Asean Travel And Tours

Hanoi has been ranked ninth among the world's 20 greatest cities for art and culture for 2025 by the U.K.-based Time Out magazine, making it the highest-ranked destination in Asia. The Vietnamese capital ranked ninth among the world's top cultural destinations, with Paris, Florence, and Edinburgh taking the top three spots. At the same time, Hanoi emerged as Asia's leading representative, placed ahead of other major regional cities such as Beijing (11th), Jakarta (13th), and Delhi (14th). According to Time Out, Hanoi is the cheapest city for art and culture on the list, with 82% of locals ranking it highly for affordability. "Take its weekend walking streets – by far the most recommended of all the city's cultural offerings in our survey – where the roads of the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake are cleared of traffic to make room for street performances, traditional dance and live music," it recommended. "Several mentions also went to the grand, neoc...

Tourists use their smartphones to capture images of a passing train at Hanoi's Train Street, November 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Giang The Hanoi Department of Tourism has requested travel agencies not to organize tours to the popular Train Street amid growing safety concerns. The department also requires travel agencies to raise awareness among their staff about the risks of traffic accidents in areas where train street cafes operate. Additionally, relevant authorities need to proactively coordinate to detect, prevent and promptly address violations in accordance with regulations. Train Street, lined with makeshift coffee shops just feet from the tracks in the Old Quarter, was officially closed in September 2022 due to safety concerns. Despite barricades and checkpoints at both ends of Tran Phu and Phung Hung streets, several cafes continue to operate, drawing large crowds of mostly foreign tourists, especially on weekends. Thousands flock to the place to photograph passing tra...

The six-story commercial centre at 7 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street will be replaced with underground space extending beneath the existing square and its expanded area. The commercial centre building in Đông Kinh Nghĩa Thục Square in Hoàn Kiếm District, commonly known as the ‘Shark Jaw’ building. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội People's Committee has backed a proposal to demolish the commercial centre building in Đông Kinh Nghĩa Thục Square in the historic Hoàn Kiếm District, commonly known as the ‘Shark Jaw’ (Hàm Cá Mập) building. The six-story commercial centre at No.7 Đinh Tiên Hoàng Street, completed in 1993 and currently hosting a range of cafes and restaurants and clothing shops, will be replaced with underground space extending beneath the existing square and its expanded area.  This initiative aims to enhance the planning, organisation and architectural landscape of Đông Kinh Nghĩa Thục Square, a symbolic landmark of Hà Nội in this downtown centre and tourist hot spot. Vice Cha...

10 days before Tet, roads around the Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi have been bustling with thousands of people flocking to take photos, with many waiting for hours to capture the best angles. A foggy Sunday at Hoan Kiem Lake is captured as women in traditional ao dai sit along the lake for photo shoots. These days, Hanoi's temperature ranges from 11 to 23 degrees Celsius. To get the perfect angle, many people wait 5–10 minutes for their turn. "I want to take a photo series for Tet," said Xuan Ha and Van Hung from Dien Bien Province, around 500 km to the west of Hanoi. Many people brought reflectors and props to enhance their photos, while some hired professional photographers, with prices for a session ranging from VND700,000 to 1 million (US$28-40). Traditional costumes are typically rented for an entire day at prices between VND150,000 and 300,000. Common accessories include flower branches, rattan baskets, and handbags. Thanh Thu and Thanh Hang, both 17 years old from Hanoi...

Hanoi's Old Quarter, spanning 100 hectares in Hoan Kiem District at the heart of the city, is a labyrinth of interconnected streets that encapsulates the city's historical essence, providing visitors with a distinctive view of its architectural and cultural heritage. People walk on a street in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Photo by Pixabay Historical significance The Old Quarter dates back to the Ly-Tran dynasties (11th–13th centuries) and was initially developed as a trade and craft center. Situated east of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and along the Red River, it became Hanoi’s economic hub, attracting traders from across Vietnam and abroad. During the Le Dynasty, Chinese immigrants established thriving communities, followed by Indian and French merchants during the colonial era. This multicultural legacy is reflected in its architecture, which blends traditional Vietnamese designs with French and Chinese influences. In 2004, Hanoi’s Old Quarter was officially designated as a...

Discovering Hanoi means discovering its street food. Fresh ingredients, refined traditions, and secret family recipes are hallmarks of Hanoian cooking, and Hanoians don’t mess around when it comes to good food. Get your chopsticks ready: Here are ten iconic dishes in Hanoi you don’t want to miss! Miến Made from mung bean or sweet potato, miến (vermicelli) has a delicious chewy texture and a mild umami taste. Topped with chicken, crab, or freshwater eel, you can enjoy a bowl of miến with broth or stir-fried. In Hanoi, you can eat most noodles with quẩy (fried breadsticks), and vermicelli is no exception. Don’t forget to dip them in the broth! Try it: Miến trộn 6 Phùng Hưng St., Hoàn Kiếm District Phở This one is a no-brainer. Even if you’ve had phở elsewhere in Vietnam, it’s worth giving the Hanoi variant a try. If the many condiments that come with your phở seem confusing at first, start with a bit of gritty chili sauce, then top with a spoonful of garlic vinegar for beef phở, or a sq...

Hanoi owns the busy street food scenarios with many delicious choices, beautiful landscapes, and reasonable prices. The capital of Vietnam is where to find an uncountable number of good dishes to try and delight the palate. While some food is highly notable such as Phở Bò (rice noodle with beef), Bún Riêu (rice vermicelli with minced freshwater crabs), Bún Ốc (noodle with snails), etc., the others remain less popular yet inviting to some new visitors.  1: Phở Xào Bò (rice noodle stir-fried with beef) Pho xao bo – rice noodle stir-fried with beef In compared with “Phở Bò” (rice noodle soup with beef), the stir-fried version brings the enchanting smell at first. The ingredients of beef, vegetables, onions, egg, and noodles create the delectable set for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well. Just sit on the 6-inch stool, and order your first plate of the rice noodle stir-fried with beef and vegetable. The harmoniously flavorful and eye-catching dish can surprise some foodies e...