Top 12 Things To Do In Hanoi At Night
Night tourism activities are currently being implemented and promoted in Hanoi to create new experiential tourism products for tourists. There are many attractions open both during the day and at night, but there are also activities that you can only participate in at night. At night, under the shimmering lights combined with artistic performance technology, you will have unforgettable experiences that daytime tours cannot provide. Here are the top 12 things you should experience at night in Hanoi when you come here.
The Quintessence of Tonkin Show
The Quintessence of Tonkin show is divided into 6 parts, exploring various themes, giving you a deeper insight into the culture of Northern Vietnam through outstanding and creative performances.
Attending this show, you will witness a program introducing the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam using elements of music, dance, and acrobatics in an outdoor performance space with a magnificent stage, incorporating modern technology with over 250 performers.
Sacred Night at Hoa Lo Prison Relic
Hoa Lo Prison is closely associated with the intense wartime past of the Vietnamese nation, once witnessing much suffering and loss of both soldiers and patriots.
In order to help Vietnamese people and tourists better understand the losses and severity of the wars in Vietnam, the historic site of Hoa Lo Prison organizes night tours with the themes:
- Sacred Night 1: Shining Vietnamese spirit.
- Sacred Night 2: Live like flowers, focusing on honoring the revolutionary soldiers and prisoners who lived and fought heroically at Hoa Lo Prison; every Friday night; Age: 8-75 years old.
- Sacred Night 3: Youthful Fire, honoring young heroes, those eighteen and twenty who fought bravely and died heroically right here. Hoa Lo Prison is the revolutionary school where steel spirits are forged; every Saturday night; Age: 10 – 75 years old.
Address: No. 1 Hoa Lo Street, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem District.
Time: 19:00 – 21:00, every Friday and Saturday night.
Ticket price: Depending on the theme tour.
The tour includes narration and limits the number of participants each night, combined with sound, lighting, and the skilled performances of actors, providing visitors with a very realistic view of this prison.
Pedestrian Streets and Night Markets
Pedestrian streets are also one of the highlights of Hanoi’s capital, with 4 areas designated as weekend pedestrian streets in Hanoi. However, most tourists tend to focus more on the Old Quarter area of Hanoi and the pedestrian spaces around Hoan Kiem Lake. The most special thing here is that besides having spacious walking areas, you also have the opportunity to enjoy free cultural activities and entertainment every weekend.
Not far from Hoan Kiem Lake, just about 300m away, is the bustling night market area open from Friday evening to Sunday evening every week. Coming to the night market in Hanoi, you can enjoy street food and shop for various goods at very cheap prices, though their quality may not be the best.
Watch the Thang Long Water Puppet Show
Water puppetry is a traditional folk art form of Vietnam, reflecting the simple and rustic life, as well as the rituals, customs, and traditions of the rural areas in the Red River Delta of Northern Vietnam. Water puppetry is a typical intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam, so when watching a water puppet performance, you will learn more about the culture and people of Vietnam.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Theater is located in the central area, next to Hoan Kiem Lake, and is one of the attractions that attracts a large number of international tourists to watch this show.
Read more: Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi, Vietnam
Address: 57B Dinh Tien Hoang, Ly Thai To, Hanoi City.
Showtimes:
- Summer: 4:10 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM
- Winter: 3:00 PM, 4:10 PM, 5:20 PM, 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM, 9:15 PM
- Sunday: 9:30 AM
Each Thang Long Water Puppet Show lasts about 45 minutes.
Night Tour – Decoding Thang Long Imperial Citadel
The night tour “Decoding the Imperial Citadel” at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a new tourism product that brings unique experiences to visitors when exploring the famous Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi. The difference between the night tour and the day tour lies in the lighting system and cultural artistic activities that will help you perceive the space better, closer, thereby understanding more about the history of this monument.
Hanoi Sightseeing Double-Decker Bus
When you arrive in Hanoi, you will easily spot the image of the vibrant red double-decker buses amidst the bustling streets. These public transports cater to tourists, taking you through lively streets and famous landmarks in Hanoi. Apart from daytime bus tours, you can book tickets to experience Hanoi’s nightlife, observing the bustling crowds and admiring the ancient beauty of the streets and the panoramic view of the capital from above.
