Hanoi
Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the second largest city in Vietnam. Hanoi is considered the cultural and political center of Vietnam. It is located without the Red River Delta. The weather is classified as tropical monsoon. May to August is humid and rainy. November through January are cooler and less rainy. The city is packed with incredible tourist sites and destinations including:
Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long Water Puppet show, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Old Quarter, Hoa Lo Prison, Tran Quoc Pagoda, National Museum of Vietnamese History, Lotte Tower Observation Deck, Bach Ma Temple
trips from hanoi
Since Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the second largest city in Vietnam, you will likely end up here at some point in your journey through Vietnam. The other thing is that Hanoi is a great jump off place for many great attractions including:
Halong Bay, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Trang An and Tam Coc boat ride down Sao Khe River, Ba Vi National Park, Perfume Pagoda, Thay Temple, Sapa Region and the Mai Chau Valley.
two incredible excursions from hanoi
Halong bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and located in the Quang Ninh Province in Vietnam. The bay has thousands of isles and limestone karsts. The bay covers an area of about 600 square miles (1,553 km sq). Bai Tu Long Bay is the northeast and Cat Ba Island is to the southwest. This area should be on everyone’s list when coming to Vietnam.
Things to do
Aside from the obvious of taking a cruise around Halong Bay you can visit Hang Sung Sot Cave, Me Cung Cave, Cat Ba Island, Monkey Island, shrine at Virgin Cave, Lan Ha Bay, Dau Be Island, Cannon Fort, Hospital Cave, Ho Chi Minh Monument. You can also kayak, take a seaplane ride, or simply relax on the beach.
Mai Chau Valley
The Mai Chau Valley is surrounded by rice fields, green mountains, and beautiful countryside but not far from Hanoi makes this an easy area to do a day trip or an overnight trip with homestays in the villages. Monsoon season is between June to August which may cause road flooding. October is an ideal time to visit because it is time of harvest. It is a great alternative to those who want to see the countryside but do not have enough time to visit Sapa.
Things to do
Cycle around the valley and take in the views, shop for local crafts, do a homestay, do a day trek, kayak Hoa Binh Lake, explore Pu Luong Nature Reserve.
