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GAY HANOI
Discover this City with our Quick and Practical Guide to Visit the Best Attractions, Savor Typical Dishes and Have Fun in the Best Gay Bars. All this through the Rainbow Eyes of the World Mappers
What to See, Best Places to Sleep, Where to Eat and to Have Fun in HANOI?
Find it out with the World Mappers !
WHAT TO SEE in HANOI?
10 THINGS TO SEE in HANOI
Old Quarter
It is the old quarter of Hanoi, the centre, the place par excellence for backpackers, where you can eat for very little money, and where there are hundreds of markets selling souvenirs, food, and much more. Getting lost in the countless narrow streets is the order of the day, but it's part of the charm of this neighborhood.
Train Street
Don't miss the train that passes in the old quarter of Hanoi literally attached to the houses (between Ngo Le Duam and Kham Tien streets, better known as Train Street). For the locals this is a normality but for us it is incredible. Twice a day the shopkeepers move their goods, the children stop playing for a moment and the ladies collect the clothes hanging on the balconies. The iron giant should pass at 3 and 7 pm but they explained to us that the times are never precise due to the inevitable delays, so you need to arm yourself with patience and a bit of luck, perhaps waiting in one of the pretty bars sipping a good Caphe trung da (Vietnamese coffee with egg) as we did. In recent years the local authorities have decided to limit the presence of people along the tracks due to the high number of tourists who go to the place and the "irresponsible" behavior of some of these. When we were there (October 2019) some accesses to Train Street were already closed and guarded by the police.
Temple of Literature
Another of the most famous places in Hanoi. Built in honor of Confucius in 1070 and home to the first university in Vietnam in 1076, later moved to Hue. The name of the most deserving students was carved on stone slabs resting on statues of turtles. Today it is not uncommon to see students who come here to pray for good grades.
Hoan Kiem Lake
The ideal place to relax and forget for a moment the traffic and motorbikes of Hanoi. According to legend around the fifteenth century the emperor Ly Thai To received a magic sword from the gods with which he defeated the Chinese Ming dynasty; at the end of the battle a turtle emerged from the waters of the lake to give the sword back to the gods. Arriving at the lake we were immediately fascinated by the Vietnamese-style red bridge (Ponte Húc), one of the most photogenic monuments of the city, in our opinion, which connects the shores of the lake with the Buddhist temple of Ngoc Son. In the southern part there is instead the Torre della Tortuga ( Tháp Rùa ), a small building in the middle of the water erected in honor of the turtle protagonist of the legend. On weekends this area of the city is closed to traffic and is filled with stalls, music and games.
Don Xuan Market
Located in the heart of the Old Quarter (old quarter) of the city, it is the largest covered market in Hanoi. We recommend a visit because you can really find everything. In addition to groceries of all kinds, good deals can be found on souvenirs, traditional objects, clothing and electronics.
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
A beautiful marble mausoleum which is part of a large complex set in a well-kept park. Inside are the remains of Vietnamese communist leader Ho Chi Minh. The mausoleum is open to the public and the statesman's body can be seen every morning (except on Sundays and at certain times of the year when the structure is closed to the public), for a fee and following a strict dress code. The rest of the buildings in the complex, however, are free.
One Pillar Pagoda
Chùa Một Cột in Vietnamese, is part of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex. Built on a single pillar in the center of a small pond it resembles a lotus flower.
Cathedral of Hanoi
South of Hoan Kiem Lake is the neo-Gothic St. Joseph's Cathedral which reminds us of the facade of Notre Dame in Paris.
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Dating back to around 545, it is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi and is easily recognizable by its particular red, narrow and tall structure. Located in the northern part of the city, it can be reached with a nice walk along the banks of Lake Hồ Tây. Admission is free.
Museum of Vietnamese Women
We found it particularly interesting to visit this museum to better understand the role of women in Vietnamese history and society. We didn't expect to find such a modern and well-structured structure. In our opinion worth a visit. It is located on Lý Thường Kiệt street, open every day from 8 to 17(www.baotangphunu.org.vn).
SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
Visiting this city at its best depends essentially on how long you have to fully enjoy it. Here is a solution based on the number of days available to you:
Day 1 - Hanoi Old City - Google Maps
(By opening the Maps with Google, you can easily follow our path)
3 BEST EXCURSIONS from HANOI
We advise you to book the best excursions here: Viator - Musement - Get Your Guide
Halong Bay
Hoa Lu, Mua Cave & Tam Coc
Bai Dinh Pagoda & Trang An
Click'n'Go - Click on Hotels, Restaurants, Bars & Clubs
to find them on the Map or visit their Website
WHERE TO SLEEP in HANOI?
5 BEST GAY FRIENDLY HOTELS in HANOI
Golden Art Hotel *** ® Tested by World Mappers
Hanoi Old Quarter Guest House ® Tested by World Mappers
WHERE TO EAT in HANOI?
5 BEST RESTAURANTS in HANOI Quality / Price
€€ - Blue Butterfly ® Tested by World Mappers
€€ - Hanoi Social Club
€€ - Old Hanoi
€ - New Day
€ - Bun Cha 34
GAY NIGHTLIFE in HANOI
BEST GAY PLACES, BARS & CLUBS in HANOI
GC Bar (Gay Bar) ® Tested by World Mappers
T House Spa & Club (Gay Bar)
METRO (Gay Disco)
TRAVEL TIPS about HANOI by World Mappers
To get around the chaotic traffic of the city in the best possible way and at speed, we relied on Grab, a widespread application throughout South-East Asia thanks to which it is possible to book a ride in a safe and fast way (we have always preferred to move moped, but rides by car are also available and, in the rest of South-East Asia, also by Tuk-Tuk); just download the app on your mobile phone, associate your credit card and book the "Grab closest to you". If you don't have a credit card, you can easily pay in cash at the end of the ride. After the first time you won't be able to do without it!
Don't be afraid to taste the Street Food offered by this city (and all of Vietnam).. it will win you over with every bite. Each Vietnamese region has its own typical dishes. The main ones in Hanoi, and a bit of the whole north, are definitely the Bun Cha (grilled pork accompanied by rice noodles and fresh vegetables), the Pho Bo (noodle and beef soup, difficult to pronounce but excellent to taste, ), the Banh Cuon (a kind of steamed rolls filled with pork, shrimp and bean sprouts). An essential element of this cuisine that accompanies most dishes is Nuoc Mam, a fermented fish sauce.
Explore the Old Quarter in peace, carve out some time to relax in one of the many bars and clubs along the streets, refreshing yourself with a good Bia Hoi, a very light and above all very cheap beer or enjoying one of the many variations of Vietnamese coffee. Our favorite is definitely the Cà Phê Trứng which is enriched with condensed milk and egg.. a bomb! A very nice bar, even if very touristy, is the Note Coffee, a place literally covered with colored post-its.
If you want to discover an alternative Hanoi, then dedicate yourself to looking for one of the city's Secret Bars. We found one on Phung Hung Street, the Bee'Znee. At the entrance you will find yourself in front of a bookshop, but be careful: to access the bar you need to find the book that opens the door!
GAY FRIENDLY TOURS
Do you want to discover the city more deeply through Hanoi's Best Gay Tours? We recommend the following local operators:
Gaily Tour - Tour Operator offering tours and excursions dedicated to the LGBT + community throughout Europe. Special Tours and Gay & Lesbian Friendly Guides ready to make you discover the beauties of this destination. Info & Booking: info@GailyTour.com
Hanoi Gay Tour - Tour Operator che offre escursioni alla scoperta della città di mezza o intera giornata con un guida locale gay. Il tour non è rivolto solo a persone omosessuali ed è interessante per scoprire come appare la società vietnamita agli occhi di chi ci vive.
What to See near Hanoi?
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