Hanoi Travel Guide
Vietnamese Fresh Rice Noodle Rolls Recipe – Hanoi Style Phở Cuốn
This Vietnamese fresh rice noodle rolls recipe or Hanoi pho cuon recipe kicks off our series of Vietnamese spring roll recipes. These filling rolls can be eaten as appetisers before a main or served alongside [...]
Where to Stay in Hanoi for Lakeside Luxury and Hotels with Lake Views
Where to stay in Hanoi is easy – you want to be on, near or overlooking one of Hanoi’s atmospheric lakes. And as luxury and boutique hotels come at such an affordable price in Vietnam, [...]
Vietnamese Street Food Dishes You Need to Try and Where to Taste Them
Vietnamese street food dishes you need to try in Vietnam and where to taste them – from bun cha in Hanoi to banh xeo in Saigon. We give you the lowdown on Vietnam’s must-try dishes [...]
Things to Do in Sapa in Northern Vietnam and Why You Need to Visit Now
Things to do in Sapa in Northern Vietnam include cooking and crafting with the Ethnic Minority women, trekking through Sapa's jaw-dropping mountains and countryside, shopping, eating and drinking in Sapa's markets, and simply absorbing the [...]
Vietnamese Spring Roll Recipes – A Series of Fresh and Fried Favourites
These Vietnamese spring roll recipes have been a long time coming. We fell in love with Vietnamese food over thirty years ago when we became addicted to fresh Vietnamese spring rolls. We thought it time [...]
How to Choose a Halong Bay Cruise That’s Right For You
How to choose a Halong Bay cruise – surely it can’t be that hard? I didn’t think so until I heard travellers complain of being put on boats they didn’t book and forced to share ‘single’ [...]
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Hanoi Essentials
When to Go
Mar-Apr & Sep-Nov Weather is mild and pleasant and great for long strolls.
May-Jul Hanoi at its hottest (28-35ºC) and most humid.
Dec-Feb Hanoi in winter is quite cold sometimes gettting below 10ºC, you won’t be sunbaking on deck at Halong Bay.
Health
If you’re sticking to Hanoi, health issues and quality of medical attention is fine. A bout of stomach illness is not uncommon (take Imodium or similar), but overall traffic accidents are your main worry. Do take these recommended vaccinations
Visas
Nationals of United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and some others can get a 15 day visa on arrival. Other nationalities need a visa in advance but you can do this online at Vietnam Visa on Arrival through our visa partner, the most respected Vietnam Visa agent.
Insurance for Hanoi
CURRENCY
CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES
$1.00 USD = 23,174.51 VND
$1.00 AUD = 15,825.40 VND
€1.00 EUR = 25,659.73 VND
£1.00 GBP = 30,465.36 VND
The Vietnamese currency (VND) is called the ‘dong’ and you’ll find most prices quoted to you in dong. ATMs are common around the Hoan Kiem Lake area. When shopping cash rules, but debit and credit cards are used in hotels. Don’t change money on the streets, ever.
LANGUAGE
VIETNAMESE IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF VIETNAM.
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY IN VIETNAM IS 220 VOLTS. 50 CYCLES/SEC.
LOCAL TIME
CURRENT HANOI TIME
Vietnamese Time Zone is (GMT+7)
Vietnam has never used daylight saving time.
WEATHER
CURRENT HANOI WEATHER
-
TEMPERATURE
°C | °C -
HUMIDITY
% -
WIND
m/s -
CLOUDINESS
% -
SUNRISE
-
SUNSET
-
TUE 10°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
-
WED 11°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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THU 12°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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FRI 13°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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SAT 14°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
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SUN 15°C | °CCloudiness%Humidity%
TRANSPORTATION
AIR/LAND/SEA
Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is around 30 kilometres from the city centre via a multi-lane highway. There are buses, taxis and mini-vans that ply this route, but your best bet is to organise a pick-up through your hotel – which you should book in advance (around US$15). Despite the traffic, Hanoi’s a great walking town, particularly when so many taxis are fake versions of Mai Ling taxi service.
Hanoi Daily Costs
Budget
Daily Budget Up To:
US$40
- Guesthouse/Cheap Hotel: US$3–18
- Noodle street food dish: US$1–3
- Bia Hoi (draught beer): from US$0.30
Mid Range
Daily Budget From:
US$41–100
- Air-con hotel room: US$25–50
- Good local restaurant meal: US$5–10
- Local Taxi Ride: US$2-5
Luxury
Daily Budget From:
US$101+
- Boutique hotel or resort: US$80–500
- Quality 3-course meal: US$25–50
- Internal Flight (eg Hanoi-Danang): US$60–120