24 hours of Independence Day in Hanoi

Suggested some must-see activities on September 2nd and some Hanoi-style sightseeing, dining and entertainment spots for visitors from the Central and Southern regions.

This year, Hanoi has risen to the top of the list of most searched destinations by Vietnamese tourists, according to Booking.com. The four-day holiday (August 30 - September 2) is the ideal time for tourists from all over to come to Hanoi to explore the capital and immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere.

To celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2025) and National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), Hanoi organized a military parade and ended with a fireworks display lighting up the capital's night sky.

MORNING

▸ 6:30: Watch the parade

According to the plan, the parade will take place from 6:30 to 10:00 on September 2 at Ba Dinh Square with 43 armed forces, militia, and people, as well as tanks, tracked vehicles, and tire vehicles. After passing the stage, the parade will go along Hung Vuong Street and divide into 7 branches to the assembly points.

Combined military parade units practice at the Mieu Mon National Training Center (Hanoi). Photo: Duy Hieu.

Some good locations to watch the parade : Hung Vuong - Nguyen Thai Hoc - Hang Chao intersection, Le Duan - Nguyen Thai Hoc intersection, Cua Nam intersection, Kim Ma - Lieu Giai intersection, Tran Phu - Nguyen Tri Phuong street, Hang Khay - Trang Tien intersection.

Visitors should arrive at 1-2am or earlier to secure a good spot. At this time, visitors can proactively prepare snacks or eat early to recharge their batteries at some restaurants that open after midnight such as Pho Hang Chieu, Dong Xuan Banh Mi, Yen Xoi, Le Ngoc Han Street Hot Rice Cake, Huyen Anh Rib and Cartilage Porridge, etc.

▸ 10am: Enjoy the historical exhibition

On this occasion, Hanoi also organized a number of special historical exhibitions on different themes to serve the people and tourists.

Hanoi 1972 exhibition space at Hanoi Museum. Photo: Thanh Dong.

The National Achievements Exhibition with the theme "80 years of Independence - Freedom - Happiness" took place from August 28 to September 5 at the National Exhibition Center (Dong Anh Commune). The exhibition is large-scale, aiming to honor the achievements of 80 years of building and developing the country.

From August 28 to September 5, the National Exhibition Center also held the exhibition Returning to the Sacred Moment with virtual reality technology, open to the public. Passing through the VR gate, visitors were transported back 80 years to September 2, 1945, standing among thousands of compatriots, feeling the boiling atmosphere and listening to every word of the Declaration of Independence.

▸ 11am: Check-in the red flag and yellow star alleys

Some alleys decorated with prominent red flags and yellow stars, with many beautiful photo angles, include alley 150 Yen Phu, alley Vong Ha, alley 823 Hong Ha, alley Cho Kham Thien, alley 25 Phan Dinh Phung, alley 477 Kim Ma, alley next to Ngoc Ha communal house...

Many streets in Hanoi have been decorated with colorful flags and flowers since late August. Photo: Viet Ha.

After checking in, visitors can sip matcha latte at Starbucks in Hanoi Post Office (Dinh Tien Hoang Street), egg coffee at Pho Co Coffee (Hang Gai Street), Giang Coffee (Nguyen Huu Huan Street), Dinh Coffee (Dinh Tien Hoang Street next to Hoan Kiem Lake) or visit The Note Coffee (Luong Van Can Street) to watch the street.

AFTERNOON

▸ 12-14h: Hanoi Street Food Tour

Dong Xuan Market is the first suggestion, next to the market there is a small alley selling many traditional dishes such as vermicelli with snails, vermicelli with grilled pork, shrimp cakes, mixed sweet soup... Prices range from 20,000-50,000 VND/dish.

Pho is also a dish worth trying when coming to Hanoi. Photo: Tuan Anh.

Another option for tourists who like to experience famous restaurants is Dong Thinh eel vermicelli (Hang Dieu street). This restaurant was once selected by Michelin as one of the "delicious, reasonably priced" restaurants. For more than 40 years, it has only sold eel dishes such as vermicelli, porridge, and soup with flexible preparation methods and a sweet taste thanks to the broth made from eel bones. The price is 30,000-65,000 VND/serving.

Mrs. Luong's snail noodle soup (Khuong Thuong street) also impresses with its slightly thick broth made from green banana and tofu, served with boiled snails, beef, pig's ear sausage and fried breadsticks. The menu also has snail balls and snails wrapped in betel leaves. Price range: 45,000-55,000 VND/serving.

If you prefer dry food, you cannot miss Mrs. Xuan's rice rolls (Doc Hoe Nhai). The rice flour is ground with a stone mortar and hand-rolled, so the crust is thin, smooth and soft, with wood ear mushrooms and minced meat inside. Served with fatty sausage, cinnamon sausage and homemade fried onions. Price is about 40,000 VND/serving.

In addition, some famous restaurants include bun cha 74 (Hang Quat street), bun oc Them (Hang Chai street), long heo 16 (Hai Ba Trung street), bun ngan Nhan (Trung Yen street), oc Thuy Hang (Nguyen Hoang street), pho Vui (Hang Giay street)...

▸ 5:00 p.m.: Experience making personal stamps and drawing portraits

Strolling around Hanoi’s Old Quarter, visitors can find handmade wood carving shops, most concentrated on Hang Quat and To Tich streets. Visitors can choose a picture at the shop or send a photo of their choice. The craftsmen will print or draw on the wood surface and measure and carve it entirely by hand. The price is 70,000-100,000 VND/item.

Another interesting activity is portrait painting in the Hoan Kiem Lake area by the lakeside painters. It takes about 15-30 minutes to complete a portrait painting with the price of 50,000-300,000 VND/painting.

EVENING

▸ 19-20h: Try the night tour

Night tours such as Hoa Lo at night, Decoding the Imperial Citadel, Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam: The Essence of Confucianism... usually take place on weekends. If you come to Hanoi on September 2, you can join the Mysterious Night tour at Ngoc Son Temple . The tour has 5 main parts, corresponding to the separate architectural areas of Ngoc Son Temple relic with sound, light, and modern projection technology. The tour lasts 30 minutes and costs 268,000 VND/person.

Hanoi has 16 night tour programs. Photo: Viet Linh.

▸ 9pm: Watch the brilliant fireworks

Hanoi will organize high-altitude fireworks at 5 locations, including Hoan Kiem Lake, Thong Nhat Park, Van Quan Lake, My Dinh National Stadium and West Lake at 9:00 p.m. on September 2, lasting about 15 minutes.

The duration and scale of the performances will be the same across the venues, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to the whole city. Visitors can choose nearby rooftop bars to avoid the crowds.

▸ 10pm: "Drink up" on Ta Hien Street

Ta Hien Western Street (Hoan Kiem Ward) is the most vibrant night street in the capital. In the evening, the street is bustling with bars, cafes, acoustic performances and impromptu street art performances.

Visitors need to park their vehicles on Luong Ngoc Quyen Street or nearby parking lots, because Ta Hien area prohibits vehicles at night. Photo: Thach Thao.

Coming here, visitors can sip draft beer, eat boneless chicken feet like American billionaire Jensen Huang, freely have fun, sing... Some bars in the city worth visiting include Hanoi Blues Bar, Hay Bar, 900 Le Theatre, Tom's Bar...

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/24-gio-choi-tet-doc-lap-o-ha-noi-post294002.html