15 Awesome Hidden Gems In Hanoi Off The Beaten Track Worth Exploring

Are you looking for some suggestions about hidden gems in Hanoi, money-saving tips, food suggestions, and useful information about the city and the local people? You’re at the right place! In this article, we’ll share some helpful tips about visiting this beautiful city in in Northern Vietnam and share a few non touristy places that are worth exploring, perfect for travelers looking to get off the beaten track in Hanoi.

Hanoi Travel Tips For First-Time Visitors

Hanoi is famous in the region for its lakes that give a special charm to the city. And the translation of the name Ha Noi is a “city inside rivers”. But this city has much more to offer than its lakes. From completely chaotic streets and crowded roads to beautiful architecture, charming night markets, and wide, long bridges, Hanoi is a city of contrasts. This city is the face of the Vietnamese obstreperousness and stubbornness throughout the years.

The city is very difficult to get around in. I was mostly relying on Google Maps, but my phone let me down my first day and I got lost. Getting lost in Hanoi can happen to anyone. Getting stuck in traffic or elbowing your way through the crowds is one thing, but something that caught my eye was the streets. I know it sounds peculiar, but I could swear that I didn’t see two streets meeting at 90 degrees not even once. And there are many one-way streets that were a pain in the backside as well. So yeah, I sincerely recommend you get a local sim card (for only $3) and use Google Maps or count on getting lost.

I know I made these chaotic streets sound scary, but that’s part of Vietnam’s authenticity. If you’re one of those travelers that can always find the beauty in the chaos, Hanoi, and Vietnam, in general, is the right place for your next trip. Hanoi is the kind of city that makes urban jungles like Phnom Penh and Vientiane look like quiet suburbs. It definitely looks more chaotic than Bangkok, and it’s almost as chaotic as Delhi and Mumbai.

Average Costs Of Traveling In Hanoi

Dorms – 100,000 dongs and above ($5 USD and above)

Hotel rooms – 250,000-450,000 dongs ($10-$20 USD); but if you want to save even more, use this to get you 15% off on all accommodation rentals in Hanoi.

Street food – 30,000-80,000 for a meal ($1-$3 USD); Check out this post for some more Vietnam shopping tips.

*Street food is pretty safe and not very spicy. Personally, I can say that I enjoyed street food even more than the food in the restaurants.

Transportation with buses: starting from 1,000 dongs per ride (less than 10 cents). If you plan to take day trips or travel to another city, use 12GoAsia to arrange your transportation. It’s affordable, easy, and hassle-free.

Grab bikes: around 3,000 dongs per km, but they’re very fast and get out of the traffic easier;

Taxi: around 10,000-12,000 dongs per km;

Looking for cheap flights to Hanoi? Qatar Airways has some of the best deals you can get. Additionally, this coupon can get you a big discount on all Qatar Airways flights to Hanoi.

Last but not least, you can always come across unpredictable situations like these while traveling and that’s why it’s important to get a decent travel insurance provider. Wherever I go, my go-to choice is always SafetyWing (for more info, check out our SafetyWing review).

Now that we covered some useful information, let’s get to the most important part of this article…

Our 15 Favorite Hidden Gems In Hanoi

Without any further ado, let’s discover some of. the best beautiful places off the beaten track in Hanoi, starting with…

Explore The Streets Of Ngoc Ha

Each long, thin house is different to the one before, many in wonderful pastel shades and set around peaceful bodies of water

Ngoc Ha, a not-so-famous, quiet district, located southwest of Hanoi’s city center famous for its idyllic streets adorned with ancient Banyan trees, pretty houses with wonderful pastel shades set around peaceful bodies of water, pretty temples, and its vibrant market scene with intoxicating aromas of freshly cooked street food and vibrant colors of local produce. Ngoc Ha is a place where time seems to slow down, where you can escape the frenetic pace of modern life and savor experience Vietnam and its simple pleasures one moment at a time.

See The Grand Houses Of Phan Dinh Phung

Phan Dinh Phung is another captivating destination in Hanoi, renowned for its grand houses and for being named after the esteemed Vietnamese general who played a pivotal role in Vietnam’s fight for independence. These beautiful houses, which served as residences for affluent Vietnamese families during the colonial era blend French and Vietnamese design elements, that captivate all visitors who wonder off in this part of town.

Take Photos Of Train Street

Train Street is one of my favorite hidden gems in Hanoi. It’s a narrow residential street where homes are built perilously close to the trail. It is a place where daily life is completely unaffected by the thundering sound of train engines barreling through the heart of the heighborhood, mere inches away from the houses. But Train Street is more than just a thrilling photography opportunity but also a vibrant neighborhood with colorful houses and cute gardens, a striking contrast to the rough industrial backdrop.

Liking this post? Then you’ll probably also enjoy our list of things to do in Hoi An and our detailed itineraries.

