Hanoi: Overview

This grand-old dame of Asia is ageing better than most of her contemporaries.

Hanoi has shaken off its once hostile attitude to travellers to become one of the most beguiling cities in Southeast Asia. It's slow-paced yet quick to charm, with a lovely landscape of lakes, shaded boulevards, verdant public parks and French-colonial architecture.

Hanoi personifies the spirit of historic Vietnam in the temples, monuments and pockets of ancient culture along the narrow streets of the Old Quarter, yet perfectly reflects the rapid changes sweeping the country as Hanoian yuppies sip cappucinos in roadside cafés and compare cell phones.

Fast Facts

Population

3,500,000

Currency

Name: Vietnamese dong
Code: VND
Symbol: ₫

Electrical Plugs

European plug with two circular metal pins British-style plug with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades
220V 50Hz

Languages Spoken

Official: Vietnamese

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +7 

Country Dialing Code

+84

Weights & Measures

Metric

Traveller Tips & Discussion

Thorn Tree Forum

  • Hanoi
    Post by: planta, 31 Jul 07
    12 Replies
    Last reply: 344 days ago
  • to Hanoi
    Post by: kurio, 17 Mar 07
    4 Replies
    Last reply: 480 days ago
  • hanoi
    Post by: wellsrj@bigpond.com.au, 08 Apr 08
    7 Replies
    Last reply: 92 days ago
  • Hanoi
    Post by: ITB, 11 Apr 07
    4 Replies
    Last reply: 454 days ago

View more Thorn Tree threads ›

BLUELISTS blu,list to recommend a travel experience

View more Bluelists ›

Jump to Navigation

Shop Online

Advertisement

Hotels & Hostels

Booking hotels is simple with Lonely Planet. See our reviewed and recommended hotels in one place and book online. Browse hotels ›

Lonely Planet Newsletters

Updates, offers and inspiration - straight to your inbox.
Subscribe now ›

Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.

Lonely Planet