Best Nightlife In Hanoi – Top 05 Things to Do

1. Wander around Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake

Just strolling out the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake could be one of the best activities to do at night in Hanoi. It seems like half of the people living in Hanoi hanging out here at night. That’s why it is so crowded and full of motorbikes on the roads of Old Quarter areas. 

Walking around 16 streets, getting in a random store, taking some pictures, talking to Vietnamese young people, there would be a great way to immerse in the local culture and lifestyle.

2. Drink Lemon Tea at a Corner of St. Joseph’s Cathedral

After dinner, the St. Joseph’s Cathedral is an ideal place for relaxing. Enjoying a cup of lemon tea, you may feel like a truly Hanoian. It is the most favorite and picked-up drink of the Vietnamese young people in the North of Vietnam. 

Drinking lemon tea and chit-chatting is always fun. Especially when sitting at a corner of the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, you can even enjoy its Gothic Revival architecture and beauty and see a lot of Catholics going there for praying.

3. Watch a Water Puppet Show

Dating back 1000 years ago, water puppetry is a unique traditional art form of Vietnam. For those who want to get closer to Vietnamese tradition, a water puppet show after dinner or while having dinner is a good choice. Most of the shows tell about the folktales and legends about Vietnamese heroes by using puppets and a traditional Vietnamese orchestra. It is better to book a ticket in advance because it is quite crowded in the evening. In Hanoi, the best theatre for water puppet show is Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

4. Enjoy street foods 

Enjoying local cuisine is a must in any tour. Visiting Hanoi, you will have a chance to discover the unique foods in the North of Vietnam. A local tour guide will be available for help. Most of the tour guides will take you to go sightseeing in the evening first, normally walking around the Hoan Kiem lake.

Then, in the Old Quarter, they will introduce you to many traditional Vietnamese foods like Pho, Bun Cha, Banh mi, egg coffee, Banh cuon, etc. These will leave imprints in your mind and probably make you crave for after you go back to your hometown.

5. Drink beers at Ta Hien Street

Ta Hien Street as the quintessential nightlife spot, is a must-visit. In the evening, you can see hundreds of people enjoying beer on plastic stools. “Bia hoi” (fresh beer) is one kind of Vietnamese craft beer with only 4% alcohol.