Is Hanoi Worth Visiting? 5 Things We Liked & Didn’t Like

Hanoi is a city that will overwhelm all your senses. Millions of motorbikes rumble through the streets; it is loud, polluted, and chaotic. All of this will have you wondering, is Hanoi Worth Visiting?

In my opinion, Hanoi is worth visiting, but only for certain types of travellers.

If you are the type of traveller who loves getting out of their comfort zone and experiencing a totally unique, crazy city, then Hanoi could be for you.

But if you value comfort, predictability, cleanliness, and order. Then you may want to stay away from Hanoi.

We spent a week in Hanoi, and despite travelling the world for over 10 years, I still saw some things that shocked me. If you love surprises and chaos, you may feel right at home in Hanoi, like I did.

But as I said earlier, some people may not like to be shocked when they travel.

Whether you are looking for the ultimate culture shock or a smooth, comfortable holiday, keep reading and, I will let you know all the pros and cons of visiting this crazy city.

5 Reasons Hanoi Is Worth Visiting (The Pros)

The Unique Energy Of The City

One of my favorite things about Hanoi was the energy of the city. I loved just wandering around the narrow streets because you never knew what was around the next corner.

Everywhere you walk, it is pure chaos. People chopping up raw meat on the sides of the road, next to someone grinding metal, as thousands of motorbikes rumble by meters away.

This, of course, can be a negative for many people. Because, along with the ‘energy,’ you get noise and pollution. But I have visited many cities in South East Asia and nowhere compares to the chaos on the streets of Hanoi.

Many people recommend visiting the Old Quarter of Hanoi to see all the craziness of Hanoi. But we found the old quarter to be quite touristy. It is still chaotic but doesn’t full super authentic.

We found streets outside of the old quarter to be more authentic and less orientated to tourists.

If you want to a truly authentic look at daily life on the streets of Hanoi. I recommend heading just outside of the old town to areas such as Ba Dinh.

You do not have to walk far and the tourists will disappear but the chaos will remain.

Cultural And Historical Attractions

Hanoi has been an important city in Vietnam for over one thousand years. Because of this, it has many temples, museums, and other attractions if you are interested in history.

If you are interested in the Vietnam War and the history of Vietnam, a great place to visit is the Hoa Lo Prison which was nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton by American prisoners of war.

This prison was originally built by the French in the 19th Century to hold politcal prisoners. Later it was used to hold American prisoners during the Vietnam War. It is a dark and heavy place to visit but well worth it if you want to full understand the city.

TIP: If you pay 50,000 VND at the entrance to the prison you get an audio guide that will give you much more information about the prison.

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: Is It Worth The Wait?

Another interesting and rather morbid attraction is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. This is where you can see the mummified body of Ho Chi Minh the former leader of Vietnam.

Once again, it is not a light-hearted attraction! Just be warned that the lines to see Ho Chi Minh can be enormous.

We turned up around 10 am and there were thousands of people waiting in line! So we had to give it a skip because we didn’t want to be in line for over an hour.

So if you want to visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and skip the lines I recommend you to arrive early.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Opening Hours: 7:30 am to 11:30 am. Closed Friday and Monday.

To beat the crowds get to the Mausoleum as early as possible, just after 7:30 am.

Apart from museums there is also an interesting mix of chinese temples and french architecture spread around the city. It gives it a very unique feel.

So overall I found Hanoi to be a city full of cultural and historical attractions if that is what you are into.

Hanoi’s Street Food And Pho

Hanoi is also a great place to visit if you are a foodie. As with everywhere in Vietnam the steets are full of vendors selling Pho, Banh Mi and other traditional Vietnamese Classics.

I prefer the southern style Pho like we enjoyed in Hoi An. But the northern style Pho is still delicious and can be found all over the city.

Our favorite place we tried in Hanoi was actually a chicken soup spot called Bún Thang Thanh gia truyền.

Although we called it chicken pho at the time it is not pho. Bun Thang is a traditional Northern Vietnamese chicken noodle soup.

It is located just outside the old quarter, down a quiet alleyway. The chicken broth is delicate and delicious without any overwhelming flavours. We loved how peaceful the restaurant was despite being very clos to the old quarter.

