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Hanoi Travel Guide

A personalized travel guide for Hanoi, tailored to your interests.

📍 Hanoi, Vietnam

This route is optimized by LonelyRoad's traffic data and community feedback from solo travelers who have explored Hanoi. All recommendations are verified by our community.

🎯 Suggested Activities

Curated activities based on LonelyRoad community recommendations

🍜

Old Quarter Street Food Adventure

Navigate narrow streets sampling authentic bun cha, banh mi, and egg coffee while soaking in the chaotic energy of Hanoi's heart.

Location: Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Best Time: Evening (6-9 PM)

Duration: 3-4 hours

Price: $

🏍️

Ha Giang Loop Multi-Day Motorcycle Adventure

Epic 3-4 day motorbike journey through Vietnam's most dramatic mountain scenery, ethnic villages, and winding passes.

Location: Minh Khai Street, Ha Giang City

Best Time: September-November or March-May

Duration: 3-4 days

Price: $$

🥾

Ba Vi National Park Hiking & Nature Escape

Escape the city chaos with jungle trails, waterfalls, and panoramic mountain views just 50km from Hanoi.

Location: Ba Vi District, Hanoi

Best Time: Early morning departure

Duration: Full day

Price: $

🚴

West Lake Sunset Cycling Loop

Chill 17km cycle around Hanoi's largest lake, stopping at lakeside cafes and watching locals exercise at sunset.

Location: Tay Ho District, Hanoi

Best Time: Late afternoon/Sunset

Duration: 2-3 hours

Price: $

🎭

Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre Show

Traditional Vietnamese art form with live music, perfect pre-dinner entertainment in the Old Quarter.

Location: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Best Time: Evening shows (6:30 PM or 8 PM)

Duration: 1 hour

Price: $

🎉 Events & Social Activities

Great places to meet other travelers in Hanoi

🍺

Ta Hien Street Night Scene

Hanoi's famous beer street comes alive nightly with cheap bia hoi, street BBQ, and international backpackers on plastic stools.

Location: Ta Hien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Best Time: Every night from 7 PM onwards

Price: $

🎵

Savage Club Weekend Nights

Hanoi's premier nightclub featuring international DJs, multi-floor dance spaces, and a young expat/local crowd.

Location: 8 Cao Ba Quat Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Best Time: Friday & Saturday from 10 PM

Price: $$

🌃

Dong Xuan Night Market

Friday-Sunday night market with street food, souvenirs, live music, and buzzing atmosphere perfect for solo exploring.

Location: Dong Xuan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Best Time: Friday-Sunday evenings from 6 PM

Price: $

🏨 Places to Stay

Recommended accommodations for solo travelers

Hanoi Backpackers Hostel Downtown

Hostel

Social hostel perfect for solo travelers with nightly activities, rooftop bar, and easy friend-making atmosphere in the Old Quarter.

⭐ 4.3/5💰 $

📍 9 Ma May Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, 100000

Vietnam Backpacker Hostels - The Original

Hostel

Party-friendly hostel with organized pub crawls, communal dinners, and a young international crowd. Great for meeting travel buddies.

⭐ 4.2/5💰 $

📍 48 Ngo Huyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, 100000

La Siesta Premium Hang Be

Hotel

Boutique hotel offering excellent value with rooftop pool, spa, and stylish rooms. Perfect for solo travelers wanting comfort and social spaces.

⭐ 4.6/5💰 $$

📍 94 Hang Be Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, 100000

Nexy Hostel

Hostel

Modern, clean hostel near West Lake with co-working space, good WiFi, and chill vibe. Great for digital nomads and solo travelers.

⭐ 4.5/5💰 $

📍 4 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi, 100000

☕ Cafes & Restaurants

Best spots to work, eat, and meet other travelers

Loading T Cafe

Cafe📶 WiFi Available💻 Work-Friendly

Hipster multi-floor cafe with excellent WiFi, plenty of power outlets, strong Vietnamese coffee, and a laptop-friendly atmosphere. Popular digital nomad spot.

⭐ 4.5/5💰 $

Hanoi Social Club

Cafe/Restaurant📶 WiFi Available💻 Work-Friendly

Trendy cafe-restaurant with reliable fast WiFi, healthy Western and Vietnamese fusion food, excellent coffee, and work-friendly seating. Very popular with expats.

⭐ 4.6/5💰 $$

Tranquil Books & Coffee

Cafe📶 WiFi Available💻 Work-Friendly

Peaceful bookshop-cafe with strong WiFi, quiet atmosphere perfect for working, specialty coffee, and comfortable seating. Great for focused work sessions.

⭐ 4.7/5💰 $

Bun Cha Dac Kim

Restaurant

Legendary bun cha spot where Obama and Bourdain ate. Authentic, affordable, and a must-visit for foodies. No WiFi but quick service.

⭐ 4.4/5💰 $

Essence Restaurant

Restaurant

Upscale Vietnamese cuisine in a beautiful French colonial villa. Perfect for treating yourself with refined local flavors. No work setup.

⭐ 4.5/5💰 $$$

Xofa Cafe & Bistro

Cafe📶 WiFi Available💻 Work-Friendly

Stylish West Lake cafe with excellent WiFi, power outlets at every table, great coffee and smoothies, plus comfortable seating for long work sessions.

⭐ 4.6/5💰 $$

💡 Local Tips

Insider advice from the LonelyRoad community

📱 Mobile Data & eSIM: Get data for Hanoi with PikaSim - 0.1GB for 7 days costs $0.18 (other options: 0.5GB/7d for $0.92, 0.5GB/1d for $1.02). Privacy-focused, no account needed, instant activation. Get yours at https://pikasim.com/download-vietnam-esim-packages
Visa & Entry for Norway citizens: Norwegian passport holders can enter Vietnam visa-free for up to 45 days (as of August 2023 extension). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date. No pre-arrival forms or e-visas needed for stays under 45 days. For longer stays, apply for an e-visa online ($25 USD, 3-day processing) at evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn before travel. Keep proof of onward travel and accommodation handy, though rarely checked. Check with the Vietnamese Embassy in Oslo or official government sources for the latest requirements before booking.
Download Grab app immediately upon arrival - it's your lifeline for safe, affordable transportation (motorbike taxis and cars) with upfront pricing. Avoid street taxis that refuse the meter. Motorbike rides cost $1-2 across the Old Quarter.
Cross the street confidently but slowly - don't stop or run. Traffic flows around you like water. Make eye contact with drivers and maintain a steady, predictable pace. It's terrifying at first but you'll adapt quickly.
Stay in the Old Quarter for nightlife and social scene, or West Lake (Tay Ho) for a more relaxed, expat-friendly vibe with better cafes and less chaos. Both are great for solo travelers but offer different experiences.
Hanoi's street food is world-class and incredibly safe - look for busy stalls with high turnover. Try bun cha (grilled pork with noodles), pho (obviously), banh mi, and egg coffee. Meals cost $1-3 on the street.
Join free walking tours (Hanoi Free Walking Tours or similar) on your first day to orient yourself, learn history, and meet other solo travelers. They depart daily from the Old Quarter and run on tips.
Vietnam uses cash heavily - withdraw large amounts from ATMs (BIDV or Vietcombank have lowest fees) to minimize transaction fees. Notify your bank before travel. Many places don't accept cards outside hotels and upscale restaurants.

📱

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