{"id":13346,"date":"2017-04-06T09:02:44","date_gmt":"2017-04-06T08:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=13346"},"modified":"2025-08-16T22:59:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T05:59:08","slug":"hanoi-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/hanoi-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"10 BUDGET-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN HANOI"},"content":{"rendered":"

I hadn\u2019t planned on spending 10 days in Hanoi<\/a>. The original idea had been to make our way leisurely up the coast of Vietnam and spend a couple of days here before flying home. But a pesky monsoon hit us hard in Ho Chi Minh and, being shameless sun-seekers, we decided to jump on a flight to the sunnier end of the country. This turned out to be a great decision (and not only because of the weather).<\/p>\n

From the unmissable views of serene Halong Bay to the chaotic, labyrinth-like lanes of the old quarter, there is so much to see and do in happening Hanoi. Here\u2019s a list of the top things not to miss in this culturally rich capital, and they\u2019re all budget-friendly!<\/p>\n

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1) Cruise Your Way Through Towering Limestone Islands In A Junk Boat<\/h2>\n

Halong Bay<\/a> had to be top of the list didn\u2019t it really? It is a UNESCO world heritage site after all. Almost 2000 rainforest-topped islands make up this breathtaking place. These little limestone islands were formed by dragons according to legend and Ha Long literally translates from ancient Vietnamese as descending dragon.<\/p>\n

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\nThere are a lot of different boat trips to choose from so take a bit of time to shop around and try to pick one that\u2019s relevant to your age range and interests. (You don\u2019t want to find yourself on a banana-boat booze cruise with a rowdy group of pimply 18-year-olds unless that\u2019s your thing of course.) We opted for a 3 day, 2-night tour that included one night on the boat and one on pretty Cat Ba island.<\/p>\n

The itineraries tend to be very similar, mostly involving kayaking, floating villages, and stop-offs at various picturesque islands to find the best photo ops. Our tour included onboard cooking lessons, cycling around Cat Ba island, cave exploring, and kayaking trips into deep, hidden lagoons. No matter which tour you choose, you\u2019re in for an unforgettable experience. <\/p>\n

Book Your Tour: <\/strong> 2 Day Royal Halong Bay Cruise <\/a><\/div>\n

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2) Pet A Furry Friend At Hanoi’S Very Own Cat Cafe<\/h2>\n

I had heard through the backpacker grapevine that Hanoi had its very own cat cafe, but when I asked around I was met with blank looks. But after finding a vague address online and wandering around the city for hours we eventually found one. To call it a cafe is generous. They don\u2019t actually have a coffee machine or serve any food. But what they lack in beverage options, they make up for in cats. A lot of cats.<\/p>\n

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The general idea: come in, sit down, wait for a cat to sit on you, relax! It\u2019s meant to be pretty therapeutic apparently. If you\u2019re a cat person anyway. We spent an unnecessary amount of time here one afternoon, but it\u2019s hard to leave when you\u2019ve got a cute, little furry thing snoring peacefully on your lap!<\/p>\n

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3) Tickle Your Tastebuds With A Walking Food Tour Of The Old Quarter<\/h2>\n

That\u2019s you walking by the way, not the food. Though in Vietnam you can never be sure… There\u2019s more to Vietnamese food than just ph\u1edf! The variety of dishes on offer here is huge, but for a truly authentic taste of Hanoi, you\u2019ll need to avoid the lure of touristy restaurants.<\/p>\n

Your guide will take you to all the secret places that you\u2019d have a hard time discovering on your own; down a side alley, through a nondescript storefront, up to several flights of rickety stairs into a hidden restaurant. Be prepared to try such delicacies as deep-fried duck tongue and Hanoi\u2019s famous egg coffee. (So much nicer than it sounds).<\/p>\n

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Awesome Travel<\/a> offer a great food tour that takes you to 8 different places around the old quarter for around \u00a310. The trip involves a lot of walking and takes around 3 hours. Make sure you go on an empty stomach, you\u2019ll be absolutely stuffed by the end of the evening!<\/p>\n

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4) Try An Authentic Cooking Class<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re into the culinary side of things a cooking class is a great way to spend an evening. Blue Butterfly Cooking Class is one of the most popular choices, with the class beginning in the markets with your guide, who introduces you to the different spices and herbs before purchasing the fresh produce to bring back to the kitchen.<\/p>\n

At the restaurant, you\u2019ll be shown how to make traditional dishes such as pork spring rolls and banana flower salad. Afterward you\u2019ll sit down and eat everything you\u2019ve just cooked! At around \u00a344 this is a bit on the pricey side, but it was my favourite experience in Hanoi and worth every penny!<\/p>\n

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5) Take A Stroll Through The Tranquil Temple Of Literature, Vietnam’S Oldest University<\/h2>\n

