3 Things to Do for an Unforgettable Hanoi Vacation

If you're a first-time traveler to Hanoi, you may be overwhelmed by all the things you can do just outside your Hoan Kiem hotel. After all, this is no sleepy Asian city – as the capital of Vietnam, it has a lot to offer. And here are 3 things to complete your Hanoi experience:

Go around the city like a local – ride a bike!

Because of Hanoi's chaotic traffic conditions, locals have resorted to two ways of going around the city: riding a bicycle or a motorcycle. Despite the recent popularity of motorcycle use, there are still people who prefer to ride a bike. That's why many hotels offer their guests bikes for rent. Some tour agencies even offer biking tours within the city and out of Hanoi to other parts of the country. For those who may not know how to ride a bicycle or motorbike – or are not comfortable doing it by themselves – they can take the “xe om” option. Literally meaning “hug vehicle,” these motorcycle taxis are ideal for short trips. Passengers simply need to hop onto the rear seat of the motorbike.

Explore the Old Quarter

Hanoi may be a large, sprawling city today, but at the beginning of the 20th century it was only composed of the Old Quarter. Part of the Hoan Kiem district, it is a popular area for shopping, especially if you're looking for silk and jewelry. A weekend night market for clothing and souvenirs can be also found in the heart of the district. So if you want to explore the area, hop on a bike or just walk around its 40 streets. Better yet, when choosing a Hanoi accommodation pick one located in the Old Quarter itself, such as Dong Thanh Hotel.

Eat authentic pho and more

There might be a lot of restaurants that serve pho and Vietnamese cuisine all over the world. However, nothing beats eating pho from one of the many food kiosks along the streets of Hanoi. This noodle dish – which is often served with beef or chicken – originated from this city in the 1920's and soon became popular throughout the country. Other Vietnamese food like cha ca, or spicy fried fish; and banh cuon, or pork and mushrooms rolled in thin sheets of rice, can be bought at restaurants all over Hanoi. These are just some of the choices available in the city. There are many other must-try dishes in Hanoi – no wonder it has been included in the Top 10 Cities for Foodies compiled by Sherman's Travel. And if you stay at a Hoan Kiem hotel in the city's downtown district, you surely won't run out of food choices.