Top Outdoor Activities In Hanoi For Adventure Lovers
Outdoor activities in Hanoi offer an exciting way to explore the city’s rich culture and natural beauty. With MOTOGO Tours, you can experience the best outdoor adventures, from cycling around scenic lakes to hiking through lush national parks, all while discovering the vibrant essence of Hanoi.
Outdoor activities in Hanoi’s inner city
Vibrant attractions and activities abound in Hanoi’s inner city. Culture, history, and modernity come together in its many attractions, which range from ancient sites to bustling marketplaces and tranquil parks.
Cycling around West Lake
Many Hanoi residents and visitors enjoy a bike ride around West Lake. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city at this tranquil spot. With a diameter of 17 kilometers, this lake offers breathtaking panoramas of temples, verdant foliage, and the water itself.
For an hourly rate of around 30,000 to 50,000 VND, you can hire bicycles. On weekday mornings and evenings, a large number of residents and visitors pedal around the lake.
Old Quarter walking tours
The beating heart of Hanoi is the Old Quarter. On a walking tour, you can see all the winding, busy streets. The area’s lively marketplaces, delicious street cuisine, and historic French colonial buildings have made it famous. There is always something new to find along the more than 36 streets Hanoi, each of which specializes in a particular craft.
Meeting locals is another perk of taking a stroll in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Hidden cafes, lively marketplaces, and old temples are all here. Usually lasting between two and three hours, tours provide an ideal introduction to the culture and history of the city.
Visiting the Hanoi Botanical Gardens
One place in Hanoi where you can find peace and quiet is the Botanical Gardens. Its approximate 10 ha size makes it a prime location close to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Species ranging from tall trees to tropical flowers call this area home.
Those on a tighter budget will appreciate the gardens because admission is free. When the sun goes down, the locals go there in droves. Perfect for anyone seeking a respite from city life, the expansive green area features ponds and walking paths.
Discovering Hanoi’s ancient pagodas and temples
The city of Hanoi is filled with ancient pagodas and temples. Discover the rich spiritual and architectural history of Vietnam through these sacred locations. Among the most well-known is the Temple of Literature, which served as Vietnam’s first university. An important cultural landmark, it was built in 1070.
The Tran Quoc Pagoda and One Pillar Pagoda are two more noteworthy sites. The history and religious customs of the country can be better understood by visiting these temples. You can view most of these sites without paying a dime, but any amount will help keep them alive.
Outdoor Activities in Hanoi – Duck boat riding on West Lake
One of the best ways to unwind is to take a duck boat ride on West Lake. The duck-shaped boats bring a lighthearted touch to the experience. For an hourly rate of 100,000 to 150,000 VND, tourists can hire these boats. People of all ages, including families and couples, like it. Taking a ride in a duck boat is a great way to see the lake from a different angle.
The double-decker bus tour
One of the best ways to see Hanoi’s top sights is on a double-decker bus tour. The flexibility of these trips lies in the fact that riders are free to board and disembark at any point along the itinerary. Hoan Kiem Lake, the Temple of Literature, and the Hanoi Opera House are among the most visited landmarks in the city. You can get a bird’s-eye view of the city from the bus’s upper deck, which is perfect for taking pictures.
Buses depart every half an hour for the tour, which operates all day long. For a 24-hour pass, the usual price range is between 200,000 to 300,000 VND. You may get audio tours of each site that talk about its history and culture in a variety of languages.
Visiting the Hanoi zoo
A wonderful place for families to go on outings is the 20-hectare Hanoi Zoo, which is situated in Thu Le Park. Over 600 animal species call the zoo their home, including tigers, elephants, and a plethora of birds. It is pleasant to visit even on hot days due to its large enclosures and walks that provide shade.
Adult admission is about 30,000 VND, and children’s admission is about 15,000 VND. The zoo is perfect for a day of fun because it has picnic spaces and playgrounds. Swan pedal boats are available for rent at the nearby lake, so guests may add yet another fun activity to their day.
Hanoi walking food tour
An experience you won’t soon forget is Hanoi walking food tour. On these excursions, you will see the Old Quarter’s hidden food vendors and crowded marketplaces. Some of the most popular Vietnamese cuisines are grilled pork with noodles (bun cha), Vietnamese sandwiches (banh mi), and noodle soup (pho). Five or seven tastings are common on these tours.
Tours typically cost between half a million and one million Vietnamese dong (VND) each person and last for three to four hours. Hanoian tour guides are great resources for learning about the history of Hanoian cuisine and getting recommendations for the city’s finest restaurants.
Water parks: an outdoor paradise
Water parks in Hanoi, such as Vinpearl and Ho Tay, provide a welcome respite from the sweltering heat of the city. Amusement parks like these offer rides and attractions that people of all ages can enjoy, like lazy rivers, wave pools, and slides. Adults can unwind in the larger pools while children splash around in the smaller water parks.
