Heritage · 3 min read
Lunar New Year Feasts in Hanoi: Tet Food Traditions
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.
Hanoi · Journal
The Hanoi Journal
Field notes, food guides, heritage stories and first-timer tips — written by the local guides who walk Hanoi with our guests every day.
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14 articles
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Read article →Food & Coffee · 3 min read
Sipping Serenity: The Best Cafes in Hanoi (Local Picks)
Hidden Old Quarter coffee houses, lake-side hideaways and the egg-coffee classics — a local guide to where Hanoians actually drink their cà phê.
Read article →Plan Your Trip · 9 min read
10 Best Shopping Places in Hanoi (Markets, Streets & Boutiques)
From Dong Xuan Market to Hang Gai silk street and the Old Quarter's craft alleys — a local guide to the 10 best places to shop in Hanoi.
Read article →Food & Coffee · 3 min read
Banh Mi in Hanoi: A Cultural Connection in Every Bite
The French-Vietnamese sandwich is everywhere in Hanoi — but the best banh mi tells a story of colonial history, local craft and street-side ritual. Where to find it and why it matters.
Read article →Heritage · 4 min read
O Quan Chuong Gate: Last Surviving Gate of Hanoi's Old Quarter
The 1749 stone gate that guarded Thang Long citadel — Old Quarter history, architecture and how to find Hanoi's last surviving city gate.
Read article →Food & Coffee · 4 min read
Bun Cha Hanoi: The Story Behind Obama's Favorite Dish
The grilled pork noodle bowl Barack Obama ate with Anthony Bourdain — what makes Hanoi bun cha unforgettable, and where locals actually eat it.
Read article →Food & Coffee · 8 min read
Top 10 Hanoi Street Food Dishes You Must Try (Local Guide)
Pho, bun cha, banh mi and 7 more — the definitive guide to Hanoi street food, written by the guides who eat their way through the Old Quarter every week.
Read article →Plan Your Trip · 3 min read
Hanoi Weather: Best Time to Visit Hanoi (Month by Month)
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.
Read article →Heritage · 3 min read
Temple of Literature Hanoi: 900 Years of Confucian Scholarship
Hanoi's Temple of Literature is Vietnam's first national university (1070) with 82 stone stelae honoring Confucian scholars. A complete guide to history, architecture & visiting.
Read article →Heritage · 4 min read
Kieu Lady Temple Hanoi: 800 Years on Hoan Kiem Lake
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.
Read article →Food & Coffee · 3 min read
The Hanoi Donut Shop That Sells 5,000 Cakes a Day
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.
Read article →Heritage · 4 min read
St Joseph's Cathedral Hanoi: Gothic Landmark & Christmas Guide
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.
Read article →Food & Coffee · 4 min read
Grilled Beef, Northern Style: Bò Nướng in Hanoi
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.
Read article →Culture · 5 min read
Buddhism in Vietnam: Major Branches & Hanoi Practice
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.