Hanoi Walking Streets: Experience the vibrant fun of Hanoi
Trang Tien Plaza at Christmas.
The streets marked in red make up the Hanoi Walking Streets.
When it comes to immersing oneself in the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of Hanoi, there is no better way to experience it than by taking a stroll along the famous Hanoi Walking Streets. Located in the heart of the city, these pedestrian-only zones have become a beloved destination for both locals and tourists seeking to soak up the rich culture and history that permeate the streets.
The Hanoi Walking Streets consist of the Night Market along Hang Ngang and Hang Dao as well as many streets around Hoan Kiem Lake all the way down to Trang Tien Plaza.
The streets are closed to traffic each evening on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, creating a captivating ambiance that is unique to this part of the city.
There is a bit of everything going on: bustling markets, delicious street food, portrait drawing, music, folk games, and performance.
Pavement Music
Lots of people set up and perform music around Hoan Kiem Lake. Mostly they are locals, but you might also find a musical backpacker looking to earn a few dong for their travelling fund.
Dance Groups
A number of professional dance groups use the closed streets to record their videos. You might be lucky (or unlucky depending on your tastes) to come across something like in this video below.
Vietnamese Folk Games
These games more often take place on Saturday and Sunday, when children are around. While not all specifically Vietnamese, a few popular games include skipping ropes, tug-of-war, mandarin square capturing (a local board game), and foot shuttlecock. Feel free to join in if you want, the locals are really happy to have visitors join them and will explain the rules if you don’t know them. If you are travelling with kids this will a real highlight for them if they are not too shy.
Food
It wouldn’t be Vietnam if there wasn’t fodo involved - one of the favourite hobbies of the locals! You will find so many street vendors along the roads. Rather than do a normal dinner at a single restaurant why not just roam the streets and eat as you go. You’ll get to try lots of amazing food that is cheap and tasty.
The Huc Bridge all lit up at night.
Empower your inner adventurer and DIY an awesome holiday in Vietnam.
