So I've decided to come up with my first ever address book where I will be listing some of my favourite places to eat and visit in Hanoi. For all of you who might be travelling to this wonderful city in the near future, I hope this list helps:

Stay

Airbnb – Veque Villa

Nicely decorated and clean, has a lovely residence Labrador, and also friendly and helpful hosts. I enjoyed my daily 20-minutes’ walk to the Hoan Kiem Lake area during November when the weather was cool and breezy. There are also cafes and food stalls around this place making it super convenient when it comes to food.

Cruise – Alisa

Great service, great food, great view, and a great experience on the cruise. Was on board for 2D1N and though it was a short stay, I had a really memorable time there. Enjoyed the kayak session and the trip to Sung Sot Cave. 

Food

Banh Mi 25

25 Hàng Cá, P, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

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There are vegetarian and non-vegetarian options (I take this seriously because I would opt for vegetarian most of the time). No worries, coriander is an option too but the overall taste is much better with coriander, trust me. I had a few banh mi in Hanoi and still felt that this place’s combo had more flavour.

Bun Cha Huong Lien

24 Lê Văn Hưu, Phan Chu Trinh, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội, Vietnam

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Aside from the framed up table-chair set that were used by Barack Obama and the late Anthony Bourdain, the food here is really good. It can also be crowded towards the afternoon so come over in the morning for some peace and less waiting time. If you are not sure what to order, get the Obama set which comes with a bun cha (grilled pork and noodle), nem vuông (square egg roll), and a beer.

Cafe Giang

9 Nguyễn Hữu Huân, Hàng Bạc, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

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Personally feel that the egg coffee here has a better balance of coffee and egg compared to the other cafes. Can be crowded and might need to be on a lookout for seats.

Cha Ca Thang Long

21 - 31 Đường Thành, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

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Vietnamese Turmeric Catfish might sound very odd but trust me, it’s really delicious. I had this dish twice, the other time on Alisa Cruise and both were really good. Very helpful and friendly staffs that taught us how to eat the noodles and broth.

Madame Huong

39 Lý Thường Kiệt, Hàng Bài, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

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Fresh breads, buns, and pastries that are actually really good. You sit at a common area on the sidewalk and order coffee from the café right beside it, waiters will come to you for the ordering.

Pizza 4P’s

Bao Khanh Alley Branch - 11B, Bao Khanh Alley, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

Trang Tien Branch - 43 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi

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Veg and non-veg options available. The best part of this place is that you can order 2 flavours in one pizza! As we dined at both of the branches, each on a differet night, we got to try their pizza flavours: Japanese Ginger Pork, Burrata Parma Ham Margherita, House-Made Cheese, and a seasonal flavour, Smoked Duck Blue Cheese pizza. Would definitely come back here for pizza!

Tao Pho Jellybean

28 Quang Trung, Trần Hưng Đạo, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

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The soybean curd in Vietnam is slightly different than the rich and thick texture ones you can find in Malaysia. Nevertheless, we came here almost every day, different times in a day, just to get our bowl of customized tao pho. You can add different toppings and also eat it with the very nice pastries they serve. This place is good for breakfast and also a supper snack that warms you during those chilly, cold Hanoi nights!


Places Of Interest

Bat Trang Pottery Village & Market
Bát Tràng, Gia Lâm, Hanoi, Vietnam
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It's a great place to get souvenirs, ceramic soup spoons and bowls. There is a lot to see and buy and price is negotiable if you purchase more than 3 items.

Hanoi Opera House
Số 01 Tràng Tiền, Phan Chu Trinh, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Ticket: Varies based on show of the day, ranging from 150k - 300k dong
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I think one of the most regretful part of this trip was to not book for a show at this beautiful place. We tried our luck but all slots were booked for the night and following night. If you ever get the chance to visit Hanoi, don't miss out on the opera house!

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
2 Hùng Vương, Điện Bàn, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam
Ticket: 40k dong
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One of my favourite part of this trip was to visit Uncle Ho in real life. He may be in an infinity deep sleep but I was nevertheless excited to see him. The way the mausoleum was constructed on the outside, decorated on the inside, and finally to Uncle Ho's resting place, is a whole new experience. Highly recommended, though you need to line up under the sun for a bit.

Just to clarify that this is not my exact itinerary as I've cancelled out a few places which you might noticed if you read my Hanoi blog post. I hope this list helps you in your planning for your trip to Hanoi!

Let me know in the comment section if you have any other places around Hanoi (or Vietnam) that you would like me to know as well!