Hanoi

Built by the French in 1896 to hold Vietnamese political prisoners, later used to hold American POWs during the Vietnam War including John McCain. The remaining structure is now a museum with sobering exhibitions on both chapters of history.

📍1 Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

The spiritual and geographic heart of Hanoi. The lake (meaning "Lake of the Returned Sword") is steeped in legend. The red Huc Bridge leads to Ngoc Son Temple on a small island. The morning tai chi sessions around the lake are unmissable.

📍Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

The preserved body of Ho Chi Minh lies in state in this imposing Soviet-built granite mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square - where he declared Vietnamese independence in 1945. A deeply significant site for Vietnamese people; visitors must dress conservatively and maintain silence.

📍Ba Dinh Square, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi 115000, Vietnam

One of the most iconic structures in Vietnam - a wooden pagoda built in 1049 that appears to float on a single stone pillar rising from a lotus pond. King Ly Thai To built it after a dream. A five-minute walk from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

📍Ba Dinh District, Hanoi 115000, Vietnam

Hanoi's Gothic Revival cathedral, built by the French in 1886. The twin bell towers and neo-Gothic facade are a striking counterpoint to the surrounding Old Quarter alleys. The square in front is a popular evening gathering spot with dozens of cafes.

📍40 Nha Tho Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1070 and dedicated to Confucius. The Temple of Literature is a superb example of traditional Vietnamese architecture - five walled courtyards with lakes, gardens, and stone steles honoring doctoral graduates.

📍Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District, Hanoi 116000, Vietnam

Hanoi's oldest pagoda, dating to the 6th century, perched on a tiny island in West Lake. The 11-storey tower is photogenic at any time, but at sunset when the lake turns gold, it's extraordinary.

📍Thanh Nien Street, Tay Ho District, Hanoi 115000, Vietnam

Vietnam's national fine arts museum, housed in a French colonial building with three floors of paintings, sculpture, and lacquerware tracing Vietnamese art from prehistoric times to the present. Underrated and rarely crowded.

📍66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi 115000, Vietnam

Widely regarded as the best museum in Vietnam. Celebrates all 54 of Vietnam's ethnic groups through artifacts, clothing, tools, and life-size reconstructed homes. The outdoor section alone is worth the trip.

📍Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi 122000, Vietnam