There are several things on what to do in Hanoi at night. It’s as stunning to see the city during the day.
Wander around Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake
One of the most recommended things to do in Hanoi at night is to explore the Hanoi old quarter and the Hoan Kiem Lake. The Hanoi old quarter is packed with food stalls, souvenir shops, and Instagrammable scenes. Thus, expect to find motorbikes building traffic in its streets.
Once done with strolling the streets of the Old Quarter, you can finish the night with a tranquil walk around Hoan Kiem Lake. You can also reach the islet at the heart of the lake where the Ngoc Son temple lies which can be accessed through the red bridge.
Drink Lemon Tea at a Corner of St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Lemon tea is a popular drink at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral area. Most young adults can be seen hanging out with friends (locally they call this “tra chanh via he”) while having a cup of lemon tea on hand.
It is a better alternative than having them meet up at some party place.
The lemon tea found at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral comes in a large glass with lemon and ice, sweetened with sugar – a refreshing way to end the day in Hanoi.
Enjoy Hanoi Street Food
Hanoi is home to several mouthwatering dishes – an authentic Asian cuisine hub. Most streets and areas offer many treats to enjoy, the most common of all is the OId Quarter in Hanoi.
The area will transport you to how the old face of the country was before serving various traditional dishes such as the Pho, Bun Cha, Banh mi, Egg coffee, Banh cuon, and a whole lot more.
Each bite will surely leave a trace in one’s soul.
Chug beer at the Bia Hoi Junction
The Bia Hoi Junction is a must-see spot in the city at night. Expect to see tons of people enjoying a glass of beer or two (or perhaps, more) in its streets. The area is home to more than 200 small bars and is also famous for serving Bia Hoi which invites both locals and tourists.
“Bia Hoi” is actually a Vietnamese craft beer that has 4% of alcohol. This type of beer is served fresh and can be found mostly in areas within Hanoi. The Bia Hoi Junction is situated at the heart of the Old Quarter. The average cost for a beer is 10,000 VND and there are plenty of street food vendors selling steamed peanuts, beef jerky, and exotic snacks that can be best paired with beer.
Due to its reputation of having the most bars, expect the area to have a different vibe at night with several crowds at the street sitting on stools – enjoying their time with friends.
Shopping at Hanoi Night Market
Night markets are common in Hanoi and are usually visited by both locals and tourists. It is one of the recommendations on what to do in Hanoi at night.
Not far from Hoan Kiem Lake is the well-known Dong Xuan night market which sells all kinds of clothes with various qualities and affordable. As a general rule when shopping in Vietnam markets, always try to negotiate for the price of an item you have chosen – you might even get a great deal that will save you money.
Aside from shopping at the Dong Xuan market, one notable thing to do is grab a bite of its tasty street food snacks. The most common to enjoy are chè (sweet porridge), phở (noodles), bún ốc (rice vermicelli with snails), bún chả (rice vermicelli with grilled pork), congee and nộm (Vietnamese salad)!
