Bucket List for Couples in Hanoi

1. Hang out at coffee shops

What can be more romantic than spending a morning or a lovely night with your loved one in a small corner of a quiet coffee shop? Each coffee shop has its own unique style and design, some feature a French colonial villa with a small exhibition of pictures, photographs and paintings like Manzi coffee shop and bar, some feature old furniture from the time when Vietnam was still a centrally planned economy, some has lovely garden view like in The Farmer Gardenista. In some coffee shops in Hanoi, many music lovers gather and perform live the greatest Vietnamese and Western hits. Music and coffee would be a splendid combination for an evening in Hanoi.

2. Walk down to the Old Quarter

Traveling to Hanoi on your Vietnam honeymoon, one of the highlighted spots must be Hanoi Old Quarter. Wonderful things to see and try await your arrival on these old streets of Hanoi. On these streets, couples would be enchanted by the ancient look of the houses that are in close proximity to one another with the common yellow walls, green windows and stained balconies. All of those 36 old streets’ citizen is still trying to preserve that ancient beauty through hundreds of years. Walking down the streets, you’ll catch the sight of couples joining hands walking together to embrace the living pace in the Old Quarter.

Each street has its own specialties, for example, Hang Ma Street is the place selling items made from paper from decorations to offerings to Vietnamese ancestors in Vietnam tradition, Hang Bac’s stores (Bac means silver in English) sell silver accessories such as bracelets, necklaces, earrings and anklets. With your loved one, you can also try delicious street food in the Old Quarter area in Hanoi.

3. Join a Guided Street Food Tour

If you guys do not have so much time in Hanoi but still want to explore a bit more about Hanoi mouth-watering delicacies, the best way is to book a tour to discover the best street food in Hanoi. The tour can easily be found at every travel agency and tour company in Hanoi Old Quarter at around $20.

The advantage of street food tour is that you needn’t do online research about shops, street names, the best street food to try. Just follow the local guides and enjoy all of their recommendations and offers, mostly famous Hanoi specialties such as Pho, Bun Cha, Banh Cuon, Egg Coffee, etc. The guides will also offer an insight into every single dish and Vietnam culinary in general.

4. Enjoy Cool Breeze on Long Bien Bridge

Long Bien Bridge was built from 1989 to 1902 during the French’s occupation of Vietnam, thus, the bridge features French architecture style. More than a decade of war in Vietnam, Long Bien Bridge had been boomed by an air attack by American armies in 1967 and 1972, the bridge withstood them all and standing still until today. In the present time, Long Bien Bridge becomes the living historical relic as well as a symbol of courageous capital in wars. One thing that couples should not miss when staying in Hanoi is watching the sunrise or the sunset from the sidewalk of Long Bien Bridge. The view is as captivating as it can be.

5. Contemplate Sunset over West Lake

West Lake is Hanoi’s largest fresh water lake in the West district. The West Lake is a romantic place to while away a peaceful afternoon, the floating restaurant will make it a novel dining in the intensity of the light of just enough to calm you. The sun is like a great big romantic, inspirational fire in the sky. It would be as if a powerful symphony was quieting down, becoming more emotional and beautiful as it dies down.

6. Wander around Hoan Kiem Lake

Hoan Kiem Lake is the heart of the capital city Hanoi. Getting up early in the morning and taking a stroll down to Hoan Kiem Lake, couples can join in the morning activities of the local people, they could be a morning run or tai-chi-chuan practice with the seniors.

In the evening, the atmosphere of Hoan Kiem Lake gets busier with the flow of thousands of people joining in the vibrant of the city centre’s nightlife. In the weekend, vehicles are restricted to enter the area and the streets around Hoan Kiem Lake to turn it into walking streets. Parents tend to take their children to the lake to let them take part in the activities that are held there such as participating in a live performance of artists coming from National Musical Academy, playing traditional games on the street such as “O an quan” – pebbles game, rope jumping, bamboo dancing, etc.

7. Order a Cup of Lime Tea at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral

Another hustle and bustle life that couples should experience while visiting Hanoi is having a lime tea at St. Josep’s Cathedral. St. Joseph’s Cathedral is a Neo-Gothic design Catholic Cathedral – the city’s oldest church – which echoes the Notre Dame. In the late evening, young people hang out together around the church while sipping lime tea, biting sunflower seeds as well as gossiping tons of stories.

8. Spend Time at Entertainment Centres

Huge shopping malls and entertainment centres are springing up like mushroom after the rain in the capital city Hanoi, for example, Time City, Royal City,. Shopping malls in Hanoi are the best option not only for shopping but also for escaping the heat of the sunny afternoon. Shopping malls offer a wide range of dining restaurants, internationally-renowned brands and entertaining arcades such as indoor skating rink, indoor water park. Couples can have an exciting time together playing all kinds of game machines from dancing, shooting to hamster smashing and basketball.

In a nutshell, you might have some ideas for what to do in Hanoi with your sweetheart after reading our post. If you find this useful, please feel free to share it with your friends. For more travel tips and activities to put in your travel list, please have a look at our Vietnam travel guide.