Hanoi.
Flight from TLV
9h 25m
Best season
מרץ–דצמ
Avg temp
27°
Currency
₫ VND · 1=₪0.000
Time zone
+5 שעות מול ת״א בחורף, +4 בקיץ
Language
וייטנאמית; אנגלית נפוצה באזורי התיירות
Plug
A / C / F · 220V
Visa
ישראלים זקוקים לוויזה מראש; לרוב מוציאים e-Visa לפני הטיסה
Safety
בטוחה יחסית לתיירים; היזהרו מכייסות, חטיפת טלפונים, הונאות מוניות ותנועה סואנת
Overview
🇻🇳Hanoi
🇻🇳Vietnam
Hanoi is an exhilarating gateway to northern Vietnam, filled with tangled lanes, tranquil lakes, relentless scooters and street food prepared before your eyes. Israeli travelers tend to base themselves near the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, sampling vegetarian pho, pork-free banh mi and egg coffee before an evening over local beer on Ta Hien Street. The Temple of Literature, a water-puppet show and shopping for silk, ceramics and outdoor clothing easily fill several days before trips to Ninh Binh, Ha Long Bay or Sapa. Hanoi Chabad is a useful address for Shabbat meals, prayers and assistance for Israeli travelers.
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Everything for Hanoi, in one place
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Where to stay
Where to stay in Hanoi
Each area and who it suits best.
Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm
This is the most convenient base for stepping directly into the food lanes, markets and bars around Tạ Hiện, Đồng Xuân Market and Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Hotels such as La Siesta Classic Ma May put you in the center of the action, but streets are congested, horns start early and many cheap rooms face a wall or have no window.
French Quarter and southern Hoàn Kiếm
Broad boulevards, colonial buildings and elegant cafés surround the Opera House, Tràng Tiền Street and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. You can walk to the lake and Old Quarter without sleeping amid the chaos, but hotels and restaurants cost more and evenings are quieter than around Tạ Hiện.
West Lake, Tây Hồ
Around Xuân Diệu and Tô Ngọc Vân streets, you will find lakeside walks, international restaurants, spacious apartments and hotels such as InterContinental Hanoi Westlake. It is a comfortable choice for families and anyone needing a break from the scooters, but the Old Quarter is usually 15 to 30 minutes away, longer in rush hour.
Ba Đình
The government district is comparatively orderly and green, with the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda and Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long nearby. Nights around Nguyễn Thái Học Street and Pullman Hanoi are calmer, but the area lacks the Old Quarter's concentration of food and nightlife, so Grab rides are often needed.
Trúc Bạch
A compact neighborhood between Trúc Bạch Lake and West Lake, with cafés along Trấn Vũ Street, Trấn Quốc Pagoda and lovely waterside sunsets. Boutique properties such as The Q Hotel offer convenient access to Ba Đình and the Old Quarter, but choices are limited and the walk to central Hoàn Kiếm is not short.
Cầu Giấy
This is modern Hanoi, with towers, malls and hotels offering larger rooms, especially around Trần Thái Tông and Keangnam Landmark 72; Novotel Suites Hanoi is a familiar family option. Prices are relatively good and Western conveniences are plentiful, but most historic sights are 25 to 45 minutes away in traffic.
Year-round weather
Year-round weather in Hanoi
Temperature averages
Real climate dataינו
22°
14°
Excellent
פבר
23°
16°
Excellent
מרץ
26°
18°
Excellent
אפר
31°
23°
Excellent
מאי
32°
25°
Hot
יונ
33°
26°
Hot
יול
33°
26°
Hot
אוג
32°
26°
Hot
ספט
31°
25°
Excellent
אוק
29°
22°
Excellent
נוב
26°
19°
Excellent
דצמ
23°
16°
Excellent
Most pleasant weather: ינו · פבר · מרץ · אפר · ספט · אוק · נוב · דצמ
Peak season for Israelis (when everyone goes): מרץ · אפר · אוק · נוב · דצמ. The most comfortable periods are October to December and March to April, when humidity eases and Hanoi combines well with Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh and Sapa. Many Israelis visit around the Jewish autumn holidays and Passover; July and August are busy during the school break but hotter, wetter and more humid.