Bun Cha: Hanoi’s Favourite Dish

If you are looking to try a Hanoi speciality then eat Bun Cha. This is roasted pork served with a sweet dipping sauce and is the most famous dish in Hanoi.

I have to be honest it is not my favourite dish in the world. The dipping sauce is always a bit too sweet for me. But many people love it so you should definitely give it a try.

Bun Cha became world famous after President Obama ate it on Anthony Bourdains travel show. The restaurant they ate at is still super popuar. But I have heard from many people it is too busy and not that great.

Instead I recommend going to Bún chả Sinh Từ which is located right next to the Old Quarter.

It has excellent reviews and is a nice clean restaurant right next to the touristy zone. But it still serves authentic food.

💰 Budget Travel Tip: A lunch at either of these spots will only cost you about 40,000 to 60,000 VND (rabout $1.60 to $2.40 USD). So it is a super cheap city to eat out.

Coffee Culture And Egg Coffee

One of my favorite things about Vietnam is the unique coffee culture. We loved the cafe scene in Hoi An, I think it has the best cafes in Vietnam. But Hanoi is the home of much of Vietnams coffee culture and is also full of great cafes.

The most famous local drink is the Hanoi egg coffee (Cà Phê Trứng). You can find it all over Vietnam but Hanoi is where this interesting drink was created.

It consists of fluffy beaten egg yolks, mixed with condensed milk, layered on top of strong Vietnamese coffee. Not everyone loves the egg coffee as it is a bit more of a dessert than an actual coffee.

But if you feel like something sweet is an amazing choice. When it is done right the creamy but fluffy layer tastes like something from a high end restaurant.

There are also egg coffees from cheaper cafes that just taste sweet and cheap. So I recommend trying a few before you make your judgement.

The History Behind It: The egg coffee was invented during the 40s when there was a milk shortage due to the war.

A locl bartender named Nguyen Van Giang decided to look for alternatives to milk for his coffee. So he decided to whisk up egg yolks and the egg coffee was born. You can still visit the original cafe, Cafe Giang in the older quarter to try the original recipe.

Apart from egg coffee there are also some other unique Vietnamese coffees you should try.

• Coconut Coffee (Cà Phê Cốt Dừa): Super dark vietnamese coffee mixed with ice and coconut cream. This was one of our go to drinks on super hot days.
• Salt Coffee (Cà Phê Muối): A savory, salted cream layer on top of super dark Vietnamese coffee. This is actually my favourite coffee in Vietnam when it is done right.

If you would like to learn more about Vietnamese Coffee, you can do a coffee workshop while you are in Hanoi. During this workshop you will learn more about the history of Vietnamese cofee as well as learn to make an egg coffee, coconut coffee and salt coffee.

I know that all the coffee I have mentioned above is milky or sweet. But if you like your coffee black you can also try out a Phin coffee. A Phin is a simple metal Vietnamese filter that sits on top of your cup.

Just be prepared that the coffee that comes out is super dark and strong. We had to get our teeth cleaned in Vietnam because the coffee stained them! So be careful!

Hanoi Old Quarter And Train Street

The Hanoi Old Quarter is where most tourists will stay while in Hanoi. It is the historic centre of the city and is full of bars, restaurants, and hotels, basically everything a tourist needs.

Because it is one of the oldest parts of the cities, there are tonnes of tight streets and it gives you that hectic Hanoi vibe.

Although it is quite touristy, it is one of those places where it is not hard to escape to more local areas. If you are on streets full of tourists just go wandering for 10 minutes and you usually end up on much more authentic streets full of local life.

But if you are not interesting in local life you can just head to the Hanoi beer street in the evenings. It is the place to go if you want to drink the night away.

One of the most touristy parts of the old quarter is the train street.

This is a street where the train passes incredibly close to bars and cafes and you can sit at them and watch the train pass by just centimeters away.

At first, I thought it looked super tacky and over-rated. But we had a great time just drinking a coffee in the morning and watching the train rumble past.

2026 Train Update: When we went to the train street you simply walked onto the tracks and sat down at whichever cafe you wanted. But things have changed there are now barricades and you have to be escorted to a cafe for safety reasons.

