Handy in Hanoi
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Rich history goes hand-in-hand with nightlife in Vietnam's capital
With museums displaying tales of the past and the traditional lifestyle on display near the colourful nightlife of the Old Quarter area, visitors find it easy to delve right into the heart of Hanoi.
The capital of Vietnam and the second most populated city, bears the scars of the Indochina War at its numerous war museums and displays, but also shows the benefits of its time as the capital of French Indochina through its charming colonial architecture.
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a must-see. Located right in the heart of the city, it’s home to the body of the late president Ho Chi Minh preserved in a glass coffin.
Just 50m from the museum on Dien Bien Phu Street is the presidential palace though it’s the small house on stilts and the carp pond in the grounds that tend to catch the eye.
When Vietnam achieved independence in 1954, Ho Chi Minh refused to live in the grand structure for symbolic reasons – although he continued to receive state guests there – and built the modest Vietnamese house where he lived in until his death in 1969.
Close by is the Army Museum, covering a massive 10,000sqm and home to exhibitions present Vietnamese military history from the first period of founding the country to the Ho Chi Minh era.
One of the well-known ancient monuments on the grounds of the museum is the Ha Noi Flag Tower, classified as a national historic cultural monument.
Thousands of photos in the museum show the Vietnamese efforts to fight against France and the US in the 20th century.
The images reflect the cruel reality of war, with pieces of planes, tanks, heavy artillery, mortars, maps, bombs, military weapons and the personal belongings of individuals associated with war.
After a long day of exploring the country's history, the evening is time to relax and there’s nowhere better than the Old Quarter where people still crowd the sidewalk to eat and drink on small chairs after sunset.
Tourists who love shopping can splash a bit of cash at the night market on souvenirs and handicrafts.
The Old Quarter is also great for drinking beer, with most bars easy to find and close to one another.
The night-owl has a number of choices – Temple Bar for the dancer, Acoustic Live Cafe for the music-lover, or Ta Hien Street for a more relaxed drink and chat.
Most bars close at midnight, but some stay open long after the police have gone.
Drinkers thirsty for a late-night beer can carry on along Thanh Yen Street, popular with backpackers partying past 3am.
Never head home from Hanoi without seeing the famed Water Puppet Show, a unique Vietnamese traditional performance art focusing on the daily lives of the country's farmers.
The show has served audiences since 1969, performed by Thang Long theatre artists, and is now open for daily shows.
If you go
_ AirAsia and Thai Airways International operate daily flights between Bangkok and Hanoi.