Based on a 3-year average · measured in Hanoi · Open-Meteo
This week in Hanoi
Measured in Hanoi
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Things to do
Things to do in Hanoi
On the map
Hanoi on one map
Every spot travelers love — tap a pin for photos, opening hours, navigation and booking.
Suggested plan
A perfect Hanoi itinerary
Day by day, so you can picture the whole trip.
- 1
Day 1
Hoàn Kiếm Lake and the Old Quarter
Start before 08:00 with a circuit of Hoàn Kiếm Lake as locals practice tai chi, then enter Ngọc Sơn Temple across the red bridge. Continue through the trade streets, including Hàng Bạc for silver, Hàng Mã for decorations and Hàng Gai for silk, stopping for egg coffee at Café Giảng. Choose a vegetarian lunch at Uu Dam Chay, then see the Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre in the evening with advance tickets. Nightlife seekers can finish on lively Tạ Hiện beer street, while families will prefer the weekend pedestrian zone around the lake.
- 2
Day 2
Ho Chi Minh, the Citadel and Train Street
Reach the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before 08:00 with shoulders and knees covered, as queues grow quickly and the site closes on certain days and hours. Continue to the stilt house, One Pillar Pagoda and Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, then have lunch around Nguyễn Thái Học. Spend the afternoon at the Temple of Literature and the Vietnamese Women's Museum, one of the city's most rewarding museums. Near evening, access Train Street only through an authorized café and in accordance with police instructions; never stand on the tracks or rely on an unverified train time.
- 3
Day 3
Tây Hồ, Pagodas and Sunset
Begin at lakeside Trấn Quốc Pagoda before tour groups arrive, then take a quiet walk around Trúc Bạch. Visit Quán Thánh Temple and, if willing to wake around 04:30, continue to Quảng Bá Flower Market; otherwise substitute the cafés of Xuân Diệu at a more civilized hour. At midday, explore Tô Ngọc Vân and Xuân Diệu, where international restaurants and traveler-friendly supermarkets are concentrated. Finish with sunset along West Lake or a drink at the Summit Bar terrace in Pan Pacific Hanoi; Shabbat-observant travelers can pre-arrange a meal with Chabad in the area.
- 4
Day 4
Ninh Bình Day Trip
Leave around 07:00 with a private driver or organized tour for Ninh Bình, roughly two to three hours each way depending on traffic. Choose the Tràng An boat route through limestone cliffs, caves and temples, ideally arriving before the midday crowds. After a simple lunch with rice and vegetable options, climb roughly 500 steps to the Hang Múa viewpoint only if conditions are not too hot or wet. Return to Hanoi in the evening; families with small children should skip the climb and add the ancient capital of Hoa Lư instead.
- 5
Day 5
Crafts, Shopping and an Elegant Evening
Travel in the morning to Bát Tràng pottery village, about 40 to 60 minutes from the center, and explore its ceramics market and a workshop where you can decorate a small piece. Return for shopping at Tràng Tiền Plaza for luxury labels, Lotte Center for a modern selection or Đồng Xuân Market for souvenirs, bargaining politely and checking quality. In the afternoon, visit the Opera House and Metropole hotel area, then pause for coffee around Tràng Tiền. Book a cultural performance or Hoàn Kiếm rooftop bar for the evening; bargain hunters should choose the weekend night market along Hàng Đào.
- 6
Day 6
Ethnology and Modern Hanoi
Spend the morning at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, including the reconstructed minority houses in its grounds, an excellent family choice; verify opening days in advance. Continue to the Lotte Observation Deck if visibility is good, or use Vincom Center Nguyễn Chí Thanh as a rainy-day alternative. Have a proper vegetarian lunch, then return to the Old Quarter for final purchases of coffee, tea and lacquerware. Before the flight, book Grab early and leave a generous buffer for outbound traffic toward Nội Bài.