• Walk With A Cafe Owner: At the barricades at the start of the street you can meet a cafe owner and they will escort you to their cafe. Some cafes require bookings for certain times of day.
• Buy A Drink: You must buy a drink so that you can sit at a cafe and watch the train go past.
• Check The Train Schedule: Trains only pass a few times per day. Make sure to ask cafe owners or your accommodation what time the trains pass.

Apart from the train there are not many huge must see attractions in the old quarter. It is more of a place to wander around grab something to eat, do some shopping and people watch.

Ideal Location For Exploring Northern Vietnam

One of the main reasons to visit Hanoi is that it is the best place to start exploring Northern Vietnam.

So even if you do not like the sound of the chaos. Some of the most amazing places in Vietnam, such as Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh are just a 2 hour drive from Hanoi.

• Ha Long Bay – is one of the most famous tourist locations in Vietnam. The ocean of limestone karsts is a truly unique site. Ha Long Bay does get some bad press though. So read our is Ha Long Bay worth visiting? article to decide if it is the right place for you.
• Ninh Binh – is called Ha Long Bay on land. You basically get the amazing limestone karsts but on land with freshwater rivers winding around and underneath them. It is an incredible place and we have everything you need to know in our Ninh Binh travel guide.

These places are must-visits in Vietnam, and Hanoi is the easiest location to fly into. So why not explore Hanoi while you are there?

The worst that could happen is you hate it, and you can tell everyone back home how crazy it is! Then head to the amazingly beautiful areas in the north of the country.

Safety In Hanoi: What You Actually Need To Worry About

One pro of Hanoi is that depsite the craziness it is a safe city. Violent crime is very uncommon here so you do not have to worry about that.

In terms of your physical safety the only dangers are scooter or car crashes and crossing the street. But the positive of the streets being so busy is that the traffic is never really travelling that fast. So at least any crashes shouldn’t be at high speed.

Even so there are still some tips that you should keep in mind to make sure you cross the streets safely.

• Cross At A Slow Constant Speed: crossing the streets in Hanoi takes some practice. If you wait for a gap in traffic you will be on the side of the road all day. The key is to just start crossing at a slow constant speed and motorbikes will weave around you. It sounds insane but it does work.
• Pickpockets and Theft: Even though violent crime is very rare there are pickpockets and theft can happen. So make sure that your phone and other valuables are kept close by.

The Downsides: Why You Might Want to Skip Hanoi (The Cons)

Now that we have covered the Pros of visiting Hanoi, let’s get into the Cons and potentially scare you away from visiting!

Air Pollution In Hanoi

For me, one of the biggest negatives of Hanoi is the pollution. I have never visited a country anywhere on earth with as poor an air quality as Hanoi.

During our visit, if a skyscraper was 300 meters away, you could barely see it because the smog was so thick.

The main reason for this is the millions of motorbikes driving through the streets every day. There are over 7 million motorbikes in Hanoi!

Combined with factories surrounding the city, construction, and people burning rubbish, it makes the skies in Bangkok seem pristine.

After spending a few days in Hanoi, we were pretty desperate to breathe in some clean air.

But the big problem was that we visited in the worst time for air quality. If we had visited at a different time of year the air would have been much clearer.

• The Worst Months: The Air Quality is worst from September/October until March/April due to winter weather patterns trapping the pollution. We visited in November, which is right in the middle of the worst air quality.
• The Best Months to Visit: If you want clearer blue skies, try to plan your visit during the summer months from May to September, this is the rainy season and it helps wash away the pollution.

Toxic Lakes

On top of the air pollution, the lakes in Hanoi are outrageously bad. We went for a walk near West lake (Tây Hồ), and it smelt so toxic I was trying to hold my breath most of the time.

There was also a crazy fluorescent blue colour around the edge of the lake that did not look very healthy.

Judging by the number of dead fish we saw floating in the lake, I think the lake is quite toxic too! But people were still fishing in it! So I would be very careful buying any fish off the street in Hanoi.

But whichever way you look at it the pollution in Hanoi is incredibly bad. So if you value clean and tidy places ,that could be enough to make it not worth visiting.

