During my stay in Hanoi, I went to Hang Da Market to look for Bat Trang pottery 🇻🇳✨ Hang Da Market at night has a great atmosphere with its lit-up buildings, and the lively surrounding area makes it an exciting place to visit. The market is packed with colorful bowls, small plates, and tea sets, making it fun just to look around 😍 There's a wide variety, from traditional blue and white patterns to colorful and cute designs! I enjoyed browsing each piece, thinking, "I want to use this in Japan!" If you're looking for souvenirs or Vietnamese pottery in Hanoi, I highly recommend visiting local markets like this 🫖💕 #Hanoi #HanoiTravel #Vietnam #VietnamTravel #VietnamTourism #HangDaMarket #BatTrangPottery #BatTrangVillage #VietnameseGoods #VietnameseSouvenirs #OverseasTravel #SoloTravel #GirlsTrip #TravelMemories

#underratedspots I visited Hanoi’s pottery museum during the Independence Day holiday, and it was pretty crowded with both locals and visitors. It’s quite far from the city centre, so it takes some time to get here. But I think that’s part of the experience. It’s a great place to slow down and discover a different side of Hanoi, away from the usual tourist route. I enjoyed learning more about Vietnam’s pottery tradition and seeing how closely ceramics are connected to the local culture and everyday life in the village. Do you enjoy discovering underrated places away from the city centre?

Hanoi is one of those cities where food should be part of your itinerary. 🇻🇳🍜 And there’s MUCH more to try than just phở. Northern Vietnamese cuisine tends to be less sweet and a little more subtle than food in the south — and Hanoi has several dishes that are closely associated with the city. Here’s what I’d put on a first-time Hanoi food list. 🍜 1. Phở Hà Nội Obviously, start with phở. Hanoi-style phở is known for its clear, aromatic broth and relatively simple toppings. The classic is phở bò with beef, but you’ll also see phở gà with chicken everywhere. Try it for breakfast at least once — Hanoi starts eating phở much earlier than most tourists do. 🔥 2. Bún Chả If I had to recommend just ONE Hanoi dish besides phở, it would probably be this. Bún chả comes with grilled pork, rice noodles, herbs and a bowl of sweet-sour fish sauce with pickled vegetables. You combine everything yourself as you eat. It’s one of the dishes I associate most strongly with Hanoi. 🐟 3. Chả Cá Another Hanoi specialty. Fish is cooked with turmeric, dill and spring onions, then eaten with noodles, herbs and sauce. It tastes completely different from most Vietnamese dishes you’ll encounter elsewhere. 🥢 4. Bún Đậu Mắm Tôm Definitely one of the more adventurous choices. A platter usually includes rice vermicelli, crispy tofu, herbs and other accompaniments, served with mắm tôm — fermented shrimp paste. The smell is STRONG. You might love it. You might absolutely hate it. 😂 But it’s a very Hanoi experience. 🥞 5. Bánh Cuốn Thin steamed rice rolls filled with savory ingredients and served with dipping sauce. They’re soft, light and perfect for breakfast. This is a great option if you want something less heavy between all the noodle dishes. 🍜 6. Bún Riêu A flavorful noodle soup traditionally made with a tomato-based broth and crab. It’s slightly sour, savory and very different from phở. If you’re doing a Hanoi food crawl, definitely add at least one other noodle soup besides phở. 🍚 7. Xôi Vietnamese sticky rice. You’ll find many versions with different toppings, and it’s particularly popular as a quick breakfast. Cheap, filling and very easy to find. ☕ 8. Egg Coffee — Cà Phê Trứng Technically not a dish, but you cannot make a Hanoi food list without it. Coffee is topped with a thick mixture traditionally made from egg yolk and condensed milk, creating something almost like liquid tiramisu. It originated in Hanoi and is one of the things I’d tell every first-time visitor to try. 🍨 9. Chè Save room for something sweet. Chè isn’t one specific dessert — there are lots of variations using ingredients like beans, jelly, fruit, coconut milk and sticky rice. Perfect after walking around Hanoi in the heat. 🥖 10. Bánh Mì You can find bánh mì all over Vietnam, but that doesn’t mean you should skip it in Hanoi. It’s one of the easiest cheap meals when you want something quick between sightseeing stops. 💡 VEGETARIAN IN HANOI? Look for the word “chay.” Hanoi has plenty of vegetarian restaurants, and you can find vegetarian versions of phở, bún, bánh mì and many Vietnamese classics. Just remember that a dish that looks vegetarian isn’t necessarily vegetarian — broths and sauces can contain meat or fish products. 📍 WHAT I’D TRY FIRST Only one day in Hanoi? 🥇 Bún chả 🥈 Phở 🥉 Egg coffee * bánh cuốn for breakfast if you can fit it in. 💡 My biggest tip: Don’t eat every meal around the most touristy streets of the Old Quarter. Walk a little further, look for busy local restaurants with a short menu, and don’t be afraid of places specializing in just one dish. In Hanoi, a tiny restaurant serving ONE thing can easily become one of your best meals in Vietnam. 📍 Hanoi, Vietnam #hanoi #hanoifood #vietnamesefood #vietnamtravel #hanoivietnam #vietnamfood #streetfood #northernvietnam #vietnamtrip

