City guide · Updated June 2026
AsiaVietnam21° · 105.9°
Hanoi,Vietnam.
Ancient charm meets vibrant street life in Vietnam's bustling capital.
Hanoi · VN
HanoiVietnam
★
Noi Bai International AirportNEAREST AIRPORT
Population
7,449,681
Total residents
Global rank
#795
Wanderlust index
Best time
October to November and March to…
Peak window
Time zone
Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
Local time
Currency
Vietnamese Dong (VND)
Money in use
Language
Vietnamese
Spoken locally
01 · Overview
About Hanoi
Ancient charm meets vibrant street life in Vietnam's bustling capital.
Hanoi is a captivating blend of centuries-old temples, colonial architecture, and chaotic energy that defines Southeast Asia. The city's iconic Old Quarter offers narrow streets packed with street food vendors, while serene lakes and cultural landmarks provide moments of calm. With a deeply rooted heritage and rapidly evolving modern culture, Hanoi remains an affordable and immersive destination for travelers seeking authentic experiences.
02 · Wanderlust scorecard
How Hanoi scores
Ratings run 0 to 5 unless marked. They come from our AI-assisted research and are refreshed on a rolling basis.
5
/ 5
Cost of living
Affordability, 0–5. Higher means cheaper.
3.5
/ 5
Leisure
Leisure rating, 0–5.
5
Mbps
Connectivity
Median internet speed.
3.7
/ 5
Safety
Safety rating, 0–5. Higher is safer.
3.5
/ 5
Overall livability
Overall rating, 0–5.
2
/ 5
Air quality
Air-quality rating, 0–5. Higher is cleaner.
6.5
index
Index score
Wanderlust ranking, 0–10: overall, safety, internet, cost, leisure and air quality, weighted.
03 · Weather & when to go
Best time to visit Hanoi
Current weather and the forecast, and the months our research rates best for a visit.
Month by month
Best months Either side Other months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sweet spot: October to November and March to April offer pleasant weather with lower humidity and minimal rainfall..
More cities for these months: Where to go in March · Where to go in April · Where to go in October · Where to go in November
04 · Things to do
Things to do in Hanoi
Top sights from our AI-assisted research, and other places we have photos of.
Top sight
Temple of Literature
Photo: The original uploader was Chuoibk at English Wikipedia . · CC BY-SA 3.0
Top sight
Top sight
Old Quarter
Top sight
Top sight
Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre
Place
Place
Ninh Binh
Place
Place
Ninh Binh
05 · Monthly cost of living
Cost of living in Hanoi
Estimated monthly totals in USD from our AI-assisted research, one per profile. Treat them as a starting point for a budget, not a quote.
$850
estimated monthly spend · USDProfileExpat
Price references — vs. profile benchmarks
Nomadmonthly spend · USD
$1,100
+29%
Expatmonthly spend · USD
$850
baseline
Familymonthly spend · USD
$1,850.7
+118%
Localmonthly spend · USD
$415.9
-51%
Median fiber speeddownload · Mbps
5
Mbps
06 · Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Hanoi
Neighborhoods our AI-assisted research lists as popular with visitors.
Old Quarter
French Quarter
Ba Dinh
Tay Ho
07 · Insider tips
Sights and neighbourhoods, with a tip each.
Practical tips on places from this Hanoi guide, written with AI. One is free; Pro members see the rest. Double-check details before you go.
Insider tips · Wanderlust Pro
Practical tips on the sights and neighbourhoods in this Hanoiguide — when to go, what most visitors miss. Written with AI about the guide's own places; double-check details before you go. Pro members see every tip.
08 · Practical notes
Practical information for Hanoi
The essentials from this guide's data, in one place.
01
Getting there
- Nearest airport — Noi Bai International Airport
02
Money
- Currency — Vietnamese Dong (VND)
- Affordability — 5/5 on the Wanderlust index (higher is cheaper)
03
Internet
- Median speed — 5 Mbps
- Internet score — 1.1/5
04
Safety
- Safety score — 3.7/5 from our AI-assisted research
05
Language
- Primary language — Vietnamese
06
Timing
- Best window — October to November and March to April offer pleasant weather with lower humidity and minimal rainfall.
