52 Coolest Things to Do in Hanoi for 2026

Small but mighty, there are so many cool things to do in Hanoi. Vietnam’s capital has a tonne of character. There are the historical landmarks, the buddhist temples, the market hustles and crazy traffic, not forgetting the food, fashion and pretty lakes.

All of this means the list of activities in Hanoi is fairly long and wide-ranging so, popping it all in one place for you is this extended list that you can tick, scratch and highlight as you go.

What to Do in Hanoi

1. Travel back to ancient Hanoi with a visit to the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.

2. Become a pro at making pho with a Vietnamese cooking class – one of the main activities you absolutely have to do in Hanoi.

3. Get a little freaked out seeing Ho Chi Minh’s dead body at the Mausoleum.

4. Get in a little exercise by biking around the city’s Hoan Kiem Lake.

5. Find out how Vietnamese opera compares at the Hanoi Opera House.

6. One of the best things to do in Hanoi is to wash the day down with a traditional Beer Hoi. Small serve beer for super cheap. Expect to pay around 50p per drink! How about booking a Hanoi food tour to find the best spots.

7. Feel a little brainier as you walk around the Temple of Literature and honour the country’s top rated scholars.

READ MORE: How Much Will You Spend in Hanoi?

8. Ever wanted to learn how to make a knife? Me neither, but it sounds pretty cool and you can do just that in the old blacksmith town of Ha Dong Town.

9. Watch underwater puppets in action at the Thang Long Puppet Theatre – it’s one of the top things to do in Hanoi.

10. Pick up some of the city’s