The Top Five Most Asked Questions About Hanoi Tourist

The most famous foreign ex-resident of the prison is John McCain.

For many foreign visitors though, it's better known as the prison where American POWs were held during the Vietnam War. Built by the French colonial government in the late 19th century, Hoa Lo Prison Museum was originally used to harbor Vietnamese revolutionaries and any dissidents of the French rule. This pagoda is a reconstruction of the original 11th-century temple, which was destroyed by French colonial troops.

Also worth a visit is the stilt house, once home to Ho Chi Minh, which is excellently preserved, and the One Pillar Pagoda. Also within the complex is the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which has an eclectic collection containing Ho Chi Minh's personal memorabilia as well as plenty of information on the history of the Vietnamese Revolution. The actual mausoleum itself is an austere marble building where Ho Chi Minh's embalmed body sits in a glass case.

A place of pilgrimage for many Vietnamese, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is a sprawling complex set within the city's gardens that contains the tomb of Ho Chi Minh as well as various museums and monuments. The narrow streets of Hanoi's Old Quarter come to life at night, with thousands of locals and tourists alike flooding the alleyways, consuming cheap drinks on tiny plastic stools while snacking on steaming plates of barbequed pork and fried chicken feet. HCMC has managed to retain far more late-night options than its northern sister, though a handful of Hanoi bars still manage to stay open until the last punter leaves (or passes out).

If you plan a trip to Hanoi, spare at least a couple of days to explore the city. Hanoi Old Quarter, the cultural, dining, entertainment and shopping heart of the city is worth the majority of your time to discover. Museums and pagodas scatter the city and Hoan Kiem Lake serves as the centre point to reach just anywhere.

As the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi is home to a large number of must-see attractions. Find lots of Chinese knockoff goods, produce, and stuff for everyday use in homes - but there are plenty of neat trinket shops tucked down the narrow lanes of this maze of commerce, and just the experience of walking around (or photographing the chaos) is a reason to visit. A massive indoor pavilion is surrounded by streets teeming with sellers day and night (early morning is best to visit).

Dong Xuan Market is the city's largest traditional market and a highlight of a visit to the Old Quarter. Peaceful and quiet, the lake surrounds Ngoc Son Temple, a pagoda sitting in the center on a small island. Hanoi tourist tourists and locals alike head to Hoan Kiem Lake when seeking a place to get away from the noise of the city.

That or like you advice get the price in advance thennegotiate to 1/3 of that, if that. A shave, 20,000 dong and walk away. The cyclo driver the motorbike taxi, give them 20,000 vnd and walk away.