Trips and Tours to Hanoi

With a history dating back over 2,000 years, Hanoi's Old Quarter is the heart and soul of the city. It's often referred to as '36 Streets', a name that likely started in the 15th century when this part of Hanoi was home to 36 guilds and their workshops that specialised in different crafts from silk tailoring to wood carving. The area is characterised by long tube-like buildings just two storeys-tall with tiled roofs and narrow storefronts that display the goods on sale. One of the best ways to explore the maze of streets and alleys is by cyclo, a three-wheeled bicycle taxi, on a thrilling journey weaving between hawkers, pedestrians and other vehicles.

This museum is all that remains of the original Hoa Lo Prison, a place of confinement used by French colonialists during the late 19th century. In its earlier days up to 600 political prisoners were incarcerated in the prison with this figure later growing to some 2,000 detainees. During the Vietnam War, American POWs were held here ironically dubbing the prison the 'Hanoi Hilton', a name that has stuck. Today the museum houses relics from the prison's past that includes a gruesome guillotine, photographs and pilot suits.

Dedicated to the famous Chinese philosopher Confucius, the 11th century Temple of Literature honours the scholars of Vietnam and is also the site of the country's very first university. The well-preserved complex is typical of Vietnamese architectural styles and features a low-slung pagoda, five interior courtyards with ancient trees and a pretty pond known as the 'Well of Heavenly Clarity'. There is also 82 of an original 116 tombstones displaying the names, places of birth and achievements of doctors that graduated between 1442 and 1779 during royal exams held in Hanoi.

The tradition of water puppetry dates back to the 11th century and originated in northern Vietnam where villagers would entertain themselves with puppets during the wet season floods. Made of wood, painted in bright colours and then lacquered, the puppets appear to walk on water as the hidden puppeteers control them using long bamboo rods. Music accompanies the performances of Vietnamese folklore and day-to-day living. Hanoi is an excellent place to watch a show at the world-famous Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, which holds over 500 shows each year.

Set in an ambient French colonial building, the Ly Club is an elegant dining venue in Hanoi offering gourmet Asian, Vietnamese and European dishes. Flavours are delicately combined with standouts including soft-shell crab and salmon baked in banana leaf with passion fruit sauce. Fine wines from Australia, Spain, France and others, as well as cocktails, champagne and cigars can be enjoyed in the softly lit lounge.

An acronym for 'know one, teach one', the KOTO Van Mieu provides career training and guidance to disadvantaged children and teens in Hanoi. With an enviable spot overlooking the Temple of Literature, the modernist building and smart interior is a great spot to sample a wide range of local and international dishes and a delicious selection of cakes and pastries.

Open on the weekends from Friday to Sunday, Hanoi's popular night market is a busy gathering of stalls and vendors selling a wide range of cheap goods from clothing to handicrafts. The roads are closed to traffic and the market attracts high volumes of people making it an ideal spot for street photography if nothing else. It's also a good place to sample Hanoi's street food with numerous vendors selling a variety of local delicacies.

Fans of cotton and silk will find a superb collection of chic fashion designs and smart homeware textiles at Metiseko. Inspired by Vietnamese traditions with a contemporary flair, the materials are carefully selected, eco-friendly and of high-quality with prices indicative of the nature of the garments. Attentive staff are there to help and provide a friendly service and shopping experience.

Hanoi International Airport (Noi Bai airport) links the city with destinations around the world though receives fewer direct international flights than Saigon in the south. Many airlines flying between Hanoi and cities outside of Asia will often include a stop in the important transport hubs of Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok. The national carrier - Vietnam Airlines - links Hanoi with destinations throughout Vietnam with daily flights to Danang, Saigon and Hue to name just a few. The airport is reached from Hanoi city via a modern highway with journey times between 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic and time of day.

Hanoi is the epicentre of a number of highway routes in northern Vietnam that connect the capital with various destinations. The decent quality of road surfaces makes travelling by private car a pleasant option with highways crossing scenic valleys and rural villages. This is certainly the case for the 3-4 hour road transfer to Halong Bay, which passes alongside rice paddies and verdant countryside.