Hanoi and Halong Bay | Best At Travel

Representing two contrasting sides to Vietnam, Hanoi and Halong Bay are amongst the country’s most sought-after regions. Hanoi, Vietnam’s colourful capital, is a melting pot of cultures where tumultuous streets are home to crumbling French colonial buildings and merchant houses, hundreds of intricately designed temples and an imposing 11th-century citadel. Navigating the clamour of Hanoi’s chaotic Old Quarter, each turn is infused with the alluring aromas of its world-famous street food and abuzz with the hustle and bustle of the charismatic locals. Oozing with the spirit of authentic Vietnam, Hanoi never fails to captivate travellers seeking enriching culture and eclectic atmosphere.

Halong Bay on Vietnam’s northeast coast is a veritable dreamscape where thousands of dramatic limestone karsts lie cloaked in tropical greenery, emerging from glimmering emerald waters scattered with the crimson-red sails of traditional Vietnamese junks. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a popular destination for multi-night cruises, with opportunities to kayak through mystical grottoes and visit floating fishing villages.

Our selection of curated luxury holidays to Hanoi and Halong Bay showcase the best of these iconic destinations, offering everything from classic boutique hotels in the heart of the city to unforgettable voyages across Halong Bay aboard traditional boats. Get in touch with one of our Vietnam Travel Experts to plan your next luxury adventure.

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Capella Hanoi

Hanoi and Halong Bay

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Standing on the corner of a leafy boulevard, The Capella Hanoi occupies a grand building within Hanoi’s colonial-rooted French Quarter, just moments away from the Hanoi Opera House. With opera-inspired Art Nouveau interior décor conceived by renowned architect and designer Bill Bensley, this 5-star hotel flaunts excellent restaurants and bars, a blissful spa facility and authentic cultural experiences. Stay here and fall in love with Vietnam’s eclectic capital from one of its most iconic properties. The Capella group were hailed as the Best Hotel Brand in the World in 2023.

Heritage Line Ginger Cruise

Hanoi and Halong Bay

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Plying the picturesque waters of Lan Ha Bay in Northern Vietnam, the Ginger is Heritage Line Cruises’ flagship vessel in the Halong Bay area. With its elegant Indochina aesthetics, gourmet dining, onboard spa and collection of luxurious suites, explore this coastal paradise in unparalleled glamour while sailing aboard the Heritage Line Ginger Cruise.

Heritage Line Ylang Cruise

Hanoi and Halong Bay

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One of Heritage Line Cruises’ impressive fleet of luxury Vietnamese-style vessels, the Ylang enables guests to navigate the emerald waters of Lan Ha Bay while immersed in utmost luxury. Steeped in authenticity and with lavish onboard facilities, this is the ultimate way to explore one of Vietnam’s most enchanting coastal corners.

Paradise Elegance Cruise

Hanoi and Halong Bay

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Offering one- and two-night cruising itineraries across the unforgettable dreamscape of Vietnam’s Halong Bay, the Paradise Elegance Cruise is a sleek, modern vessel which combines contemporary luxury with elegant Indochinese motifs. As you drift, you’ll be able to enjoy luxurious onboard amenities including sumptuous fine dining, a dedicated butler service, a sundeck Jacuzzi and an indulgent spa. Discover one of Vietnam’s most spellbinding coastlines aboard the Paradise Elegance Cruise.

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Hanoi and Halong Bay

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Occupying a grand neoclassical building that has been a Hanoi landmark since 1901, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is evocative of a bygone era in Vietnamese history. Here you can wander through vast, chandelier-lit spaces and dine on fine flavours and sophisticated cocktails, unwind in an outdoor swimming pool and surrender to a soothing treatment at an onsite spa - all while enjoying a prime location just moments away from the Hanoi Opera House and some of the city’s most sought-after attractions.

