City: Hanoi
Top Things to do in Hanoi
The 6 Best Bodies of Water in Hanoi, Vietnam
The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside. Hanoi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but it hasn't forgotten its past, as sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi.
Restaurants in Hanoi
1. Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13,508 reviews
A rare breed of turtle enjoys this popular lake almost as much as countless locals and tourists. Hoan Kiem Lake is a dynamic daily tableau, from morning walks amid locals doing exercises on the shore, to young couples water-gazing on park benches, to the multiple shopping and sight-seeing opportunities in the vicinity. Centrally located in the city, Hoan Kiem Lake serves as a massive home base, and provides endless people-watching and recreational opportunities on the edge of the Old Quarter.
Reviewed By travelwithanda - Slovenia, null
If you only have a day or two to spend in Hanoi, I recommend you to walk around the Hoan Kiem lake. This way you will be able to see it all: the hustle and bustle of the Old Quarter with milions of crazy motorcycles, beautiful and well maintained parks and gardens, temples and monuments, local people and tourists, old and new buildings... it is really hard to describe it, you need to live it. The walk around the lake takes about 30 minutes, but add at least 30 for photo stops. I can't wait to go back.
2. West Lake
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,776 reviews
The largest lake n Hanoi is a popular spot for gathering, surrounded by many shops, restaurants, gardens, and hotels. It features the Trấn Quốc Pagoda, Vietnamese for "Stabilizing the Nation."
Reviewed By _cmonzella - Westfield, United States
This is the lake where North Vietnamese citizens pulled John McCain out of the water after his plane crashed while on a bombing mission in 1967. We had hired a local guide who explained the nearby sculpture marking that event and also took us to the prison where McCain was held for six years, called by his fellow-captives as the Hanoi Hilton.
3. Bay Mau Lake
4. Linh Dam Lake
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 6 reviews
Linh Dam lake covers 70ha surrounding the Linh Dam urban area. In a green area of more than 200 hectares of open space with 74 hectares of water surface, between Lake Linh Dam has a small island with green trees surrounding the place is home to dozens of white storks.
5. Truc Bach lake
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By jimjimmyjimjimmy - Hanoi, Vietnam
By far the most white and peaceful of Hanoi’s lakes. They also have really good pho cuon Vietnamese food by ngu xa street.
