Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and has 4 million inhabitants. The city is spacious and most buildings are low. The climate is nice and exhaust gases and noise do not disturb you too much. Hanoi is one of the last places where you can, in our opinion still feel the traditional old atmosphere of a South East Asian big city.

The most interesting part of the city is perhaps the old town with Chinese influence and its narrow lanes, peddlers, bicycle taxis (“cyclos”) and numerous small shops. Most travelers stay at one of its many small and cheap hotels. For $7 you can get a good room with bath. The Hoan Kiem Lake is very close to the old town, and its beach boulevards have a relaxed atmosphere. At night and in the week-ends locals gather there for walks, board games or just to meet friends and relatives.

Must-see sights of Hanoi include the mausoleum and museum of Ho Chi Minh and the Water Puppet Theatre. It is advisable to buy tickets to the theatre in advance, as they are often sold out.

Hanoi is a paradise for shoppers of exotic goods. There are conical hats and silk clothes for women, especially the national dresses of Vietnamese women called Ao Dai. Street vendors sell Zippo lighters, watches and all sorts of small things American soldiers have supposedly left behind. All of them are probably fake.

Of course there are also lots and lots of genuine and beautiful handicraft for sale as well. If you are good at bargaining you can buy your bags full of nice and exciting things for very little money.