The Constant Noise

No matter where you are in Vietnam, you will usually encounter noise. It is a country where silence is hard to come by.

But if there were a championship for noise in Vietnam, I think Hanoi would come out on top.

All day and night there are cars and motorbikes honking their horns, construction, dogs barking, karaoke.

Of course, the benefit of all the noise is that you will never be bored because there is always something going on. But it can be overwhelming if you have never experienced it before.

The biggest issue with the noise for us was the amount of nights our sleep was disrupted. It was one of the most annoying parts of travelling Vietnam that we were so often tired from being kept awake all night by motorbikes, dogs, karaoke or all at the same time!

So if you want to sleep well in Hanoi here are some tips.

• Book A Room With No Windows: This sounds nuts but in South-East Asia we actuallly started booking rooms with no windows and we sleep so much better!
• Ear Plugs: Are compusory in Hanoi. I used them every single night of our 3 months in Vietnam.
• Choose A Residential Neighbourhood: The Old Quarer is one of the noisiest parts of Hanoi. So stay in a more residential area such as West Lake and it should be quieter.
• Stay In A High Rise: The higher up you are the further you are away from the noise. It will cost more to stay in a high rise but it could be worth it for a good night sleep.

Crossing Hanoi’s Busy Streets

If you do not like crossing busy streets, then you will not be a fan of Hanoi. The streets are absolutely jammed with motorbikes. But if you are not in a modern part of the city there will be no crossing lights.

So you just have to start walking and let the motorbikes swerve around you. It sounds mad if you have never tried it before, but it actually works!

Every time we crossed the road, Katharina would cling onto my arm, close her eyes and hope for the best! She is not a fan of busy streets.

But even she liked visiting Hanoi! So there is hope for everyone.

Watch The Madness In Action

To give you a clear picture of what it is like crossing the street in Hanoi watch the video below.

Cleanliness and Hygiene

On top of the pollution, the city itself can also be very dirty. You will see raw meat being chopped up in some pretty grimy-looking markets right next to busy roads.

Many street food vendors also do not seem to have the best hygiene practices.

Another thing that bothered us was how many people spit in pubic. We lost count of the times a local would just spit on the ground in a crowded area

This is not something that really bothered us. Because there are plenty of places to eat that are clean. But if cleanliness is a priority to you, I can see that it could be a problem in Hanoi.

If you are not used to eating street food in Asia there are some simple rules to follow.

• Eat Where The Crowds Are: if a lot of people are eating at a stall this means there is high turnover. This means ingredients haven’t been sitting around in the heat for as long gathering bacteria.
• Watch The Cooking Process: choose food that you can see being cooked right in front of you. If it is served super hot then most bacteria will be killed by the heat. When food is pre-cooked you never know how long it has been sitting there.
• Restaurants Are Not Necessarily Safe: Some people assume an indoor restaurant with tables and seats is safer in terms of food poisoning. But the problem is you cannot see how the food is being prepared out the back. I quite often find street food can be a sager option because you can see how it is prepared.

Smoking In Public Spaces

This is not just an issue in Hanoi but in the whole of Vietnam. Smoking is still very common here, so it is very common to have locals light of a cigarette and cafes and restaurants.

This just adds to the poor air quality, and it is hard to go anywhere in the city without walking close to someone who is smoking.

You may also see people smoking Thuốc lào which is a super potent tobacco smoked out of a large bamboo pipe. When I first saw people smoking it I thought it was weed but it is just tobacco!

If someone offers you to try it just be careful! The smoke is incredibly potent. We have an Australian friend who is a heavy smoker and he said he was coughing for a long time after trying Thuốc lào. So be aware!

Hanoi And Digital Nomads

If you are considering staying in Hanoi as a digital nomad, I think there are better places to stay in Vietnam.

I really enjoyed visiting Hanoi but I think the pollution, noise, and lack of green spaces mean it it is not great for long term stays.

The two obvious places to stay in Vietnam as a Digital Nomad are Da Nang and Hoi An. Both of them give you the oppurtunity to experience Vietnamese culture.

Both of them are much cleaner and more relaxed than Hanoi. There are also much bigger digital nomad communities there, so it is easier to meet people.

