There are some sightseeing activities you can do before heading out to the countryside. Most center around Hoan Kiem River; the river shares its name with the district. The area, north of Nguyen Du Street, comprises charming old streets, a cluster of French colonial-style buildings, the famous puppet theater, hotels and embassies alongside bustling markets, museums and temples. The lake is a pleasant place for a leisurely stroll to take in the local way of life. For shoppers, there are plenty of shopping options around the lake, mostly on Trand Tien Street and Hang Gai Street – look out for Dong Xuan Market for local and foreign goods. Like anywhere in Asia, bargaining is a way of life. Make sure you agree on the price you feel comfortable with. Patience and smiling face are always the best policy when negotiating the price – bargain hard but keep it friendly.

Getting around Hanoi is quite convenient. There are taxies or cyclos, a Vietnamese style tricycle taxi, running around town. But if you like touring the city in the local style, there are places where you can rent a Chinese bicycle. Be careful about the traffic, though – it can get quite intense – and a bicycle is the low man on the totem pole.

Another area where you catch a nostalgic atmosphere is the Old Quarter on Hoan Kiem District, Hang Chieu Street. The mazelike streets feature countless shophouses with narrow frontage but deceiving depth. (The buildings were built this way because shops were taxed by the width of the storefront.)

Monuments and museums around the lake area include the Museum of the Revolution, Museum of History, the Opera House and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The first museum houses photographs chronicling Vietnam’s fight to free herself from French colonialism, Japanese fascism and American imperialism – it’s been quite a struggle. The Opera House on Tran Tien Street is the centerpiece of French architecture in Hanoi. This was the place where Vietminh troops announced the triumph of the August Revolution in 1945. Nowadays, this 400-seat, three-tier theater hosts national celebrations, ballets, symphonies, operas and concerts.

If temples are your thing, we suggest you take a one-day tour to the Perfume Pagoda, 60km south of Hanoi. This Buddhist site, or Chua Huong, has a collection of carved limestone shrines on a hilltop. The cavern inside the hill enshrines venerated gilded Buddha and Bodhisattvas statues. Here, thousands of pilgrims come to pray to Quan Am, the goddess of mercy and compassion. The trip to the temple involves taking a ferry down the flooded valley and a walk on a stone path up to the hill.

Attractions in Hanoi

• Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
• Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda
• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Hanoi Opera House
• Water Puppet, The West Lake, Dong Xuan Market