What to do in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi?
Hoan Kiem (Hoàn Kiếm), the soul of Hanoi, is one of the main districts that you can delve into the city’s cultures and ways of life. Here are some must-visit places in Hoan Kiem Districts in order of importance.
Contents
Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
View on Map
Hanoians are likely to head to Hoan Kiem Lake (Lake of the restored sword) whenever they want to get relaxed and get away from the noise and chaos of this capital. In the morning, it is fun to witness or even join with Hanoians (both the young and the old) who gather to do yoga or Tai chi, give massage to each other, and practice the aerobics with the music coming along from a little cassette.
There is a red curved wooden bridge (Cầu Thê Húc) that links the shore with a small island having Ngoc Son Temple on. The temple is mainly dedicated to Tran Hung Dao, who defeated the Mongols in 13th Century and the saint of Taoist literature - Van Xuong De Quan.
The Temple's opening hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm (From Monday to Friday); 7:00 am to 9:00 pm (Saturday and Sunday)
Admission prices: Adults: 30 000 vnd; Children under 15: free.
Old Quarter
View on Map
Going for a walk north from Hoan Kiem Lake, we will be able to enter the maze of Hanoi which is an Old Quarter (Phố cổ). Although there are now far more than 36 interlacing streets, the local still prefer to call it "The 36 old streets" (Hà Nội 36 phố phường) since number 36 was used to refer to the number of workshop areas, not streets in the past. Wandering along the streets right in the roadway under the tangle of overhead power lines for electric power transmission, looking around the sidewalks filled with small plastic stools and tons of scooters as well as motorbikes parked on and challenging yourself to cross the roads would definitely bring you the most memorable experience. Just walk and walk and feel the slow pace of the local life here.
Gallery of Old Quarter
Thang Long Water Puppet Theater
View on Map
Water Puppet show is considered one of the cultural highlights of Northern Vietnam dating back to the 11th Century. The theater's shows are always performed in a pool of water as the stage for the puppets. There are many puppeteers who controlled the puppets behind a bamboo screen with the accompany of Vietnamese orchestra playing traditional music. Although it is all spoken in Vietnamese, it is still entertaining and seems not so difficult for foreigners to follow the story.
If you visit there in the summer, don't forget to carry a fan since there is no air conditioner.
Opening hours: 4:00 pm, 5:20 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:00 pm (in the summer); 3:00 pm, 4:10 pm, 5:20 pm, 6:30 pm, 8:00 pm and 9:15 pm (in the winter) Admission prices: Adults: 100 000 vnd; Children: 60 000 vnd
Website: http://www.thanglongwaterpuppet.org/ (Vietnamese, English and French)
Address: #57B Dinh Tien Hoang, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Hanoi Ancient House
View on Map
Built in the 19th Century, Hanoi Ancient House at #87 Ma May Street makes a great illustration of characteristic architecture of ancient houses. The house is deemed as a cultural center of Hanoi Old Quarter. If you are interested in the history of Hanoi and Vietnamese traditional family values, Hanoi Ancient House at 87 Ma May is a must-see place for you. More interestingly, this is also the place where you can join some special events such as introducing about the genre of Hanoi traditional art, exploring the folk custom of Mid-Autumn Festival, and so on. It would take you only less than 10 minutes to go to the house from Hoan Kiem Lake.
The House's opening hours: 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (Every day); It closes from about 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm (Vietnamese lunch time).
Admission prices: 10 000 vnd
Hanoi Opera House
View on Map
Hanoi Opera House is worth a visit. Built by the French in 1911, the Opera House is one of the grandest buildings in Hanoi. For more information about the performance schedule in Hanoi Opera House, visit its website with the link provided below.
Website: http://hanoioperahouse.org.vn/ (Vietnamese and English)
Address: #1 Trang Tien street, Hanoi.
Telephone: (84-4) 39330113
St. Joseph's Cathedral
View on Map
St. Joseph's Cathedral on Nha Tho (Church) street is the oldest church in Hanoi. The church is a wonderful construction built by the French. It was of Gothic style and the design of France's world famous Notre Dame de Paris.
Service times:
5:30 am and 6:15 pm (on weekdays);
6:00 pm (on Saturday);
5:00 am, 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm (on Sunday)
To attend services, you can take any seat in the nave 10-15 minutes in advance.
Address: #40 Nha Chung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
National Museum of Vietnamese History
National Museum of Vietnamese History lies at the back of Hanoi Opera House. It offers an insight into Vietnamese history from its prehistoric days to the day when Ho Chi Minh proclaimed the independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam. It would be better if you already had fundamental knowledge of the French colonialism period in Vietnam as the exhibits quite lack detailed information and stories in English.
The Museum's opening hours: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm; 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm (From Monday to Sunday). Notice that the museum closes on the first Monday of every month.
Admission prices: Adult: 40 000 vnd; Children under 6: free
Website: http://www.baotanglichsu.vn/ (Vietnamese, French and English)
Address: #1 Trang Tien - 25 Tong Dan, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi.
Telephone: (84-4) 38241384 - 38257753
Vietnamese Women's Museum
View on Map
The museum is dedicated to Vietnamese women. Established in 1987, the permanent exhibition in Vietnamese Women's Museum has three prime themes: "Women in Family", "Women in History" and "Women's Fashion" with each theme presenting the role of women in Vietnamese family, significant contributions and sacrifices of Vietnamese women especially in Wars, and a wide range of stunning costumes made with traditional techniques respectively through the actual displays all labelled in Vietnamese, English and French.
The Museum's opening hours: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (From Monday to Sunday)
Admission prices: 30 000 vnd
Website: http://baotangphunu.org.vn/ (Vietnamese, English, French, Japanese)
Address: #36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
Telephone: (84-4) 38259936
Long Bien Bridge
View on Map
Pass through Hang Khoai in the Old Quarter and you will get to Long Bien Bridge. The legendary bridge connecting Hoan Kiem and Long Bien was built by the architects Daydé & Pillé of Paris and opened in 1903. It reflects French architecture and plays an important part in the Vietnamese' life. If you have time, you better go for a walk to the fishing village nearby to immerse yourself in the peaceful country life of the Vietnamese while observing the Hanoi Ceramic road along Song Hong dyke.
Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo Prison, located in the center of Hanoi, was built in 1896 by the French. It was first called "Đề lao Trung ương - Maison Centrale but later "Hỏa Lò" meaning: The heat of the Kiln with Hỏa: The heat and Lò: the Kiln, since this prison was constructed in village Phu Khanh, the pottery village. The museum gets into the detail about the brutality of the torture and violent treatment that the Vietnamese suffered during French colonialism, and how American pilot prisoners had been shot and captured in during Vietnam war. Hoa Lo was also nicknamed "Hanoi Hilton" by US prisoners of war. The exhibit panels are in Vietnamese, English and French.
Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday (8:00 am - 11:30 am and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm)
Admission prices: 30 000 vnd/adult and 15 000/child
Address: #1 Hoa Lo, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
All photos on this post taken by me and Mai Tran.