The park and day of the week determine the entry price, which can be anywhere from 100,000 to 250,000 VND. Many Hanoi water parks provide on-site restaurants where guests may enjoy Vietnamese delicacies and beverages. Summer is when these parks really come alive.
Night market
The lively nightlife of Hanoi would not be complete without the city’s night markets. From Friday at 6:00 PM till Sunday at 11:00 PM, you can visit the Old Quarter’s night market. Vendors peddle clothing, arts and crafts, and trinkets along its length, which begins at Hang Dao Street and ends at Dong Xuan Market.
The Quang Ba flower market, renowned for its exquisite selection of fresh flowers, is yet another night market that must be visited. It begins to bustle from midnight and continues till daybreak in Tay Ho District. An array of fragrant and colorful flowers, including orchids, lilies, and roses, are showcased at the market. Locals go crazy shopping for cheap flowers here in the days leading up to festivals like Tet Nguyen Dan.
One of the biggest wholesale markets in Hanoi, Long Bien market is well-known for its fresh seafood and products. It begins its active phase at midnight and continues till the crack of dawn. With its fast-paced merchants and porters, the market offers a rare look into the commerce that powers the city’s daily operations. Anyone seeking a taste of the real commercial havoc of Hanoi should make a beeline for this market.
Outdoor activities in Hanoi’s outskirts
Natural beauty and ancient villages dot the outskirts of Hanoi, providing a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. These places offer tranquility and genuine experiences, from beautiful hiking destinations to quaint craft communities.
Outdoor activities in Ba Vi National Park
There is no better place for hikers than Ba Vi National Park. About sixty kilometers from Hanoi is where you’ll find the park. There are a number of defined trails of varying difficulties to choose from. Lush forests and high peaks offering panoramic views are the major attractions of the park.
Famous landmarks, including as the French remains and the Temple of Emperor Hung, are accessible to hikers. Vua Peak, at 1,296 meters, is the highest point. A individual must pay approximately 60,000 VND to enter the site. On weekends, many people go to the park since it’s a great place to get away from the city.
Camping at Ba Vi, Soc Son, or Son Tay
Those who appreciate the great outdoors often go camping in Ba Vi. Designated camping places with basic amenities are available within the park. There are campgrounds and beautiful areas in Soc Son, which is 40 kilometers from Hanoi. Its tranquil setting and pine forests are its claim to fame.
Another place to go camping is Son Tay. Its vast areas and crisp air have made it famous. Camping along Dong Mo Lake is a popular choice for many tourists looking for a peaceful getaway. These campgrounds are great for gatherings of many kinds.
Boating at Dong Mo Lake (Son Tay)
One of the best places to go boating in Son Tay is Dong Mo Lake. Hilly and forested areas surround the lake, which extends over 1,200 hectares. For a tranquil day on the lake, guests can hire rowboats or kayaks.
The Dong Mo Golf Club is located nearby, so there are even more leisure opportunities in the vicinity. Starting at 50,000 VND, you can participate in boating activities. Tourists and locals alike love to spend weekends at the lake because of its serene atmosphere.
Bat Trang Ceramic Village: A Must-See
Art enthusiasts should definitely make a stop at The Bat Trang Pottery Village. You can reach the village from the heart of Hanoi by walking around thirteen kilometers. Its reputation for creating superior ceramics dates back more than seven centuries. Tourists can observe potters in action and even give it a go themselves.
Handmade ceramics may be found in many of the village’s businesses. From contemporary dinnerware to more classic vases, you’ll find it all here. There are solutions available for any budget, however prices may vary. Discover the art of Vietnamese workmanship and bring home one-of-a-kind mementos at Bat Trang.
Discovering historical craft communities
The outskirts of Hanoi are teeming with traditional craft villages, each with its own rich history and distinctive products. Van Phuc Silk Village, around 10 kilometers southwest of Hanoi, is one of the most well-known. For more than a millennium, the residents of this village have been crafting exquisite silk. Shop for exquisitely woven scarves, ties, and traditional garments while witnessing the complex process of silk weaving.
Weaving rattan and bamboo is the specialty of Phu Vinh Village. It is well-known in the Chuong My District for making furniture, trays, and woven baskets. Here we can see the villagers’ talent for fashioning useful and aesthetically pleasing things out of raw materials. Tourists can purchase one-of-a-kind, environmentally conscious wares while watching the weaving process.
The peach blooms of Nhat Tan Village, which is close to West Lake, are world-renowned. Peach blossom branches are a popular decoration for homes during the Tet holiday, which brings in a lot of customers. In the midst of the Lunar New Year celebrations, the village comes alive with a flurry of color and life.
From kayaking on picturesque lakes to trekking across verdant terrain, outdoor activities in Hanoi are a great way to see the city’s rich culture and stunning scenery. With any luck, this guide will serve as the catalyst for your next outdoor experience in Hanoi, and we appreciate you sticking with us!
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