Every year, numerous holidays are celebrated in Hanoi.
Below are the main dates for these festivities:
The European New Year is especially celebrated by younger people in Vietnam. In Hanoi, as in other major cities in the country, they head to the city centre for a drink. Around midnight, the streets fill: everyone awaits the countdown and the traditional fireworks.
28 January: Lunar New Year (national)Tet, or the lunar calendar New Year's (Chinese), is a major event in Vietnam. The festivities begin every year on the first day of the first lunar month and last one week. During the Tet holiday, shops close, people return to their hometown to visit their parents and pay homage to their ancestors. Families and friends gather to eat traditional meals, and houses are decorated with yellow flowers.
2 to 12 February: Co Loa Festival (local)Nicknamed ‘The City Spiral' Co Loa, a jewel of military architecture, celebrates the reign of its founder, An Duong Vuong (214-208 BC) every year from the 6th to 16th day of the first lunar month. Located 16 kilometres north of Hanoi, the citadel is the scene of spectacular processions and religious rites. The event is also lively, with traditional performances by night and popular games by day: chess with human pawns, cockfights, rice-cooking contests, ritual dances, and more.
6th April: Anniversary of the death of the first emperor Hung (national)The death of the first known king of Vietnam is celebrated on the tenth day of the third month of the lunar calendar. Festive commemorations take place, especially in front of the temple of the Emperor, in Hanoi.
30 April: Anniversary of Reunification (national)This date marks the end of the two Indochinese wars, with France and the United States. On this occasion, military parades and sporting contests are held.
1 May: International Labour DayThis is a very busy day in Vietnam! Numerous tourists, notably from China, enjoy visiting the country from early May. Shops, restaurants, and tourist sites are in full swing.
2nd September: National Day of the Socialist Re-public of VietnamThis holiday commemorates the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam by Ho Chi Minh. Official speeches are given and military parades take place. Big cities are adorned with the colours of the country and pay tribute to the founder of the current Vietnamese Communist Party and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (became Socialist Republic of Vietnam in 1976).
15 September: Mid-Autumn Fes-tival (national)On the occasion of the moon festival, the Vietnamese eat crescent moon-shaped cakes, made of glutinous rice flour and stuffed with lotus seeds. In the evening, the children walk with lanterns in the shape of dragons, unicorns, and carp to the sound of drums and cymbals in the city streets. Dance performances and traditional music are also held outdoors during the day.
Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | 14 | 21 | 17 | Not the best period to go |
February | 15 | 22 | 27 | Not the best period to go |
March | 18 | 24 | 37 | Good period to go
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April | 21 | 29 | 80 | Good period to go
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May | 24 | 33 | 195 | Not the best period to go |
June | 27 | 34 | 238 | Not the best period to go |
July | 27 | 34 | 332 | Not the best period to go |
August | 27 | 33 | 342 | Not the best period to go |
September | 25 | 32 | 253 | Not the best period to go |
October | 23 | 30 | 98 | Good period to go
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November | 19 | 27 | 42 | Good period to go
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December | 16 | 23 | 19 | Good period to go
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The Noi Bai International Airport is about 45 kilometres north of the centre of Hanoi.
Rickshaws are rare—opt instead for the bus, the perfect way to explore the city and its surroundings.
Lack of signage in certain neighbourhoods, overloaded traffic in peak hours, and parking problems: traffic in Hanoi can be hellish. And you need a Vietnamese driving license… Better to avoid using a car during your visit.
Hanoi and the surrounding districts are crisscrossed by some 60 bus lines.
The most important lines run generally from 5:30 am to 1:00 a.m. every 15 to 20 minutes.
The best lines for sightseeing are line 14, which takes you near Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Town, lines 2, 9 and 33, which serve Le Hong Phong Street and Dien Bien Phu Street, where the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is located, and the neighbourhood of the great boulevards. Line 47, from Long Bien terminal, will take you to Bat Trang pottery village near Hanoi.