However, if you are a digital nomad who likes to stay away from the typical digital nomad hangouts, Hanoi may be for you.

It is a super cheap city with fast internet and tonnes of great cafes. It won’t have all the smoothie bowls, yoga classes etc that you usually find in nomad bubbles. But you will definitely have an authentic experience.

Where To Stay In Hanoi

Choosing where you stay in Hanoi will really affect your experience. Because it is such a chaotic city, you may get exhausted if you stay in a busy area.

Booking Tip! On booking.com and other sites in Vietnam there are a lot of fake reviews. You will see tonnes of hotels that are 70 percent off with amazing reviews. But a lot of them are scams. So be careful! I recommend looking at the lowest reviews first and use those to judge if the positive reviews are real

1. Old Quarter

Best for first-time travellers who want to be close to all the action. Lots of bars, restaurants, and hotels. It is very busy and loud, however.

• Luxury ($100 USD+) – GM Premium Hotel has a rooftop pool and bar, great breakfast and quiet rooms
• Mid-range ($40 to $80 USD) – Maya Central Hotel & Spa clean tidy hotel with continental breakfast
• Budget ($10 to $30 USD) – Trung Coffee House clean basic rooms in the old town

2. French Quarter

A quieter area with more French colonial architecture and wider streets. This is a more upmarket area and better if you want somewhere quieter.

• Luxury ($100 USD+) – La Siesta Premium Hang Be – beautiful modern hotel with great roof top terrace. The cheapest rooms have no windows to avoid any street noise.
• Mid-range ($40 to $80 USD) – Embrace Boutique Hanoi Hotel clean tidy rooms with an internal window to keep out the noise
• Budget ($10 to $30 USD) – Daisy’s Stay homestay with a super firendly local host

3. West Lake

This area is popular with expats and digital nomads. It has many trendier cafes and restaurants. We stayed close to West Lake and we loved it because it had the crazy Hanoi vibe without the tourists.

• Luxury ($100 USD+) – Fraser Suites Hanoi – Beautiful apartments with modern pools away from the noise of the old town
• Mid-range ($40 to $80 USD) – An Nguyen Lakeside Residence spacious apartments with lake views and kitchens
• Budget ($10 to $30 USD) – Little Peace Hanoi – clean private, quiet apartment just north of the old town

When To Visit Hanoi

Hanoi can be visited at all times of the year, but I think that the best time to visit is when the pollution is at its lowest. So this would be from about May until September.

During this time, there is a bit more rain, but this should clear out the skies a bit. Then you should be choking a little less on the smog!

• May to September (Summer): High humidity, hot temperatures, and some rain but the air is the clearest during this period.
• October to April (Winter/Dry Season): Much cooler temperatures for walking around, but peak pollution season. The winter weather patterns trap exhaust fumes and smoke close to the ground, which creates the horrible smog we saw in November.

Who Should Visit Hanoi?

Based on the Pros and Cons listed above I think it is clear that Hanoi is for travellers who want new experiences.

Hanoi is not the place to go if you want a clean, quiet, relaxing experience. If that is what you want, head to Singapore or the Thai Islands.

Or if you are new to travelling in South East Asia, head to Bangkok first. I think of Bangkok as entry-level South East Asia, whereas Hanoi is South East Asia cranked up to the max.

I personally loved visiting Hanoi because I enjoy visiting places that are different and something I have never seen before. But to be honest, after 5 days I was ready for some clean air!

Who Will Love Hanoi?

• Foodies: Anyone who wants to hunt down the world’s best street food stalls and sip creamy egg coffees down hidden alleys.
• Culture & History Lovers: Travelers who enjoy visiting cities packed with culture and history.
• Explorers: Anyone using the capital as a starting point for attractions like Ninh Binh and Hạ Long Bay.

Who Should Skip It?

• Those of you who hate air pollution or loud, constant city noise.
• Travelers who hate crowds and don’t want to walk on the edge of busy roads.
• Anyone who want a slow, relaxed, clean, comfortable travel experience.

So, is Hanoi worth visiting? Yes, if you are looking for culture shock, street food, and history. If you prefer a calm, clean, relaxing trip, it may not be for you.