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Budget
How much does Hanoi cost?
Real ILS price ranges, so you know what to expect.
Return flight from TLV
₪2,700-4,800 (one stop)
4–5-night package
₪3,800-6,500 (per person)
Mid-range hotel night
₪180-380 (per room)
Five-star hotel night
₪500-1,200 (per room)
Restaurant meal
₪25-70
Local beer
₪4-12
Vietnamese coffee
₪6-15
Short Grab ride
₪7-18
Car and driver daily
₪220-420 (out of town)
Guided food tour
₪90-180
Daily budget per person
₪180-450 (excluding hotel)
Family, five nights
₪14,000-24,000 (including flights)
Good to know
Good to know before Hanoi
Getting around
From the airport
Nội Bài Airport is roughly 25 to 30 kilometers from central Hanoi. A GrabCar or official Mai Linh or G7 taxi to the Old Quarter generally costs ₪40-65 and takes 35 to 60 minutes; a private shuttle or hotel pickup usually costs ₪55-90. Express bus 86 reaches the railway station and Hoàn Kiếm area in about 50 to 70 minutes for roughly ₪7, while public buses are cheaper but awkward with luggage. There is no direct airport train, and travelers arriving around 07:00-09:00 or 16:30-19:30 should allow at least another half hour.
Need a car?
Do not rent a car within Hanoi: traffic is chaotic, parking is difficult and an Israeli license alone is not a practical basis for driving locally. Couples and younger travelers can use walking and Grab, families should choose GrabCar or GrabCar 7, and a car with driver is the sensible option for day trips to Ninh Bình or surrounding villages. Scooters are only for highly experienced riders with valid licensing and insurance, and Hanoi is not the place to learn.
Tips
Install Grab in advance and book through the app to see the fare and license plate; Be is a useful local alternative. Old Quarter pickup points can shift because of narrow streets and weekend closures, so walk to a broad road such as Trần Nhật Duật or the Opera House if the driver cannot reach you. Cross roads at a steady pace without sudden running, and arrange intercity cars through the hotel or a reviewed operator rather than an unknown street driver.
Kosher & Jewish
Chabad / community
Chabad of Hanoi operates in the Tây Hồ area, home to many expatriates and Israeli visitors, and generally provides prayers and pre-booked Shabbat and holiday meals. Its address and operating schedule may change, so travelers should confirm directly with Chabad of Hanoi and reserve meals before arrival. Hanoi does not have a broad synagogue network or a permanent full-scale kosher grocery like major Jewish destinations.
Kosher food
Kosher meals can be arranged through Chabad, but visitors should not rely on a certified restaurant being open at all hours or on a dependable kosher supermarket selection. L's Place and Annam Gourmet in Tây Hồ may carry imported products bearing kosher certification, though stock changes and every package must be checked. Kosher-observant Israelis commonly bring snacks, tuna and sealed meals from home, book a room with a refrigerator or kitchenette, and use Chabad for Shabbat and arranged meals.
Travel insurance
Travel insurance for Hanoi 🇻🇳
A hospital day in Hanoi can cost thousands. Full coverage with Hebrew support.
- Medical + hospital 24/7
- Trip cancellation
- Baggage
- Gadgets & pre-existing conditions
Currency & rates
Live rateCurrency & rates
Quick conversion at today's rate
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100 VND
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1,000 VND
₪0.12
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Visa & documents
Visa & documents for Hanoi 🇻🇳
What you need before you fly
- ישראלים זקוקים לוויזה מראש; לרוב מוציאים e-Visa לפני הטיסה
- Passport valid 6 months
- Travel insurance, leave details for a quote
Local tips
Good to know about Hanoi
- 💵Withdraw Vietnamese dong from VPBank or TPBank ATMs, which are often friendlier on fees, and keep small notes because many stalls and taxi drivers do not accept cards.
