Hanoi will charm you and test you in equal measure. Here are 21 tips from multiple visits that cover the things guidebooks skip.
Vietnamese dong numbers look terrifying. Quick conversion: 100,000 VND = ~$4. Once you internalize this, everything makes sense.
Fresh draft beer at street-corner bia hoi joints costs 5,000-10,000 VND (~$0.20-0.40). Look for the green "bia hoi" signs with plastic stools on the sidewalk. The beer is brewed daily, low-alcohol (3-4%), and served in glasses that cost less than a tip in most countries.
Withdraw large amounts (3,000,000-5,000,000 VND) to minimize fees. Vietcombank ATMs have the lowest foreign fees.
Bus 86 runs from Noi Bai Airport to the Old Quarter every 25 minutes. 45,000 VND. Takes about 50 minutes. The alternative is a Grab for 350,000 VND or a taxi tout asking for 500,000+ VND.
Pho shops open at 6AM and close by 10AM. They're breakfast spots, not all-day restaurants. Pho Gia Truyen on Bat Dan Street (35,000-50,000 VND) is the gold standard.
Grilled pork with noodles. The Obama spot (Bun Cha Huong Lien) is good but not the only option. The bun cha stalls in the Old Quarter are nearly as good for 40,000 VND.
Vietnamese baguette sandwich with pate, pork, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chili. Usually 20,000-35,000 VND. Banh Mi 25 on Hang Ca Street has a permanent tourist line, but any cart with a local queue serves an equally good version.
If a stall has tiny plastic stools and a crowd of Vietnamese people, sit down. If it has English menus and photos of the food, keep walking.
That's ~$8 and covers three full meals plus snacks and coffee. You'll eat better than you would spending $80 in most Western cities.
Slow, steady pace. No sudden stops. No running. Eye contact with nobody. The motorbikes will go around you. I promise. It takes 2-3 crossings to believe it.
Motorbike phone-snatching is the #1 tourist crime. Don't walk near traffic with your phone in your hand. Step into a shop doorway to check Google Maps. Use a crossbody bag facing away from the road.
Grab (ride-hailing) for taxis, Grab for motorbike rides (20,000-40,000 VND across the city), and Grab for food delivery. It's the single most useful app in Vietnam.
If you must take a taxi, use Mai Linh (green) or Vinasun (white). Make sure the meter is on. Better yet, just use Grab.
The streets close to traffic 7PM-midnight. Stalls sell everything from T-shirts to street food. Go Friday evening for the best atmosphere before weekend crowds peak.
Opens at 8AM (30,000 VND). By 11AM, tour groups fill the courtyards. The morning light through the bonsai gardens is the best photo opportunity.
Trains pass around 3:30PM and 7:30PM but schedules shift. Ask locally. Police periodically close the street for safety, so check before going. The cafes along the track serve drinks while you wait.
Day trips (from 1,200,000 VND) are rushed. An overnight cruise (from 3,000,000 VND) gives you sunset on the bay, kayaking, cave visits, and an early morning on the water before the day-trippers arrive. Book reputable operators only. For more, check out our Hanoi travel story.
Haggling is expected at markets and street vendors. Start at 40-50% of asking price. Never bargain at restaurants, cafes, or fixed-price shops.
Ca phe sua da (iced coffee with condensed milk) is meant to be drunk slowly on a tiny plastic stool, watching the street. It's not a grab-and-go beverage. The sitting is part of the experience.
Some immigration officers won't accept a digital version. Print a hard copy. Apply only at the official site (evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn). Many scam sites charge 3-4x and deliver a legitimate visa, but you're overpaying.
"Xin chao" (sin chow) — Hello. Say it when entering any shop or restaurant. "Cam on" (kahm uhn) — Thank you.
These two phrases will earn you genuine smiles. Vietnamese people appreciate any effort with the language, even if your tones are terrible (and they will be).
Hanoi doesn't ease you in. It drops you into 1,000 years of history, 5 million motorbikes, and the world's best $1.80 bowl of soup simultaneously. These tips won't make it calm. But they'll make it manageable. And that's all you need — because Hanoi takes care of the rest. If Bangkok is also on your itinerary, check out our Bangkok travel guide.