The price of a ticket varies between 3,000 and 10,000 VDN on average, according to the line used and the distance travelled. Purchase tickets directly from the bus driver. At peak times (6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.), it is recommended to have the exact fare. It is best not to travel by bus (lines 7 and 17 to the airport) with too much luggage.
The taxi is a great way to get around Hanoi, if you take into account the potential difficulties related to traffic. The price of a trip is negotiable. On average, expect to pay 12,000 to 14,000 VDN for the first 700 metres, then 15,000 VDN per subsequent kilometre. Warning: there are over a 100 taxi companies in Hanoi. Stay away from unofficial taxis cabs: make sure the one you get into has a meter and that the driver has a photo ID, with his name and license number.
Motorcycle taxis are a quick and inexpensive way to travel around Hanoi. The motorcycle taxis parked on the sidewalks of the city are identifiable by the second helmet that the driver is holding. To ensure that it is a motorcycle taxi, ask the driver ‘Xe Om?' (pronounced ‘Che om?' and meaning ‘motorcycle taxi?'). The price for a trip is about half the price of a regular taxi, around 7,000 VDN per kilometre. This means of transport is reliable. It is preferable to agree on the price and settle the race before leaving.
Once you arrive in Hanoi, don't hesitate to be in touch with tourism professionals for information and help in organising your stay.
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism80 Quan Su
District Hoan Kiem
Hanoi, Vietnam
+84 (0) 4 39 42 20 70
Tourist Information Centre7 Dinh Tien Hoang
District Hoan Kiem
Hanoi, Vietnam
+84 (0)4 39 26 33 69
In Hanoi, medical care is of good quality and infrastructure and facilities are modern. It is recommended to take out health insurance covering medical expenses abroad and the costs of repatriation before a trip to Vietnam.
LIST OF OBLIGATORY AND RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONSThe update of diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccines before departure is recommended.
Other vaccinations, such as those against hepatitis A and B and typhoid are also recommended (see your physician).
For long stays, it is recommended to get a rabies vaccination.
Zika virus cases have been reported in Vietnam. This virus is transmitted through mosquito bites and unprotected sex. This virus is usually benign, but can cause serious complications in new-borns whose mothers were infected with the virus during pregnancy. If you are pregnant, a trip to Vietnam is not recommended. If you are considering becoming pregnancy, it is advisable to postpone your trip to Vietnam.
For more information, contact the Air France Vaccination Centre:
It is recommended to ensure a healthy diet that you follow food hygiene practices (well-cooked food, and fruits and vegetables washed before consumption).
DRINKING WATERIt is advisable to consume water from sealed bottles.
A visa is required to enter Vietnam except for residents of the following countries: Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Norway, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.
For more information, visit the Internet Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.mofa.gov.vn / in
Here are a few useful phrases in Vietnamese for your stay in Hanoi.
Hello: Xin chao
Good evening: Chuc ngu ngong
Good bye: Tam biet
Yes: Co
No: Khong
No, thank you: Toi khong muon, we cam
Thank you very much: Cam is
I don't understand: Toi khong noi tieng viet
Could you repeat that?: Ban co the lap lay
Please: Xin me
What time is it?: May gio king?
Excuse me?: Xin law
Airport: San bay
Train station: Tram
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Khach san
Hospital: Benh vien
Bank: Ngan hang
Telephone: Dien thoai
I am (…): Toi (…)
I'm looking for (…): Toi nhin (…)
What is the price of (…)?: Bao nhieu (…)?
Do you have (…)?: Ban co (…)?
Where can I find (…)?: Noi ma toi co the tim thay (…)?
Where can I buy (…)?: Noi ma toi co the mua (…)?
I would like (…): Toi se (…)
TIPPING
Tipping is not mandatory in Vietnam, but it is appreciated. You can leave an additional 10 to 15% of the amount of the bill in bars and restaurants. Tips are also welcomed by staff at hotels and spas, and by tour guides and taxi drivers.