19:00: Stroll on the walking streets

The streets surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake, the historic heart of the capital, have become walking streets on weekends since 2016. This is also a rare space for city residents to have a place to play and enjoy the breeze. . Here Hanoi tourists can watch bands, watch hip-hop dancers perform, try out Vietnamese folk games or let artists paint portraits by the lake. Even if we arrive at 5am we get to experience a more peaceful Hanoi, when people are exercising at dawn.

20:00: Enjoy Northern cuisine with family flavor

In 2023, Hanoi cuisine will receive a Michelin star for the first time. Among the three high-end restaurants awarded, the impressive difference of Tam Vi restaurant comes from its authentic and affordable Northern cuisine. Housed in a rustic wooden house, the restaurant is decorated with vintage furniture, Dong Ho wood carvings, handwritten signs and nostalgic details like an old gramophone. The menu here also has many cozy dishes that evoke a family feeling such as fried tofu with tomato sauce, braised fish and lolot leaf rolls…

22:00: Have a drink together at Wong Kar Wai

Located at the end of a nondescript alley, Wong Bar Wine is a special place featured in the New York Times’ 36 Hours of Hanoi itinerary. The bar was co-founded in 2022 by Nguyen Qui Duc. With red lights and brocade fabric, Wong Bar Wine is inspired by the films of Hong Kong director Wong Kar Wai.

However, this is also a place to honor German aesthetics, as well as the movie “In the Mood for Love”. The shop only seats about a dozen people, but you’ll probably meet a few lost souls telling you adventurous stories as you sip a whiskey highball (cost about 150,000 VND) in the dim space.

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Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street near Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square area often gathers many locals and visitors. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

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Michelin-certified Tam Vi Restaurant offers a multi-course menu rich in family flavors. Photo: FB Tam Vi

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Wong Kar Wai bar under soft lighting is reminiscent of images from the movie Wong Kar Wai. Photo: thedotmagazine

09:00: Find the past

While the Temple of Literature gives us a glimpse of Hanoi’s 1,000-year history, the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long located in nearby Ba Dinh district reveals many unforgettable memories that are often overlooked by visitors. Although very few traces of the original palace remain, the main gate built during the Ly Dynasty in the 11th century still stands tall in front of a large lawn, opposite the Hanoi Flagpole. However, the real surprise lies deep underground. Down in the basement, you will see bunkers built in 1967 and used by Vietnamese military leaders to take shelter during US air strikes.

11:00: Enjoy delicious coffee

After exploring history, we can rest for a while at an old French villa on the charming little street of Chan Cam. This stunning building was once home to a single family, but was later subdivided into 16 living spaces as the city’s population grew after the colonial period in the mid-20th century. Today, the building The house is home to shops like Loading T – a cafe that roasts coffee beans with cinnamon. Antique floor tiles, occasional cats and old French music create an unforgettable charm in your 36-hour Hanoi itinerary. We can also go deeper into the building to explore local ceramics at Hien Van Ceramics, or cross the street to Blackbird to enjoy cappuccino, cold brew and pour-over coffee in a modern space. and style.

12:30: Explore exciting cuisine

You can join a street food tour on two wheels, organized by Vespa Adventures. At that time, we will be able to sit on the back of an antique Vespa as we weave through the streets of Hanoi, enjoying typical dishes such as bun cha, banh mi and sweet beef squash. The trip also passes major landmarks in the city, including the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace and Chinatown, where Hanoi tourists sit and drink coffee next to the railway tracks. The tour lasts four hours and costs 2 million VND. If you’re more adventurous, rent a motorbike and ride across Long Bien Bridge at sunset, this is a gathering place for groups of young people, with cargo ships drifting on the Red River in the distance.

18:00: Enjoy excellent food

To enjoy a classic Hanoi dish, go to Cha Ca Thang Long to try grilled fish with lentils served with roasted peanuts, herbs and vermicelli (140,000 VND). Or you can also try Chapter restaurant, one of the city’s newest fine dining restaurants.