Northern Vietnam is one of my favorite parts of the country — but trying to fit Hanoi, mountains, rice fields and limestone landscapes into one week can easily turn into a trip spent mostly in transit. 🇻🇳 If you have 7 days, this is the route I’d choose: 📍 Hanoi → Ninh Binh → Sapa → Hanoi 🏙️ DAY 1 — Hanoi Start in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Spend your first day walking rather than trying to visit everything at once. I’d include: · Hoan Kiem Lake · Old Quarter · Train Street · Vietnamese coffee · street food in the evening Stay overnight in Hanoi. 🌿 DAY 2 — Hanoi → Ninh Binh Travel to Ninh Binh in the morning. The journey takes roughly 2–2.5 hours depending on your transport. After checking in, explore the countryside around Tam Coc. Renting a bicycle or scooter is one of the easiest ways to get around — the roads between limestone cliffs and rice fields are part of the experience. 🚣 DAY 3 — Trang An + Hang Mua Start early with a Trang An boat trip. There are several routes available. I did Route 3, which takes you through caves and between huge limestone karsts. Allow around 2.5–3 hours for the boat trip. In the afternoon, head to Hang Mua and climb to the viewpoint. Try to avoid the hottest part of the day — there are around 500 steps to the top. 🚐 DAY 4 — Ninh Binh → Sapa Use this as your travel day to Sapa. It’s a longer journey, so I wouldn’t plan major sightseeing on arrival. Check in, explore Sapa town, have dinner and save your energy for the mountains the next day. 🏔️ DAY 5 — Sapa Dedicate your first full day to the landscapes around Sapa. This is the day I’d use for trekking through the valleys and villages rather than staying in town. The scenery is the main reason to come here, so give yourself enough time outside Sapa center. 🚠 DAY 6 — Fansipan Head up Fansipan — the highest mountain in Vietnam. You don’t have to hike to the summit: the cable car makes it possible to visit as a half-day trip. Weather matters a lot here. If the summit is completely covered in clouds, consider swapping Days 5 and 6. Afterwards, return to Sapa and travel back toward Hanoi. 🌆 DAY 7 — Hanoi Keep your final day relatively flexible. Use it for the places you missed on Day 1, cafés, shopping and one last Vietnamese meal. If your flight is later in the day, this also gives you a useful buffer rather than arriving in Hanoi from Sapa immediately before departure. 🚐 GETTING AROUND Hanoi → Ninh Binh: limousine van, bus or train Ninh Binh → Sapa: bus/limousine connections are available, but check schedules carefully Sapa → Hanoi: limousine, sleeper bus or train via Lao Cai Within Ninh Binh: scooter, bicycle or Grab/taxi Within Sapa: walking, taxi or organized transport depending on where you're going 💡 MY BIGGEST TIP Don’t add too many destinations. It’s tempting to squeeze Ha Giang or Cat Ba into the same week, but Northern Vietnam looks much smaller on a map than it feels when you're actually traveling between places. With only 7 days, I’d rather properly experience Hanoi, Ninh Binh and Sapa. ⏰ HAVE MORE TIME? With 9–10 days, I’d add Cat Ba + Lan Ha Bay. With two weeks, you can start considering a much bigger Northern Vietnam route including Ha Giang or Cao Bang. For a first one-week trip, though, this is the route I’d choose again. 📍 Northern Vietnam #northernvietnam #vietnamitinerary #vietnamtravel #hanoi #ninhbinh #sapa #fansipan #vietnamtrip

[Hanoi's Top Hotel in Vietnam] The gigantic pool at this 5-star hotel is incredible! A perfect holiday at the Daewoo Hotel #HanoiHotel #HanoiDaewooHotel #HanoiTravel #VietnamTravel #HanoiDaewooHotel

As someone who has visited Vietnam many times, I'd like to introduce "TOP OF HANOI," a rooftop bar offering panoramic views of Hanoi's nightscape. Located on the 67th floor of the Lotte Hotel Hanoi, it's the highest bar in Hanoi. · Its casual atmosphere is a major draw There's no entrance fee and no dress code. Reservations are not required. While ordering a drink is necessary, options start from around 1,000 yen, making it a very satisfying price considering the view. · Be careful of the confusing entrance The most important thing to note is the location of the entrance. There's another facility in the same building called the "Lotte Center Hanoi Observatory." To get to TOP OF HANOI, you need to enter through the "Lotte Hotel Hanoi" entrance, not the Lotte Center entrance. Searching on Google Maps will show a pin at the observatory entrance, so you'll get lost if you head there. Aim for the hotel entrance. · How to get to the 67th floor ① Enter through the entrance of the Lotte Hotel ② Take the elevator to the 65th floor ③ After arriving on the 65th floor, take the short flight of stairs ④ From there, take the elevator to the 67th floor · Atmosphere A 360-degree panoramic view unfolds, offering a stunning vista of Hanoi's city lights at night. Many people enjoy taking photos, and couples frequent this space, making it ideal for anniversaries or special evening meals. Due to its high floors, it can feel quite breezy; it's advisable to bring a light jacket or cardigan, except during the peak of summer. · A great way to spend layover time Many travelers from Japan to destinations like Da Nang will have a layover in Hanoi. If you have a layover of 5 hours or more, visiting this hotel is a good alternative to waiting at the airport. It's about a 45-minute flight from Noi Bai International Airport. However, immigration procedures can take time, so it's best to allow at least 5 hours for your layover if you plan to go into the city. · Store Information TOP OF HANOI 📍Lotte Hotel Hanoi, 67th Floor 54 Liễu Giai, Cống Vị, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 🕐17:00-24:00 (Daily) · DJ performance on Fridays from 21:30-22:30 · Summary No reservations or entrance fees are required, making it an easy place to enjoy stunning views of Hanoi. October and November are particularly pleasant seasons for spending time on the rooftop, as the nights are cool. Be sure to visit as a way to conclude your Hanoi sightseeing or to make the most of your layover. · Opening hours, prices, and services may change. Please check the latest information before visiting. #HanoiRecommendations #HanoiOldQuarrie #Hanoi #HanoiTourism