Hidden outdoor adventures, craft workshops with artisans, and local food experiences. Our handpicked shortlist of the best things to do in Hanoi.

Top Things to Do in Hanoi: Our Handpicked Favourites

Top Things to Do in Hanoi

Our handpicked getaways from Hanoi cover UNESCO sites, charming villages, and local insider spots — all easy short trips when you need a break from the city.

Getaways from Hanoi: Our Top Trips to UNESCO Sites & Villages

Getaways from Hanoi

Our handpicked day trips from Hanoi to famous and beautiful places nearby — a vetted shortlist of the best options around Hanoi.

Day Trips from Hanoi: The Best Nearby Places to Visit

Day Trips from Hanoi

Our handpicked Hanoi-Sapa express trains for a comfy ride between Hanoi and Sapa’s stunning highlands. Compare the best options in one place.

Hanoi-Sapa Express Trains: The Best for a Comfy Ride

Hanoi-Sapa Express Trains

A handpicked shortlist of the best bus options to get from Hanoi to Sapa. Compare vetted rides in one place and choose the one that suits you best.

Hanoi-Sapa Bus: Our Top Options to Get to Sapa

Hanoi-Sapa Bus

Experience Hanoi’s rich culture with a live show—music, dance and tradition in a vibrant local setting!

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Our top picks for Hanoi performances — live music, dance, and traditional shows in local settings. A handpicked shortlist for an easy night of culture.

Performance in Hanoi: The Best Live Shows for Local Culture

Performance in Hanoi

Experience Hanoi’s rich culture with a live show—music, dance and tradition in a vibrant local setting!

Private Hidden Hanoi Water Puppet Show with 7th Gen Puppeteer

Experience Vietnam iconic folk art up close with rare access to a master's home

I expected the standard show. Was very pleasantly surprised instead to be taken to the home of the puppeteer. His house is at the end of several alleys but opened to a delightful experience. He shared his families history of puppet making, provided us with an up close puppet show on the fourth floor of his home, and then spent time with us in his workshop. Very special indeed!

I expected the standard show. Was very pleasantly surprised instead to be taken to the home of the puppeteer. His house is at the end of several alleys but opened to a delightful experience. He shared his families history of puppet making, provided us with an up close puppet show on the fourth floor of his home, and then spent time with us in his workshop. Very special indeed!

It was a great opportunity to learn about this fascinating form of art! I’m so glad to have been able to join in! 🙏🏻👏🏻🪷

It was a great opportunity to learn about this fascinating form of art! I’m so glad to have been able to join in! 🙏🏻👏🏻🪷

We really enjoyed the session on water puppet. Informative and fun.

We really enjoyed the session on water puppet. Informative and fun.

Visiting the water puppetry theatre was a real treat. I started with a walk down a maze of alleys and climbing up 4 flights to a small theatre in the house. The puppeteer and his wife but on a lovely show with hand carved puppets. In today's world of 3D movies and CGI and was really nice to step back in time to a simpler entertainment. One can only hope that their children pick up this tradition so that its not lost

Visiting the water puppetry theatre was a real treat. I started with a walk down a maze of alleys and climbing up 4 flights to a small theatre in the house. The puppeteer and his wife but on a lovely show with hand carved puppets. In today's world of 3D movies and CGI and was really nice to step back in time to a simpler entertainment. One can only hope that their children pick up this tradition so that its not lost

This was so much more fun an inmate than your larger shows. We not only saw the show but how the puppets were made. This gentleman is a seven generation puppeteer and his wife is also very active in the show. Being able to see all the old puppets his family used was a treat and you can also purchase puppets direct from him if you desire. His show was quite fun and his puppet scooter/road safety program was a hoot to see.

This was so much more fun an inmate than your larger shows. We not only saw the show but how the puppets were made. This gentleman is a seven generation puppeteer and his wife is also very active in the show. Being able to see all the old puppets his family used was a treat and you can also purchase puppets direct from him if you desire. His show was quite fun and his puppet scooter/road safety program was a hoot to see.


Mr. Liem follows the path of six generations before him in learning the art of water puppetry. He makes his own puppets, and has many made by his father and grandfather. He created a mobile stage and pool so that he can present water puppet shows at schools and other locations, besides his home theater. We were able to talk with him and his wife, through our guide/interpreter, and see a room full of old and new puppets. The show would have been even better if there would be an explanation of the story that was being played out by the puppets.

Mr. Liem follows the path of six generations before him in learning the art of water puppetry. He makes his own puppets, and has many made by his father and grandfather. He created a mobile stage and pool so that he can present water puppet shows at schools and other locations, besides his home theater. We were able to talk with him and his wife, through our guide/interpreter, and see a room full of old and new puppets. The show would have been even better if there would be an explanation of the story that was being played out by the puppets.


A great visit to a cultural production. I visited Mr. Liem as a private visit. A wonderful experience. The show itself is amazing, but Mr Liem was also taking me on a journey through 7 generations. His art starts by designing the puppet, cutting the wood, creating the puppet and its moving parts all through the show. A very unique experience, you don’t usually see in the more touristy puppet shows.

A great visit to a cultural production. I visited Mr. Liem as a private visit. A wonderful experience. The show itself is amazing, but Mr Liem was also taking me on a journey through 7 generations. His art starts by designing the puppet, cutting the wood, creating the puppet and its moving parts all through the show. A very unique experience, you don’t usually see in the more touristy puppet shows.


A cultural production of water puppet show that is very enjoyable. Appreciate the skill behind it all. Didn’t realise this until end of show and the talented puppeteers allow me to try it. It’s heavier than you can imagine and they must be pretty strong to be able to swish around the water smoothly.

A cultural production of water puppet show that is very enjoyable. Appreciate the skill behind it all. Didn’t realise this until end of show and the talented puppeteers allow me to try it. It’s heavier than you can imagine and they must be pretty strong to be able to swish around the water smoothly.

Performance in Hanoi

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