The Lapis Hotel

Hanoi and Halong Bay

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Straddling Hanoi’s French and Old Quarters, The Lapis Hotel is perfectly placed for exploring Vietnam’s eclectic capital and its cultural treasures. Elegant guestrooms, sumptuous cuisine, a top-notch spa facility and one of the city’s best rooftop swimming pools come together to create a quiet refuge of comfort and convenience in the beating heart of the city.

Hanoi and Halong Bay Travel Information

Plan Your Holiday to Hanoi and Halong Bay

Helpful Travel Information

Travelling to Hanoi and Halong Bay? Browse our top tips for making your holiday to Vietnam the best it can be with our handy Hanoi and Halong Bay Travel Guide.

Flying to Hanoi from the UK: Non-stop flights depart from the UK for Hanoi on a daily basis, with some non-direct flights too.

Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND)

VISA for Vietnam: No VISA required for stays of up to 15 days.

Getting Around: Taxis are readily available and reasonably priced, though may require some bartering with the driver. Buses run regularly between major cities, and there is a good train system also.

Flight Time From the UK: The flight time from London to Hanoi is 11 hours and 15 minutes.

Time Difference: GMT +7

Languages in Vietnam: Vietnamese. Some Chinese is also spoken, and people living in tourist areas and cities tend to speak some English.

When to Visit: Autumn (September-November) and Spring (March and April) are considered the best times to visit Hanoi and Halong Bay, when the weather is milder and there is less rain. Northern Vietnam can drop below 10°C in the winter and temperatures and humidity soar in the summer months, averaging 28-35°C.

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Hanoi and Halong Bay Attractions

Hanoi is a melting pot of cultures, its streets brimming with intriguing history and ancient sites. Wander through Hanoi’s chaotic Old Quarter, where labyrinthine streets are lined with all manner of shops and stalls. The city’s streets are littered with countless ornate temples, including the Bach Ma Temple, founded in 1010 during the Ly dynasty. The formidable Imperial City was built around the same time as the Bach Ma Temple on the remnants of a 7th-century Chinese fortress, offering an insight into another era. South of the citadel stands the Temple of Literature, a part-museum honouring Vietnam’s most treasured scholars that is believed to have been the country’s first university. In Halong Bay, overnight or multi-night cruises typically include visits to rural fishing villages floating on the bay’s emerald waters, along with stops at some of the many islands which scatter the dreamy landscape. Other activities might include kayaking, diving and hiking.

Hanoi and Halong Bay Food and Drink

Vietnam is renowned for its aromatic cuisine, and in few places is it as dynamic and delicious as in Hanoi. The heavenly smells of authentic Vietnamese street food waft through Hanoi’s busy streets, where you can find countless vendors and restaurants spilling out onto the streets where locals gather to eat and mingle. Hanoi’s most famous dish is bun cha, a succulent brothy dish comprising smoky, slow-cooked pork and Vietnamese herbs. You’ll also find national classics like pho, banh mi, spicy curries and iconic egg coffee, which originated in Hanoi. Considering Halong Bay is largely defined by its dramatic seascape, it is perhaps no surprise that the cuisine here centres around the bounties of the ocean. Try sticky rice with grilled squid, oysters and horseshoe crabs, along with an aromatic array of stir fries incorporating locally caught seafood and fresh herbs and spices.

Hanoi and Halong Bay Activities

In Hanoi, one of the best activities to add to your itinerary is a walking tour through the Old Quarter. Your guide will take you to some of the best food spots as well as some of the city’s most important historical sites. Away from the city’s bustling centre, many visitors to Hanoi opt for day trips to some of the surrounding sites, including the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and the jaw-dropping landscapes of Trang An and the Mua Caves. While floating around Halong Bay, one of the most impressive places to investigate is the Sung Sot Cave, one of the largest in the area, where visitors can enter this extensive cave system and wander around its vast caverns. In nearby Cat Ba National Park, you can hike along a nine-kilometre trail that winds through the rainforest for the chance to glimpse the endangered golden-headed langur plus macaques, hornbills and giant black squirrels.

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