Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the eyes of foreign travel experts

Lonely Planet's travel expert commented that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are "both interesting, very Vietnamese but also very different".

Lonely Planet travel magazine commented that Vietnam is a destination that everyone wants to visit because it has everything: beautiful beaches, rich history, diverse culture, rich cuisine. The two most popular destinations for international visitors are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are also the two largest cities in the country.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are described as "both interesting, very Vietnamese but also very different". Lonely Planet asked travel experts to evaluate these two destinations, helping international visitors better understand the differences between the two cities. Through that, visitors can decide which place to choose as a stop for their next trip.

Hanoi

Journalist and travel guide author Joe Bindloss A tourist from Cyprus said that comparing Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is like choosing between two legendary bands, The Beatles and The Stones. It would be "stupid" to talk about one place and ignore the other.

Street food in Hanoi at Dong Xuan alley, near the old quarter. Photo: Thanh Thuy

Bindloss says Hanoi always leaves him feeling moved every time he visits. On his first trip in the 1990s, he was struck by how “many motorbikes were speeding.” To immerse himself immediately in local life, Bindloss suggests heading to the Old Quarter. An early morning stroll will take you past fruit and vegetable vendors, cyclo drivers, and old people playing chess on their balconies.

Hanoi cuisine also captivates him with its delicious flavors from bowls of pho, juicy grilled pork belly noodles, soft rice rolls, sandwiches, strong coffee, and cold draft beer.

Bindloss said exploring Hanoi's history was "very easy" with the itinerary starting at the Imperial Citadel and Hoan Kiem Lake, then continuing to Hai Ba Trung Temple and the Temple of Literature. Ho Chi Minh City has the advantage when it comes to anti-American war relics, but Bindloss loves the museums in Hanoi such as the National History Museum, Vietnamese Women's Museum, and Ethnology Museum. "Hanoi is the perfect starting point to explore the rest of the country," he said.

Hanoi is "also very fun". Tourists can sip drinks at bars or sit and drink draft beer on the sidewalk. Prices in Hanoi are considered "cheap".

Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a historical tourist destination in Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

Ho Chi Minh City

James Pham, a Vietnamese travel expert in charge of Southeast Asia for Lonely Plane, said Hanoi is the political and cultural capital of Vietnam, while Ho Chi Minh City is "the capital of everything else" such as cuisine, entertainment and commerce.

Hanoi has a thousand years of history and culture. Ho Chi Minh City is younger but compensates for it with vibrant cityscapes, newer infrastructure and a vibrant nightlife. "Hanoi is like the older brother with its traditional features. Ho Chi Minh City is the younger brother, so it's younger and more stylish," James said.

Tourists take photos in front of the Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Thanh Vu

The city centre is described by James as “elegant, tree-lined”, a contrast to the “always crowded” Old Quarter of Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh City also has many attractions spread across the city, from the historic buildings in District 1 such as the Opera House, Notre Dame Cathedral and Central Post Office to District 3 with the vibrant atmosphere of Cho Lon. The rich cuisine is also a plus that makes James fascinated here. “I like the ease of eating different dishes for each meal without repeating the same thing for a month,” James said.

James encourages international visitors to choose Ho Chi Minh City because of its warm weather all year round while Hanoi "can be surprisingly cold in winter". If Hanoi is close to Ha Long Bay and the mountainous areas of the Northwest, Ho Chi Minh City is close to tourist paradises such as Con Dao, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc and is the gateway to the Mekong Delta.

Culture and history lovers can go to Hanoi, if you like to live a vibrant life, Ho Chi Minh City is the place for you, according to James.

Anh Minh (According to Lonely Planet )

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