Hanoi Things to Do Tips by King_Golo

Ho Hoan Kiem means "lake of the returned sword". The story behind the name is a legend. In 1418, the Vietnamese emperor fought a war against the Chinese. It wasn't going too well for him so when he walked by the lake one day, he saw a giant tortoise coming out of the water with a magic sword in its mouth. He took the sword and eventually defeated the Chinese army. When he was having his victory parade at the shores of Ho Hoan Kiem, the tortoise appeared again and demanded the sword back. Before he could do anything, the sword flew away from his hands to the tortoise's mouth. It disappeared in the water. The emperor had a temple built which can still be seen today.
Now, here's the curious thing: In 1968, a giant tortoise was discovered dead in the lake. Scientists estimate that it's at least 200 years old. It is exhibited in the temple (Jade Hill Temple, located on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake) and it is really huge: I would guess that it is about two metres long and weighs probably some 500kilos or so.
Apart from all that historic stuff (that, btw, can be seen in the water puppet shows in the Water Puppet Theater next to the lake), Ho Hoan Kiem is a wonderful place to relax and watch the wind rippling the water. In the early morning and the evening, hundreds of Hanoians gather at the lakeshore to play badminton or do tai chi.
Moreover, when you visit the lake at darkness, the lights of thousands motobikes passing by are beautifully reflected in the water.
One final thing: The best look on the lake is from the top terrace of Pho Co Cafe. It's a little difficult to find - the entry is in a souvenir shop in 11, Hang Gai street, some 150metres away from the lake. And while there, you must enjoy a fresh orange juice...

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Directions: Just south of the Old Quarter - Ho Hoan Kiem cannot be missed!

One of the most interesting things to do in Hanoi is visiting the city's markets. The most beautiful one is Dong Xuan market in the northern part of the Old Quarter. The first thing you'll probably see is the immensely ugly market hall - just skip it and go on to the nearby streets. You'll find yourself in the middle of a neverending hustle and bustle. In literally every corner, people sell literally everything. You'll find fresh herbs, homemade noodles, juicy pineapple slices, minced meat, garlic, all kinds of exotic fruits like durian or dragonfruit, but also rather strange specialties such as duck heads or pork feet. Altogether, it's just incredible how many different kinds of food are sold on the street. Wander through the narrow lanes and look into the backyards, try to bargain over some fresh melons or oranges, and take a deep breath of market air. Dong Xuan market is amazingly rarely visited by tourists - which is a plus! Apart from Dong Xuan, one should also visit Hang Da market located in the western part of the Old Quarter. It's a market dedicated to selling animals. If you are a friend of animals, don't go there - the conditions may shock you. Some ten cats are kept in tiny cages, hundreds of birds share the more-than-small cage next to it while puppies sadly whine whenever a potential customer passes by. The Vietnamese way of treating animals shall not be discussed here, but be warned!
Some kilometers away from the Old Quarter is Tran Xuan Soan market hall. This market specialises in selling clothes and fabrics. If you want to get a new shirt or skirt tailored, this is the place to buy the fabric. In the streets nearby, you'll find plenty of tailors that'll be able to finish your order in about one week. Though it's faster in Hoi An in Central Vietnam, the quality and prices are better in Hanoi. For pairs of trousers check out a branch off Tran Xuan Soan street with some dozens of fabric traders.
There are many other markets in Hanoi - mostly hidden in the narrow streets away from the main roads.

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Address: Pho Dong Xuan, Pho Hang Da, Pho Tran Xuan Soan
Directions: Dong Xuan and Hang Da in the Old Quarter, Tran Xuan Soan near Pho Hue

Yeah, that's it basically. The One Pillar Pagoda is often mentioned to be one of Hanoi's most beautiful pagodas. It's okay, but there are several other pagodas that are more interesting.
The One Pillar Pagoda is just next to the mausoleum, standing on one pillar in a little dirty pond. My tip: Go there, take a quick picture, and escape the vendors and guides...

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Address: Pho Chua Mot Cot
Directions: next to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and in front of the Ho Chi Minh Museum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the most important site in Hanoi for all loyal Vietnamese people. Ho Chi Minh, the nation's hero, is laid out there (btw, against his will - he wanted to be cremated!). Be prepared to see hundreds of people waiting for a short glimpse of his body. Uncle Ho is presented there for 9 months - the other 3 months of the year, his body is restaurated in Moscow.
Everybody has to obey certain rules when visiting the mausoleum. Do obey them, as the guards may become unfriendly quite quickly!

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Directions: Ba Dinh District

Hanoi's opera house is well worth a short visit by its impressive outside appearance. It looks like a giant French colonial mansion and is a really beautiful building.
However, even more interesting are its insides. Try to get tickets for a concert or other show. There are plenty of different events. I went there for a piano concert (mainly Liszt), and I was fascinated.

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Directions: appr. 300m away from the South end of Hoan Kiem Lake

Ho Tay is Hanoi's biggest lake. According to a legend, it was created when a Chinese buffalo mistook the sound of a bell of a pagoda for its mother's voice and ran away, creating the lake by stepping into a small hollow... I'd say, it must have been a giant little buffalo!!! Ho Tay is a vast area of water, situated in the North of Hanoi. Some of the city's most expensive hotels are located there, the place to get the best coconut icecream (eaten out of a coconut) - located at the top end of the dike road between Truc Bach Lake and Ho Tay, a 3-storey icecream place -, the Highlands Coffee with its chill-out swimming terrace...
And there's Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the city's eldest pagodas. It cannot be missed when you go up the dike road as its main building is a tower with as many as 11 storeys! Tran Quoc is one of the places where many Vietnamese have their wedding pictures taken. Photographers wander around asking people to take pictures of them (the people, not the photographers!). Usually, they ask Vietnamese people, but if you want to have a photo taken, don't be shy.

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Directions: Ho Tay area