If history and architecture is your thing, you\u2019ll love Temple of Literature<\/a>. With the tranquil atmosphere and heady scent of incense in the air, it\u2019s an escape from the hectic city surrounding it. Established as Vietnam\u2019s very first university in 1076, this small temple complex is full of beautiful old architecture and shrines honouring Vietnam\u2019s finest scholars. The entrance used to be reserved for those of noble birth only, but don\u2019t worry, they let anyone in nowadays.<\/p>\n

Look out for the bushes shaped like animals of the zodiac and the cute miniatures of Confucius and his students scattered around the well-pruned foliage. The temple is not just popular among tourists; often you\u2019ll see recently graduated students in traditional dress having their photographs taken in front of the central pool, known as the \u2018Well of Heavenly Clarity\u2019. Admission costs only 30 000VD.<\/p>\n

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6) Discover The Ancient Legend Of Ho\u00e0N Ki\u00eaM, ‘Lake Of The Restored Sword’<\/h2>\n

Ho\u00e0n Ki\u1ebfm Lake<\/a>, is the physical and symbolical centre of the city. You can\u2019t miss this huge body of water at the heart of the city. Its banks are popular with locals who enjoy a bit of tai chi at 6am, and if you\u2019re lucky you might spot a turtle popping up for a breath of air. Legend goes that in the 15th century Emperor Ly Thai To was given a magical sword by the Golden Turtle God which helped him defeat the Chinese. After the victory, a large turtle swam up to the emperors’ boat and reclaimed the sword, disappearing into the depths of the lake to return it to its divine owner.<\/p>\n

Here you can learn more about the legend at Ngoc Son Temple, (Temple of the Jade Mountain) which sits on a tiny island accessed by an ornate red bridge. It\u2019s only 30,000VND to go inside, where you\u2019ll find many locals come to worship and burn banknotes in a furnace as offerings. (Don\u2019t risk burning yourself, the notes are fake!)<\/p>\n

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7) Gape At The Traffic Mayhem From A Safe Distance At The City View Cafe<\/h2>\n

Crossing the street anywhere in Hanoi is pretty daunting, but this intersection by the old quarter is something else. It\u2019s chaos. There are no lines on the road, no roundabout, no rules of who goes first. It\u2019s every man for himself, you snooze you lose.<\/p>\n

Our food tour guide tried to teach us how to cross the road without getting squashed with his 3 golden rules: Don\u2019t stop! Once you\u2019ve started to cross just keep going, don\u2019t hesitate, slow down or worst of all stop. The traffic will (hopefully) move around you. Don\u2019t make eye contact with drivers. Buses rule the road! A bus will not stop if you are in the way if you see one coming, run!<\/p>\n

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\nIf you can\u2019t face crossing the road, watch the madness from above instead. You can\u2019t miss the City View Cafe building overlooking the intersection next to the lake. Head all the way up to the top floor and grab a spot overlooking the chaos below with a cold drink.<\/p>\n

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8) Take In The French Colonial Architecture And Shop Til You Drop In The Labyrinthine Old Quarter<\/h2>\n

Grab a bag of delicious, deep-fried pastry ball things from a street vendor, search for the best ph\u1edf in Hanoi or haggle over the price of a pointy hat that you\u2019ll have to wear on the plane on the way home.<\/p>\n

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9) Discover Hanoi’S Secret Nightlife<\/h2>\n

Hanoi has notoriously strict laws regarding bars and clubs and most places will be closed by midnight. A \u2018night out\u2019 in the city will usually consist of sipping bia hoi perched on a plastic stool down a bustling lane in the old quarter. But after one evening doing just that, we met a group of Israeli guys who were heading to one of Hanoi\u2019s \u2018underground\u2019 clubs.<\/p>\n

A 10-minute taxi ride from downtown brings us to the Hero Club<\/a>, an industrial-style nightclub with pulsing music, cage dancers, and of course, a selection of fresh fruit on the tables. However, we had only been inside for 5 minutes when the music turned off abruptly and the staff starting ushering everyone to the rear exit away from the police out front. We\u2019d have to try our luck another night!<\/p>\n

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10) Cool Off In The Rooftop Pool At The Apricot Hotel<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s hard to find a swimming pool in Hanoi. There are only a handful scattered about, mainly on the rooftops of the fancier hotels that are definitely not backpacker-budget friendly. But many hotels will let you use their pools for a fee, such as the ridiculously fancy Apricot Hotel<\/a>. Just look at those chandeliers in the lobby! The hotel charges around \u00a310 to use the pool.<\/p>\n

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We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Vietnam. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Visit our<\/i><\/b> Contribute<\/i><\/b><\/a> page for guidelines and to submit your article.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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