Certainly one of the most interesting places to visit in Southeast Asia is Vietnam. Hanoi has come a long way in preserving its colonial and Chinese influence since the 70’s. With a great many places to soak in culture, namely, the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Presidential Palace, or the Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution, the country’s history and foreign interpretation of it are on its own reasons to visit, but there is so much more, including its famous cuisines and natural landmarks.
When you break it down, many items on a Hanoi to do and see list bare the same essential theme–water–so here are our top five.
Halong Bay
Ha Long Bay is a spectacular natural landmark featuring thousands of limestone karsts and islets. Interestingly enough, Ha Long Bay does not belong to Hanoi, but Ha Long City in Quang Ningh province, about 3 to 3.5 hours away from Hanoi by bus, but it is so beautiful that its proximity alone from Hanoi warrants mention.
From the Thein Cung grotto to the floating fishing villages, the Unesco World Heritage Site is the main reason many visitors even come to Vietnam. Snap photo after photo during a sunset, as the impressive towering rock formations loom over the picturesque boats and blue waters beneath. It is as breathtaking as you think.
