This commanding construction was built from 1973 to 1975 to house the embalmed body of Vietnam’s greatest political leader, Hồ Chí Minh. Visitors and Vietnamese queue for hours every morning to pay their respects to the cadaver, dressed in a khaki wardrobe and encased in a glass sarcophagus.

Admission: free (Vietnamese),  25,000 VNĐ (foreigners) 
Hours: 8am - 11am, Tue-Thu, Sat-Sun (December to September) last entry at 10:15am
Address: So 1, Hung Vuong, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh

With the recent advent of an immersive night tour, visitors are given a new window into Hanoi’s legendary Hoa Lo Prison which brings them closer to the experiences of its prisoners than ever before. Recognized as a historical monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 1997, Hoa Lo is a prison with many names and many chapters in a story that has been interwoven with the fate of Vietnam since its construction.
Admission: ~50,000 VND 
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Daily)
Address: 1 Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam

Hoan Kiem Lake, or Sword Lake, is a peaceful oasis in Hanoi’s bustling center. Known for the legend of the returned sword, it features the iconic Turtle Tower and Ngoc Son Temple. On weekends, the area transforms into a lively pedestrian zone filled with cultural events and local charm.

Admission: Free
Hours:
Weekends: 6:00 PM – Midnight (Friday to Sunday); Open 24/7 for general lake access
Address: Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam