Hanoi

Perched on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi is Vietnam's capital and one of the world's most ancient cities. Boasting well-preserved colonial buildings, golden pagodas, unique museums, mouthwatering cuisine, entertainment destinations, and traditional bazaars, Hanoi is a melting pot of French, Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures.

Hanoi has an impactful history. The most incredible places of historical and cultural interest in Hanoi are the UNESCO-listed Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Vietnam's administrative centre for 800 years, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where his body is preserved, Perfume Pagoda and Hoa Lo Prison Relic. Packed with courtyards and Parisian-style buildings, Old Quarter and French Quarter are affluent, enigmatic areas. Bach Ma Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hoan Kiem Lake's softshell turtle safaris, and Lake of Restored Sword offer a reprieve from the urban humdrum.

It is a misconception that Hanoi is conservative. From Dong Xuan Market housing Louis Vuitton and irresistible street food to the 65 glam floors of Lotte Tower Observation Deck, Hanoi flaunts glitzy nightlife and shopping districts. With its balustrades and Gothic domes, monks practising Tai Chi, cobbled riverside streets, tube houses, farmers' markets, rich culture and much more, Hanoi defines the war-stricken past and the resilient awakening of Vietnam.