Hanoi · Journal
Field notes from the local guides who walk Hanoi with our guests every day — a companion to our practical Hanoi Knowledge guides.
For dated photos and walk records, see Real Moments. To meet our guides and read how reviews work, visit Guides & Trust.
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Plan Your Trip · 3 min read
When is the best time to visit Hanoi? A month-by-month breakdown of weather, temperature, rainfall and what to pack — from local guides who walk the city year-round.
Food & Coffee · 8 min read
Ten Hanoi street-food dishes to recognise, order, and enjoy on a walk — practical local context rather than a list of restaurant claims.
Food & Coffee · 4 min read
The grilled pork noodle bowl Barack Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain — what makes Hanoi bun cha unforgettable, and where locals actually eat it.
Heritage · 7 min read
How to find, read, and respectfully include O Quan Chuong Gate in an Old Quarter walk — its 1749 origins, later name, architecture, and eastern-edge setting.
Food & Coffee · 4 min read
Bánh mì in Hanoi is a quick, adaptable street meal: how to recognise a good stop, what to order, and where it fits between a morning walk and an afternoon coffee.
Plan Your Trip · 9 min read
A practical shopping guide to Hanoi's markets, craft streets and gift areas — what each is for, when to go, and how to compare before buying.
Food & Coffee · 4 min read
A practical guide to coffee stops in Hanoi: how to choose a café, drink egg coffee thoughtfully, and fit a slow cup into an Old Quarter walking day.
Heritage · 3 min read
What's on a Hanoi family's Tet table — banh chung, gio lua, mut and the rituals that turn a meal into the most important moment of the Vietnamese year.
Plan Your Trip · 3 min read
Mild weather, flower markets, Tet aftermath and the soft northern light — why locals quietly think spring is the best time to walk Hanoi.
Culture · 5 min read
A traveller's guide to Vietnamese Buddhism — Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana — and how to experience it at Hanoi's living temples like Tran Quoc, Temple of Literature and Kieu Lady Temple.
Food & Coffee · 4 min read
Bò nướng — Northern Vietnamese grilled beef — is one of Hanoi's defining street-food experiences. A guide to the marinade, the charcoal, the herbs and where the dish fits into local culinary heritage.
Heritage · 4 min read
Hanoi's St Joseph's Cathedral is a 19th-century Gothic Revival masterpiece in the Old Quarter — and the city's most atmospheric place to experience Christmas Eve. A complete visitor guide.
Food & Coffee · 3 min read
On a sliver of Thai Thinh Street, Mr Khanh's heirloom donut shop fries more than 5,000 bánh rán a day. A small Hanoi story about family recipes, green-bean fillings and queueing locals.
Heritage · 4 min read
The Kieu Lady Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake honours the mother goddess Lieu Hanh and has stood at the heart of Hanoi for nearly 800 years. A concise guide to its history, architecture and festivals.
Journal articles add culture, food, and neighbourhood context. Pair them with these pages when you are planning a walk.