- 🚕Use Grab or Xanh SM from Nội Bài Airport and around the city, entering the destination in the app instead of bargaining with drivers at the terminal or in the Old Quarter.
- 🏨For a first visit, choose a hotel between Hoan Kiem Lake and Hàng Gai Street; couples seeking quieter surroundings, upscale hotels and relaxed bars will prefer the French Quarter or Tây Hồ.
- 🎟️Book Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre seats a day ahead and request the front-center section, especially on weekends and during the busy October-to-April season.
- 🌙For nightlife, choose Tạ Hiện for beer and a youthful street scene or Savage in Tây Hồ for electronic music, and carry a passport or a clear copy for age checks; Hanoi is not a serious casino destination.
- 🙏At the Temple of Literature and Trấn Quốc Pagoda, cover shoulders and knees, remove hats and avoid posing directly against an altar; in local restaurants, a 5% to 10% tip is generous rather than compulsory.
- ✡️Kosher-observant travelers should contact Chabad Hanoi in the Tây Hồ area in advance for Shabbat meals and kosher food, and never assume a dish marked “vegetarian” is free of fish sauce or shared utensils.
- 🛡️In the Old Quarter, hold your phone on the side away from traffic and avoid using it at the curb, as quick scooter snatches and pickpocketing occur mainly around markets and crowded intersections.
- 🌦️From May through September, carry a folding umbrella, breathable clothing and mosquito repellent for showers and humidity; from December through February, pack a light jacket because 14°C in Hanoi feels colder than expected.
- 📱A Viettel eSIM generally provides excellent coverage even if you continue to Sapa or Ha Long, but activate it before leaving Nội Bài Airport and save a screenshot of your hotel address in Vietnamese.
מאיה רוזן
Senior agent · Greece for 12 years
"Hanoi is a city you have to let under your skin: horns, the scent of coffee, ancient banyan trees and tiny plastic stools all happening at once. I love starting the morning with the locals around Hoan Kiem Lake, then disappearing into the streets around Hàng Gai and Hàng Bạc in the Old Quarter. Israelis fall for its energy, the famous egg coffee at Café Giảng and the feeling that every alley leads to something they never planned to find. After two days, the scooters stop feeling intimidating and the rhythm of the city begins to make sense."
Loves
My local secret is to reach Trúc Bạch Street during golden hour, sit by the lake with a coconut coffee, then walk to Trấn Quốc Pagoda as the lights come on. Go on a weekday between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m., before the waterfront fills with couples and groups.
Skip
Do not turn up independently at Hanoi Train Street and trust anyone promising that a train will pass in five minutes: access changes, schedules are not always accurate and it can simply be a tactic to pull you into a café. If seeing it matters to you, arrange access with a reputable café and reconfirm on the same day.
Boutique pick
I start at 6:30 a.m. beside Hoan Kiem Lake, continue to the Temple of Literature at 9:00, and stop for a polished vegetarian lunch at Ưu Đàm Chay at 12:30. The afternoon moves through the Opera House, Tràng Tiền Street and the Old Quarter alleys, before sunset at West Lake around 5:30. I end the day with a Thăng Long water puppet performance and a rooftop drink at Lighthouse Sky Bar, with Hanoi’s lights and beautiful chaos below.
Client stories
What returning travelers say about Hanoi
"We started the morning with a walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake and booked dinner at Uu Dam Chay, which was both beautiful and excellent for vegetarians. Hanoi felt romantic, intriguing and affordable enough to indulge without calculating every Grab ride."
Noa and Ido, Tel Aviv
Couple · 4 nights · November
"The children could not stop talking about the show at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre, and at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology they explored traditional houses and ran through the grounds. We feared Hanoi would be too intense for a family, but a hotel near Hoàn Kiếm and Grab rides made everything easy."
