Vietnam's alluring capital rests on the banks of the Red River and retains the charm of a provincial city.

Hanoi's elegance and charm is reflected in the city’s French colonial buildings, bustling Old Quarter and tree-lined boulevards. The gateway to the hilltribes of Sapa and the beauty of Halong Bay, Hanoi is an unmissable Vietnam destination.

A city tour visits the imposing mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, whose stilt house and museum are held in special reverence by the Vietnamese, the Museum of Ethnology vividly illustrating the country’s many minority tribes and the wonderful ninth-century sculptures at the Fine Art Museum. However, many of Hanoi’s greatest sights are smaller: temples and pagodas clustered round the 36 narrow streets of the Old Quarter, wedding photographers working in the city parks, and busy market scenes.