- Time zone — Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
Questions
Frequently asked, plainly answered.
The quick answers travelers want before they commit to flights, neighborhoods, and how long to stay.
Is Hanoi safe for travelers?+
Hanoi has a safety rating of 3.7 out of 5.
What is the best time to visit Hanoi?+
The best time to visit Hanoi is October to November and March to April offer pleasant weather with lower humidity and minimal rainfall..
What are the top things to do in Hanoi?+
Top sights in Hanoi include Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Old Quarter, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and Vietnam Museum of Ethnology.
Where should I stay in Hanoi?+
Popular neighborhoods for visitors to Hanoi include Old Quarter, French Quarter, Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, and Hoan Kiem.
How expensive is Hanoi?+
Hanoi has an affordability score of 5 out of 5, where 5 is most affordable.
How much does it cost to live in Hanoi per month?+
Estimated monthly costs in Hanoi are about $1,100 for a digital nomad, $850 for an expat, $1,851 for a family, and $416 for a local resident (USD).
What is the nearest airport to Hanoi?+
The nearest airport to Hanoi is Noi Bai International Airport.
What is the internet speed in Hanoi?+
Hanoi has an average internet speed of 5 Mbps.
What currency does Hanoi use?+
The currency used in Hanoi is Vietnamese Dong (VND).
What language is spoken in Hanoi?+
The primary language spoken in Hanoi is Vietnamese.
What time zone is Hanoi in?+
Hanoi is in the Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh time zone.
Work-ready layer
Coworking spots and laptop-friendly anchors.
Real coworking spaces, laptop-friendly cafés, and libraries mapped near the center of the city — the closest, best-rated desks first.
Spots surfaced10
Categories3
Mapped10
01
Coworking
SpaceShare - Coworking Space Hoàn Kiếm
Số 8 P. Tràng Thi, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
02
Coworking
the Spacious.18
18 P. Nguyễn Trung Trực, Hanoi, 11100, Vietnam
03
Coworking
SpaceShare Coworking Space
5 Điện Biên Phủ, Hanoi, 11100, Vietnam
04
Coworking
LeBooster
40 P. Hai Bà Trưng, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
05
Café
34 Cafe Nuoi
34 P. Lương Văn Can, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
06
Café
The Sinh Tourist Booking
P. Lương Văn Can/17 P. Hàng Gai, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
07
Café
Quán Fagioli Coffee
2 Tô Tịch, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
08
Café
the Phin coffee beans and tea
2 P. Lương Văn Can, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
09
Library
Thư Viện Phường Hàng Đào
8 P. Hàng Cân, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
10
Library
Thư Viện Phường Hàng Buồm
20 P. Hàng Chĩnh, Hanoi, 11000, Vietnam
Concierge
Ask the Hanoi concierge.
Share your travel style, must-see spots, or work schedule and the concierge will help turn this guide into something personal.
Personal trip brief
Tell it what kind of trip you're trying to have, and it will tighten the plan.
01
Travel style
Ask for cafés, quiet neighborhoods, date-night spots, or a first 48-hour plan.
02
Work constraints
Mention calls, Wi-Fi needs, or how much of the day has to stay laptop-friendly.
03
Real tradeoffs
Get faster answers on where to stay, when to move neighborhoods, and what to skip.
Traveler reviews
Reviews of Hanoi
Written by signed-in Wanderlust members. We don't check that a reviewer has visited.
No reviews of Hanoi yet.
Plan a trip to Hanoi.
Tell the planner your dates, who's coming, your budget and pace, and it drafts a day-by-day itinerary you can edit.
Saved by 2 Wanderlusters
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Insider tips for Hanoi, unlimited AI-built itineraries, and travel companions you can invite to plan a trip together. From $5.00/month, billed annually.