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City, Country:Hanoi, Vietnam

Website to Link:http://serenadehotel.com.vn/

Keywords (primary, secondary, and related keywords)1) Hanoi sightseeing 2) Hanoi activities, (semantic) places to visit in Hanoi

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A Travellers Guide to Hanoi Sightseeing

Summary (max 200 words)

A quick guide on what to visit, where to eat, and what to do when in Hanoi, Vietnam for a guaranteed enjoyable trip.

Article Body (minimum 400 words)

Hanoi sightseeing is one item that you should definitely include in your bucket list. A beautiful city located north of Vietnam, Hanoi is easily one of the best cities in Asia with its rich culture, magnificent architecture, scenic landscapes and bustling city life. There are a lot of places to visit in Hanoi, and it will take you more than just a day to see all. This is where this guide comes in handy.Get Acquainted with the Culture. First thing you should absolutely do once you get to Hanoi is to acquaint yourself with the citys rich culture. As the capital city, Hanoi is also the second most populated city in Vietnam. It also has a long historythe earliest inhabitants were known to have settled around 3000 BC; and from 1902 to 1954, Hanoi (then known as Tonkin), served as the capital of the French Indochina. One quick way to soak in the culture is to visit any of Hanois many museums: National Museum of Vietnamese History, Vietnam Womens Museum, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Contemporary Arts Centre, Vietnam Museum of Revolution, and Vietnam Military History Museum. You dont need to be a student of history to appreciate Hanois museums. If museums are not your thing, you can also visit the Hanoi Opera House, if not to watch an opera, but to admire the structures architectural beauty.Visit Parks and Gardens. Aside from the many museums, Hanoi also has a number of nature parks and gardens that the whole family can enjoy. Cuc Phuong National Park, about 100kms south of the city, is the foremost national park in the country. Endangered species, millennium old trees, and various flora and fauna are within the park, along with caves and hot springs. There are also bike and walk trails for the adventurous. Another park, but with a different theme, is the Thanh Cuong Viet Palace. Located an hour north of the citys center, it is a group of traditional buildings interspersed with well-kept garden and art collections; entrance, however, is expensive. If you are on a budget, the Botanical Gardens located in the city offer a welcome escape from the citys noise. The Botanical Gardens boasts of old trees, sculptures, and open spaces ideal for walking or having a picnic among other activities. Take a Walk Near the Lakes. Hanoi is a city built between two rivers, so it is no surprise that the city also boasts of a number of picturesque lakes. One of the most famous lakes is Hoan Kiem Lake, or the Lake of the Returned Sword, has a Turtle Tower in the center. This is associated with the legend of a turtle that grabbed the emperors sword and then disappeared. Take a walk by the lake at night for more romantic scenery. Another famous lake is the West Lake, which is also the largest lake in Hanoi. A number of gardens, restaurants and hotels, and other entertainment places can be found surrounding the West Lake. Eat, Eat, Shop, Shop! Vietnamese cuisine has seen a rise in popularity as the years pass by, and theres no better place to sample delicious local and fusion fare than in Hanoi. From the smallest eateries to the grandest restaurants, you are sure to find meals that will tickle your palate. One famous restaurant in Old Quarter Hanoi that you shouldnt miss is the Cha Ca La Vong Restaurant, which has been standing for over a century. The restaurants namesake specialty dish, the Cha Ca, is made of turmeric-coated fried fish topped with dills, chives, basil and peanuts. Of course, after you eat, shopping is a given. You can buy just about anything from small trinkets to expensive exotic dcor in one of Hanois many markets. The Dong Xuan Market in the Old Quarter is a popular tourist shopping stop. For a more cultural (and expensive), shopping trip, you can visit the Van Phuc Silk Village, where the centuries-old art of weaving silk from silk worms is practiced. And yes, you can buy silk in bulk at a lower price!Take a Walk then Rest and Relax. If you are looking for a more laid-back activity, all you need to do is walk around the less busy streets, visit a temple, or observe the bustling city from the confines of a quiet restaurant. After a long day of touring, you can simply relax in your cozy hotel room, like in the Serenade Hotel (http://serenadehotel.com.vn), and maybe try that spa and get a well-deserved massage.Try any, if not all, of the Hanoi sightseeing activities listed above, and you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time.

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