Hanoi City Guide: Explore the Buzzing Capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, Vietnam (B)

Hanoi, the capital of glorious Vietnam! What an exciting city to explore! It’s full of action, rooftop bars, gorgeous street food and zillions of bikes whizzing back and forth. It seems like it’s trying to catch up, and very fast, with the rest of the world after decades of setbacks such as the devastating Vietnamese (or American as the locals call it) War.

With a place as vibrant as Hanoi, you will not be short of historic sights to explore, museums to visit and cultural monuments to admire. With vast history and modern approach, the city has something for everyone.

Hoan Kiem Lake. The city’s jewel and one of the biggest tourist attractions is surely the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake or the “Lake of the Returned Sword” as the legend has it. To reach the Turtle Tower linked to the local legend, take the luminous red bridge across the green water.

The Magical Old Quarter of Hanoi. As stunning as the lake is, the true star of the city is the Old Quarter. Complete with its French colonial architecture, street food, temples and pagodas it is the heart and soul of Vietnam’s capital. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).