The double-decker bus also provides free wifi, headphones, and multilingual commentary for each tour. At each stop, the narration system will introduce you to information about the history, characteristics, and significance of each landmark.
Exploring Hanoi Old Quarter by electric car
Exploring the central area of Hanoi by electric car is also an interesting experience worth trying. Departing from the station located on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, next to Hoan Kiem Lake, the electric cars operated by Dong Xuan Company will take you to visit the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake. While traveling, you can listen to the introduction of the cultural history of each Old Quarter, historical relics in both Vietnamese and English, and capture vivid and interesting images of the life of Hanoi’s Old Quarter residents.
You’re looking for a good hotel in Hanoi’s Old Quarter? Check out this article: Top 14 Best 4 Star Hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter
Cyclo
When visiting the Old Quarter of Hanoi or the area around Hoan Kiem Lake, it’s not difficult to come across the sight of foreign tourists laughing and chatting happily while sitting on cyclos to admire the scenery and explore the streets of the capital. Over 90% of international tourists visiting Hanoi experience using cyclo services to explore the Old Quarter. This environmentally friendly and intimate means of transportation has become an interesting highlight, leaving a lasting impression on visitors when they come to Hanoi.
Flag Lowering Ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Everyday, at the Mausoleum of Uncle Ho, also known as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, there are two ceremonies: the Flag Raising Ceremony in the morning at 6:00 AM, and the Flag Lowering Ceremony at 9:00 PM. The Flag Lowering Ceremony is the ideal time for tourists to attend. You just need to arrive a little earlier at Ba Dinh Square, in front of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, find a suitable spot, and you can observe the entire ceremony.
Live show The Legend of Youth
The art program titled “The Legend of Youth” at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum will reenact the image of the Heroic Squad consisting of 10 young girls (aged 18-24) at Dong Loc T-junction (Ha Tinh Province), who bravely sacrificed themselves, contributing greatly to maintaining the vital transportation lines during the Vietnam War against the US imperialism.
The 60-minute program is set in the intense battlefield environment, recreated using image technology and 3D effects with bomb craters, A-shaped shelters, crucial roads, artillery positions, and images of convoys transporting goods and troops to the front lines. The actors participating in “The Legend of Youth” program are also selected within the age range of 18-24, corresponding to the age of the 10 young female martyrs at Dong Loc T-junction.
The museums in Hanoi that you shouldn’t miss? Check out this article: Top 8 Museums in Hanoi You Should Visit
Thang Long – Ha Noi Night Cycling Tour
The night bicycle tour has 2 routes:
- Route 1 starts from the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on Saturday evenings weekly if there are at least 10 participants.
- Route 2 departs from the National Museum of History on Sunday evenings weekly if there are at least 10 participants.
Joining the night bicycle tour, you will ride through the most famous historical sites in Hanoi, accompanied by an English-speaking guide who will provide commentary to help you better understand the history of Vietnam.
Night tour of The Temple of Literature
Different from the daytime tour at the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam, the night tour has its own allure as visitors not only get to explore the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam in the mystical night atmosphere but also enjoy the spectacle of colorful lighting effects. In addition to the sparkling and enchanting light from the decorative lighting system, visitors can also admire the projection light effects of 3D Mapping technology. Through the projection, visitors learn about the history and development of Vietnam’s first university. Furthermore, visitors can experience virtual reality technology products and enjoy traditional artistic performances.
The night tour of the Temple of Literature – Quoc Tu Giam with the theme “Essence of Confucianism” is open from 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. The time slots for experiencing 3D Mapping are at 8:00 PM, 9:00 PM, and 10:00 PM.
Conclusion
With new and exciting experiences, the Hanoi night tour will bring you many memorable moments with various attractive destinations. Besides, you can also enjoy outstanding artistic performances that daytime tours do not offer. Please contact our travel advisory team for further details and to book day tours in Hanoi.
