Hanoi, Vietnam things to do: Travel tips from an expert expat

It is the everyday things that make Hanoi an extraordinary place to visit.Credit: Getty Images

Phil Harman works for an Australian-funded project that supports ethnic minority women in north-west Vietnam to engage in tourism and agriculture. See equality.aus4vietnam.org

SEE

For me, it is the everyday things that make Hanoi an extraordinary place to live or visit, such as the women selling baguettes out of baskets across their shoulders to the crazy traffic. Have a ride on a back of a motorbike taxi or take a motorbike tour down the old laneways to really feel like a local. The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is also a fantastic introduction to Vietnam's 54 different ethnic groups, with regular water puppet shows here during the day in a relaxing outdoor setting. See vme.org.vn

Phil Harman works for an Australian-funded project that supports ethnic minority women in north-west Vietnam to engage in tourism and agriculture.

DO

Run, cycle or walk the 15 kilometres around West Lake. If you go early, you can catch the older generations of Hanoians doing Tai Chi and more modern forms of exercise. There are plenty of great cafes to break the trip or try the ever-popular Kem Ho Tay ice-cream shop. Banana Island in the Red River is also a good place to exercise; it has a rustic village feel right near the heart of Hanoi.

EAT

Nothing beats the street food in Hanoi from a warm bowl of pho to bun cha, grilled pork served with noodles, fresh herbs and a delicious sauce. One of my favourites is Xuan Xuan in the Old Quarter (47 Ma May St). With tables spilling out onto the street, enjoy a cold Hanoi beer whilst grilling BBQ beef which is dipped into a sauce of lime juice, salt, pepper and chilli and enjoyed on crusty baguettes. If you have a sweet tooth, visit Little Bowl to enjoy the Vietnamese dessert che. Try the banana, pomelo or more exotic flavours, and take in the aroma of the nearby medicinal herb shops. KOTO, an Australian-Vietnamese NGO that trains disadvantaged youth has great food across its two Hanoi restaurants. See koto.com.au

DRINK

A great venue to hang out with friends is Bao Wow. Sip a local Truc Bach beer or the hibiscus lemonade, and munch on the tasty bao buns (baowowhanoi.com). Otherwise, soak up the old-world charm of Angelina at the Sofitel Metropole, where my drink of choice is the whisky sour (sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi.com).

AVOID

It catches many people by surprise but Hanoi can actually be cold and drizzly in January and February. You just need to come prepared.

THRIVE

Escape to Y Ty, an as-yet-undiscovered mountainous destination north of Sapa and bordering China. Enjoy the mountain vistas, local foods and the rich and colourful traditions of the Ha Nhi people.