Discover Thanh Chuong Viet Palace

Thanh Chuong Viet is an enchanting palace, created by the esteemed artist Thanh Chuong, that today is one of the most beautiful showcases of traditional Vietnamese heritage. The palace is located outside of Hanoi and began as a personal passion project but today it’s a 2.5-acre open-air complex that tells the story of Vietnam’s cultural history through relics from all parts of the country, representing Vietnam’s 54 recognized ethnic groups. The complex also features stilt hoses, representations of traditional practices and festivals, and even a 500-year-old stone bridge.

Shop At Long Bien Morning Market

Long Bien Morning Market is a vibrant, dynamic street market, located in Hanoi’s scenic Long Bien district, where you can find where you can find flowers, vegetables, breakfast spots, vendors wheeling bicycles laden with fresh cut flowers, try traditional freshly brewed Vietnamese coffee, and see the beautiful sunrise over the iconic Long Bien Bridge.

Enjoy Street Art Phung Hung Public Art Project

We just can’t complete this list of hidden gems in Hanoi without the Art Phung Hung Public Art Project. Located in the historic Phung Hung street, this project completely reinvented the once old and dull neighborhood into one of Hanoi’s hottest street art spots (and tourists are slowly flocking in as the word spreads).

As you stroll along the street, the explosion of color and creativity will surely catch your attention. Walls that were once dull and unremarkable have been transformed into stunning works of art, with talented local and international artists contributing their unique perspectives in giving the neighborhood its new look.

Walk The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural

One of the most vibrant hidden gems in Hanoi, the Ceramic Mosaic Mural is a 4-kilometers-long artistic masterpiece whose creation remains in history as the most remarkable community effort in the city’s history. The project involved thousands of artists, craftsmen, and volunteers working together to create something truly special and Hanoi-esque to commemorate the millennium anniversary of the city’s existence. Officially, this is the world’s largest ceramic mosaic mural.

Admire Art At 54 Traditions Gallery

The 54 Traditions Gallery is a treasure trove of traditional Vietnamese art and craftsmanship. The gallery’s carefully curated collection features a diverse range of traditional Vietnamese art forms, including lacquerware, ceramics, woodblock prints, silk paintings, and more. If you’re a fan of art and like discovering places that aren’t on most tourists’ lists, this is just the place for you.

See The B-52 Bomber Plane Remains

The B-52 Bomber Plane Remains hold a significant place in Vietnam’s history as these planes played a pivotal role in shaping the course of the Vietnam War and the wreckage of one of these iconic planes stands as a solemn memorial of Vietnamese pride, courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of the Vietnamese people.

Try To Find The Middle Warp Of Red River

The Middle Warp is located under the famous Long Bien Bridge but remains largely overlooked despite being located under one of the most famous bridges in Hanoi. Here, inside the river there is a small island and a tiny fishing village with a very vibrant community, offering a great opportunity to connect with the natural beauty of Vietnam.

How to get there?

A small stairway near the Long Bien Bridge serves as an access point to the middle warp of the Red River.

Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our post- Ha Long Bay vs Lan Ha Bay (both are attractive day trip ideas from Hanoi).

Seat Next To Bourdain And Obama’s Dinner Table

In May 2016, the sight of Anthony Bourdain and Barack Obama, sitting on humble blue plastic stools, drinking Vietnamese beer in a noodle store quickly conquered the internet bringing fame to this (by the way) delicious eatery. Visitors can now indulge in the “Combo Obama” featured on the menu, consisting of bun cha, a delectable seafood spring roll, and a refreshing bottle of Hanoi beer, all for an affordable price of 105,000 VND (approximately $4.50).

Listen To Jazz AT Binh Minh Jazz Club

Located in the vibrant Old Quarter, this intimate jazz club offers an eclectic atmosphere, great music, and some vintage decor. The jazz club is right behind the Hanoi Opera House and has been a jazz bar since 1994 and throughout the years, it has hosted a myriad of famous local and international jazz artists that left its mark on this place.

Admire The Views At Cafe Pho Co

Situated in the enchanting Old Quarter, this charming café offers a taste of both, Vietnamese cuisine and Vietnamese culture, plus some amazing views of the center of Hanoi. The cafe is situated in the heart of the labyrinthine alleys of the Old Quarter upon an unsuspecting entrance of an old building leading to a narrow staircase. On the other side of these stairs, you’ll find a peaceful rooftop terrace, a peaceful oasis in the heart of Hanoi’s busiest quarter.

Take A Trip To Duong Lam Ancient Village

This list of hidden gems in Hanoi wouldn’t be complete without Duong Lam, a village that lies 44 kilometers west of Hanoi renowned for its well-preserved traditional architecture and ancient cultural heritage. Many of its houses date back several centuries and today serve as living museums of not only the village’s but also Vietnam’s history.

Visit Le Mat Snake Village

Lastly, we round up this list of hidden gems in Hanoi with Le Mat Snake Village another unique destination located on the outskirts of Hanoi. Nestled along the banks of the Red River, this village is renowned for its longstanding tradition of snake farming and snake-related activities, with families specializing in raising snakes and producing snake-based products (i.e. snake wine and snake meat) for centuries.

Did you like this list of hidden gems in Hanoi? Did you ever visit any of them? Are there more places in Hanoi off the beaten track you’d like to see on this list? Let us know in the comments below!

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