InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72

Start your day with the traditional Vietnamese breakfast with the essential “Pho” (Vietnamese noodle soup) and “Ca Phe Sua Da” (Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk), as people say, you don’t know Vietnam until you try “Ca Phe Sua Da”. Then, visit President Ho Chi Minh Complex which includes Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Ho Chi Minh Museum, One Pillar Pagoda, Stilts House and Fish Pond. Here after visit to the Temple of Literature, a rare example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture. For lunch, a must-try is Bun Cha – the signature dish of Hanoi that even Obama paid a visit while staying in this city. From the sweet and sour broth to grounded-grilled pork, Bun Cha is a timeless recipe that is unique in its own way. You can hardly find any authentic Bun Cha anywhere away from Hanoi so it’s wise to give it a go while wandering around town.

After lunch, take a short walk to the nearby Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist pagoda of the capital, located on Thanh Nien Street, a tranquil road which links two charming lakes of Hanoi: West Lake and Truc Bach Lake. Guests can choose to visit the Museum of Ethnology, one of the largest and most interesting museums in Vietnam. There are a number of houses that are modeled after the traditional architecture of ethnic minorities, especially those who live in Northern and Central highlands. You will be amazed with these elaborate architectures, at the same time being thoroughly engaged in traditional games and activities such as water puppet show.

As the sun sets, we recommend that you head back to Hoan Kiem Lake and the famous Old Quarter, the heart of the capital for a cyclo tour around these symbolic destinations. Enjoy the famous water puppet show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, a unique traditional performance of Northern Vietnam that has recently found recognition on stages all over the world. For dinner, you can enjoy another must-try local dish: La Vong fish patty for dinner at Old Quarter before living the night life at Ta Hien street that welcomes many tourists to sit on local wooden chairs along the street for a refreshing cold beer.