Michal and Ori, Modi'in
Family with children · 3 nights · April
"We had beers on Tạ Hiện Street and then continued to a party at Savage, with an international crowd and excellent music. The next day we visited Train Street and realized Hanoi is far more than a stopover on the way north."
Daniel, Roi and Yuval, Be'er Sheva
Friends · 4 nights · October
"We were moved by the Temple of Literature and spent almost half a day exploring the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex at an easy pace. Hanoi’s traffic took some adjustment, but Grab drivers and a hotel in the French Quarter made the visit comfortable and full of character."
Ronit and Amos, Haifa
Older couple · 5 nights · March
FAQ
Common questions about Hanoi
Do Israelis need a visa for Hanoi?
Yes, Israeli passport holders need a visa for Vietnam before arriving in Hanoi; the convenient option is the official e-Visa, generally available for up to 90 days with single or multiple entry. Apply only through Vietnam’s official immigration website, verify every passport detail and carry a printed approval.
Are there direct flights from Tel Aviv to Hanoi, and how long does the journey take?
For most of the year there is no regular nonstop service from Tel Aviv to Hanoi, so Israelis usually connect through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok or another Asian hub. A realistic total journey is 13–18 hours depending on the connection, and a daytime arrival at Nội Bài Airport is preferable.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi, and when is peak season?
Hanoi is most pleasant from October to November and March to April, when humidity is lower and walking conditions are comfortable; the broader peak season runs roughly from October through April. December to February can feel grey and chilly, while July and August are particularly hot, humid and rainy.
How many days should I spend in Hanoi?
Three nights are enough for a solid introduction to Hanoi, including the Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the French Quarter and a water-puppet show; four or five nights allow time for a food tour, museums and a day trip to Ninh Bình. If continuing to Hạ Long Bay or Sapa, keep at least two full days exclusively for Hanoi.
What is the easiest way to get around Hanoi?
Within Hanoi’s Old Quarter, walking is easiest, while longer journeys are best booked through Grab with a fixed upfront fare; a typical central ride costs about ₪5–15. Cross streets at a steady pace without sudden movements, and only use a scooter with a helmet and insurance that explicitly covers riding.
How much does a trip to Hanoi cost?
An Israeli couple in Hanoi will typically spend ₪450–900 per day on a good central hotel, meals, Grab rides and attractions, excluding international flights; budget travelers can manage on roughly ₪220–350 per couple. Luxury hotels around the French Quarter and Tây Hồ raise the daily budget to about ₪1,000–1,800.
Is Hanoi safe for Israeli travelers?
Hanoi is relatively safe, with pickpocketing, scooter phone snatching, taxi scams and chaotic traffic posing greater risks than violent crime. Keep your phone away from the road, use Grab, avoid political discussions or demonstrations, and check current Israeli travel advisories before departure.
What are the must-see attractions in Hanoi?
A first visit to Hanoi should include the Old Quarter and Train Street, Hoàn Kiếm Lake and Ngọc Sơn Temple, the Temple of Literature, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex and a performance at Thăng Long Water Puppet Theatre. Access Train Street only through an officially open section and follow police instructions, as restrictions change frequently.
Where should I go out in Hanoi, and are there casinos?
Hanoi nightlife centers on the bars of Tạ Hiện in the Old Quarter, 1900 Le Théâtre and Savage in Tây Hồ, although nights wind down earlier than in Bangkok. Hanoi has no full-scale Las Vegas-style casino resort; some hotels operate limited foreigners-only gaming clubs, so this is not a destination to choose for gambling.
Are kosher food and Chabad available in Hanoi, and who is the city best for, what should I pack and combine it with?
Hanoi has a Chabad center that can assist with kosher meals and Shabbat arrangements, but advance booking is essential because spontaneous kosher options are very limited; couples and friends enjoy the Old Quarter and Tây Hồ, while families do well with the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and a water-puppet show. Pack comfortable shoes, rain protection and a light jacket in winter, and combine Hanoi with Ninh Bình, a Hạ Long Bay cruise or the overnight train toward Sapa.