Accommodation & Things To Do

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Accommodation

Our favorite hotel is Melia Hanoi (link), and we’ll likely stay there ourselves. Many other good hotels can be found on Agoda/Booking.com.

We recommend staying near Hoan Kiem District (near the old quarter – good place for sightseeing & street food).

We recommend flying in the day before the wedding (Nov 7), and flying out on Nov 9, or later if you want to do sightseeing.

Hanoi offers many fun things to do for tourists. Here are some highlights, in no particular order:

Sword Lake + Ngoc Son Temple (map) – highly recommended; check out the now extinct Sword Lake specimen. While you’re there, walk around the lake and wander through the ancient streets of Hanoi’s old quarter.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (map) – impressive display of Ho Chi Minh’s preserved corpse. Keep opening hours in mind and dress respectfully (no shorts + sandals).
Temple of Literature (map) – the oldest University in Vietnam, dating back to the year 1070. Beautiful buildings & garden.
Hoa Lo Prison (“Hanoi Hilton”) (map) – grim prison where the French kept Vietnamese freedom fighters, and the North Vietnamese kept American prisoners (including John McCain). Right next to Melia Hotel.
Vietnam Military History Museum (map) – brand new, opened in 2024.
See a waterpuppet show at Thang Long (map) near Hoan Kiem lake.
Hang out around West Lake – the “Thao Dien” of Hanoi, plenty of cool cafes, restaurants, bars.
Eat street food & try egg coffee.

Pho Khoi (map) or Pho Ly Quoc Su (map)
Bun Cha Hang Quat (map)
Pho Cuon Chinh Thang (map) – Pho springrolls & deep fried Pho in a cool neighborhood.

A Ban – Mountain Dew (map) – clean & comfortable restaurant serving Vietnamese food from the mountainous region. Highly recommended.
Hanoi style fish with dill & rice noodles – Cha Ca Thang Long (Google Maps listing is broken, use link)
Bao Wow (map) – great little Bao place in West Lake neighborhood.
Pizza 4Ps (multiple locations) & Pizza Belga (map) – can’t go wrong with Italian.

Running Bean (map) – good coffee & food, good for working.
Capella Coffee Roaster (map) – coffee roaster in West Lake neighborhood, good for working.
Egg coffee: Cafe Pho Co (map) – egg coffee (Hanoi special) overlooking Hoan Kiem lake. Or, try Eggyolk.

Pasteur Street Craft Beer (map) – craft beer & western food near Hoan Kiem Lake.
Turtle Lake Brewing Company (map) – craft beer & western food overlooking West Lake.
Ha Noi HomeBrew (map) – small craft beer place right next to Hoan Kiem Lake.
The Hafflington (map) – very cool cocktail bar. Recommended.