How is Hanoi an ideal destination for Hong Kong tourists?

Hanoi could become a perfect tourist destination for Hong Kong visitors, thanks to its unique cultural and infrastructure factors.

Du khách tham quan Hà Nội bằng xe Jeep - Ảnh: SCMP — *Tourists tour Hanoi by Jeep - Photo: SCMP*

According to SCMP , although Macau and Shenzhen (China) are two locations that are closer and more linguistically compatible, Hanoi is the perfect getaway for Hong Kong tourists. The Vietnamese capital is only a 2-hour flight away and is considered both “foreign” and quintessentially Asian.

Life here takes place on the sidewalks, SCMP noted. Women sell fruit on bicycles parked on street corners, barbers fix mirrors to tree trunks and serve customers from chairs placed right next to them, waiters sit on stools peeling piles of vegetables right outside restaurants, along with motorbike repairmen, sign writers and other artisans setting up shop on the sidewalks, all oblivious to the surrounding noise.

SCMP newspaper said that Hanoi is like a large, bustling village with French colonial architecture.

A day in Hanoi starts very early with Hoan Kiem Lake as the center. The lake is surrounded by banyan trees and low-rise buildings colored with apricot blossoms, which are home to shops and cafes.

At dawn, Hoan Kiem Lake attracts hundreds of Hanoians to jog, stretch, do push-ups on the railings or practice tai chi.

Người dân Hà Nội tập luyện thái cực quyền bên cạnh hồ Gươm - Ảnh: SCMP — *Hanoians practice tai chi next to Hoan Kiem Lake - Photo: SCMP*

Hanoi is a peaceful urban area with a wide range of accommodation, from luxury hotels to budget guesthouses, located on small plots of land, some just large enough to accommodate a few rooms on each floor.

Hotels like the Sofitel Legend Metropole charge around $400 a night. The Old Quarter, which is located near and around Hoan Kiem Lake, has plenty of family-friendly hotels, all equipped with modern amenities and most with spas in-house or nearby, starting at around $60.

Going to crowded areas in the city, visitors will easily hear the jingling bells of cyclo - a traditional Vietnamese passenger vehicle.

The fare for a cyclo ride is around 8 USD. This means of transport allows tourists to comfortably film and take pictures of Hanoi. The city’s roads are flat, so cyclo drivers do not encounter too many difficulties.

About a generation ago, Hanoi had very few restaurants, and menus and bills were mostly handwritten. In June 2023, 48 dining establishments in Hanoi were honored by Michelin , of which 3/4 restaurants received 1 Michelin star.

The appearance of Michelin may have shaken up the culinary map in Hanoi, but long-standing restaurants are still loved by diners.

Tourists shopping in Hanoi need to be prepared to bargain, the newspaper reminded readers.

Besides souvenirs, there are also many lacquerware, silk and hand-embroidered items that are exquisitely hand-made. Visitors can buy them at the popular shops in the old quarter and in the neighboring districts.

Những bức tranh được bán tại cửa hàng Huy Hùng Gallery ở Hà Nội - Ảnh: SCMP — *Paintings for sale at Huy Hung Gallery in Hanoi - Photo: SCMP*

A few hundred metres north of the Old Quarter lies Hanoi’s largest market, Dong Xuan Market, a three-storey hub of “organised chaos” and rows of stalls. It’s worth a visit and a stroll around the market.

In some places in the market the aisles are so narrow that two people cannot pass each other and the vendors have to sit on their goods such as clothes, fabrics, shoes, household items, dried foods and countless other miscellaneous items.