20:00: Immerse yourself in the jazz space

The newest name in Hanoi’s fledgling jazz scene, Long Waits, opened last year in Hoan Kiem district with a cozy space that accommodates a few dozen guests, a stylish wooden bar and a small balcony overlooking the yard. stage. The band, led by influential saxophonist Nguyen Bao Long, performs classic jazz albums over the weekend, featuring artists from Miles Davis and John Coltrane to Chet Baker and Billie Holiday (ticket price 250,000 VND).

11:00 p.m.: Sip cocktails under candlelight

Hanoi has seen a boom in secret bars in recent years, but few have as much style as Longer Than a Summer. Located in the alley next to the Cathedral, this bar is an ideal address for introverts. Those who talk too loudly will be reminded to keep the atmosphere low. There are only cocktails (250,000 VND) and whiskey here, no menu. If you want to find something more exciting for your 36-hour Hanoi itinerary? Vietnamtravelio tells you that you can go to Hanoi Rock City to watch performances, to Ray Quan to drink rice wine next to the train tracks, or to Savage to immerse yourself in techno rhythms all night long.

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The main hall of Thang Long Imperial Citadel recalls the history of a time. Photo: golatravel

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Loading T restaurant is located in an old French villa. Photo: FB Loading T cafe

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Thang Long grilled fish has also been honored by Michelin as a restaurant worth trying and a must-visit in the 36-hour Hanoi itinerary. Photo: MICHELIN Guide

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Space to enjoy jazz music at Long Waits. Photo: longwaitsjazz

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Small, private bar in the heart of Hanoi. Photo: FB Longer Than a Summer

09:00: Enter the museum

Head west to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (admission 40,000 VND) in Cau Giay district, which displays the customs of 54 Vietnamese ethnic groups. A destination you cannot miss in your 36-hour Hanoi itinerary is the model of the stilt house of the Black Thai people inside, or the garden outside where many traditional architecture gather.

11:00 am: Explore the changing neighborhood

In 1967, John McCain, the future US Senator, parachuted into Truc Bach Lake when his plane was shot down over Hanoi, before he spent years in captivity. The lakeside area has now developed with cafes, bars and vintage clothing stores. You can enjoy pho rolls (about 75,000 VND) at Pho Cuon Chinh Thang or Western breakfast at Ma Xo (about 140,000 VND). Sip lemonade at Fu Hoo Cafe or craft beer at Standing Bar.

13:00: Find souvenirs

To find interesting souvenirs, you can go to Tay Ho district, where Kilomet 109 is a shop selling naturally dyed clothes such as indigo jackets and dresses made by local artisans. Head south to one of TiredCity’s shops in the old town to find t-shirts and bags featuring the works of young Vietnamese artists.

15:00: Reflection on contemporary art

Nowhere is more attractive than Manzi Art Space (free admission), located in an elegant villa in Ba Dinh district. Famous for its contemplative exhibitions and performances, Manzi is a hub for Hanoi’s artistic and intellectual community.

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Learn about Vietnamese customs and practices at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. Photo: vme

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Art display space inside Manzi Art Space. Photo: FB Manzi Art Space

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi: Open in the French Quarter since 1901, this hotel is an example of colonial architecture. The terrace area next to Bamboo Bar and swimming pool is the ideal place to relax. In addition, according to travel experience, you can also ask the staff to guide you to the bomb shelter under the bar.

The Hotel du Lac: The hotel is just a few hundred steps from Hoan Kiem Lake and the main streets of the Old Quarter, and has an impressive Art Deco lobby, art deco restaurant and luxurious rooms.

Oriental House: This is an elegant boutique hotel, decorated in a traditional Vietnamese style, located at the end of a quiet alley near the Cathedral.

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L’hôtel du Lac has an impressive European style located near Hoan Kiem Lake area. Photo: congchungnguyenhue

For cheap and easy travel within the capital, you can book Grab or Xanh SM. You can also catch a metered taxi on the road – Mai Linh is often considered the most reliable.

With secret bars, delicious places to eat, historical sites and new art galleries popping up, the 36-hour Hanoi itinerary will bring you many unique experiences. Hopefully the information compiled by Vietnamtravelio will help readers have an unforgettable journey.