

Transport

Hanoi Train Station

Hanoi Train Station — known locally as Ga Hà Nội — is the main railway terminus of the Vietnamese capital, serving as the northern terminus of the Reunification Express, the 1,726 km line connecting Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City in approximately 35 hours. The station also handles services to the northern border town of Lào Cai (the gateway to Sapa), Haiphong on the coast, and connections into southern China via Dong Dang. The colonial-era station building, dating to the French period, is a handsome piece of tropical railway architecture on Tran Hung Dao Street, conveniently located for hotels in the French Quarter and the western edge of the Old Quarter.

Hanoi · Vietnam

Food

Bun Cha Huong Lien

Bún Chả Hương Liên in Hanoi gained worldwide fame when President Obama dined here with Anthony Bourdain in 2016. This popular Vietnamese restaurant specializes in bún chả—grilled pork patties in sweet-savory broth served with vermicelli noodles and fresh herbs. Now a pilgrimage site for food lovers worldwide, it preserves the authentic home-style Hanoi flavors that made it internationally famous.

Hanoi · Vietnam

Lodging

Capella Hanoi

Capella Hanoi opened in 2021 as one of the most architecturally ambitious luxury hotels in Vietnam, occupying a heritage building on Ly Thai To Street in the French Quarter that was originally a private opera house and private club. The 47 suites are dramatically theatrical — Gilles & Boissier's design layers art deco furniture, Vietnamese lacquerwork, velvet drapes, and curated antiques to create rooms that feel more like film sets than hotel rooms, each telling a story of Hanoi's multicultural past. Capella's restaurants, including the basement jazz club and rooftop bar, draw heavily from the building's musical history, and the hotel's positioning as a cultural institution as much as a place to sleep makes it one of the most memorable new hotel openings in Southeast Asia.

Hanoi · Vietnam

Sightseeing

Temple of Literature Van Mieu

Temple of Literature Van Mieu is a significant religious and cultural site , attracting both worshippers and cultural visitors. The site's architectural beauty and spiritual heritage make it an important landmark reflecting the region's religious traditions and historical character. A meaningful place for cultural exploration and quiet contemplation.

Hanoi · Vietnam

Sightseeing

Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the Returned Sword) is the spiritual and geographic heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter, a tranquil lake steeped in Vietnamese legend. According to folklore, Emperor Lê Lợi returned a magical sword to a golden turtle here after using it to drive out Chinese invaders. The Ngọc Sơn Temple on a small island, reached by the scarlet Huc Bridge, is a daily pilgrimage for Hanoians.

Hanoi · Vietnam

Discover places worth the detour

Destination

Vietnam

Vietnam enchants travelers with its emerald limestone karsts, bustling floating markets, and exquisite regional cuisine. From the historic charm of Hanoi's Old

Vietnam

Travel guides

Ho Chi Minh City Contemporary Culture Guide 2026: Art Scene, War History & Mekong Delta

Your complete 2026 guide to Ho Chi Minh City: from the War Remnants Museum and Reunification Palace to the thriving contemporary art scene, French colonial arch

7 days

Inspiration trips

4-Day Hanoi & Halong Bay: Highlights of Vietnam Tour

The Perfect Introductory Itinerary for Vietnam: Explore Hanoi’s ancient temples and street food culture, take a boat tour of Halong Bay’s limestone peaks, and g

4 days · Easy

Events

Hoi An Lantern Festival

Hoi An Lantern Festival is a monthly cultural tradition held on the 14th day of the lunar month in Hoi An’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. As electric lights are switc

Date pending official confirmation

Inspiration trips

Guide to Driving in Northern Vietnam

Road Trip Itinerary

10 days · Easy

Events

Lunar New Year

In Vietnam, Lunar New Year is known as Tết, the country’s most important cultural celebration. It welcomes spring on the first day of the first Vietnamese lunis

Date pending official confirmation