17 Cool Things to Do in Hanoi (Beyond the Old Quarter) [2025]

Dive into Hanoi’s flavours from market to table. Kick off at a local market, buzzing with herbs, spices, and chatter, before heading into a home kitchen. Guided by warm hosts, you’ll roll, slice, and stir your way through four iconic Vietnamese dishes — then sit down to a feast of your own making. More than a cooking class, it’s a chance to taste Hanoi’s soul and share a meal like family.

Step into a tranquil tea house and experience Vietnam’s tea culture like never before. Guided by Mr. Hung — winner of the 2016 Tea Master Cup — you’ll discover the stories of ancient mountain tea trees, learn the zen art of brewing, and join a meditative ceremony that blends taste with mindfulness. It’s not just tea, but a rare glimpse into Vietnam’s quiet soul.

Uncover the secrets of Vietnam’s most beloved drink in this hands-on coffee workshop. You’ll learn to brew six iconic styles — from the traditional Phin filter to the famous egg coffee — and taste each one along the way. To round it off, sit down to a full Vietnamese meal that complements the flavours in your cup. A perfect blend of culture, craft, and cuisine.

Step through an unmarked door into the hidden Opium Den and taste Vietnam in a glass. Guided by distiller Quan Nguyen, you’ll sample four artisanal spirits infused with Red River rice, rare spices, and local botanicals — then watch master mixologists turn them into boundary-pushing cocktails. With perfectly paired snacks and intimate storytelling, this secret bar experience reveals Hanoi’s craft liquor scene at its boldest.

Follow a passionate local guide through hidden alleys to taste 7–10 dishes you won’t find on your own. From smoky Bun Cha to crispy Banh Xeo and even eel noodles, each stop comes with stories and lessons on how Hanoians really eat — the right way to wrap, dip, and slurp. With family-run stalls and flavours cooked right outside local homes, this tour reveals Hanoi’s street food at its most authentic.

Step into Da Sy, a 500-year-old village famed for Vietnam’s finest blades, and forge a knife with your own hands. Guided by master blacksmiths, you’ll heat, hammer, and shape raw steel into a blade — finishing with traditional techniques passed down for generations. More than a workshop, it’s living history you can hold in your hands, and the ultimate handmade Hanoi souvenir.

Yes, jars and pots can sing. In this heartfelt performance, clay vessels transform into instruments that carry the voices of Vietnam’s forgotten folk melodies. Revived through 12 years of research — including songs rescued from archives and translated by elders — the music blends storytelling, heritage, and emotion into a powerful evening that feels like stepping inside Vietnam’s living memory.

Worth more than gold by weight, agarwood is one of the world’s rarest and most coveted scents. Just outside Hanoi, Buddhist monks are reviving sustainable, spiritual methods of harvesting it — and you’ll get exclusive access to their sanctuary. Learn how resin forms, try trimming agarwood by hand, and inhale grades worth thousands of dollars. With agarwood tea, a vegan lunch, and stories rooted in Buddhist philosophy, this quiet experience reveals the soulful side of Vietnam’s most extraordinary scent.

Colour your own silk scarf using age-old dyeing techniques passed down by Thai ethnic women in northern Vietnam. Under the guidance of Sam Thi Tinh — a master weaver since the age of 14 — you’ll work with natural ingredients to hand-dye a 40x40cm silk piece to take home. Set in Me Tri craft village, also famed for its century-old cốm (green rice flakes), this workshop is as much about heritage as it is about creativity.

Pick up more than just phrases in this 2-hour language class with Hanoian women who share the culture behind the words. Learn how to order food with confidence, bargain at markets, and direct taxis like a local — all with insights that no phrasebook or app can give you. A fun, practical way to connect with people and experience Hanoi beyond the tourist trail.

Get creative in Bat Trang, a 600-year-old pottery village that’s the heart of northern Vietnam’s ceramic scene. Guided by local artists, you’ll learn the craft of mosaic and design your own framed piece to take home. Surrounded by centuries of tradition, it’s a hands-on way to connect with Hanoi’s heritage and leave with meaningful art you made yourself.

Trade Hanoi’s busy streets for open skies on a paragliding adventure just 40km away. Soar above Bu Hill’s rolling slopes, blooming reed fields, and untouched countryside with a professional pilot guiding the way. The 15–20 minute flight is equal parts safe and exhilarating — and you’ll leave with epic photos and videos to prove you’ve flown over Vietnam’s stunning northern landscape.

Hop on a vintage Vespa and leave the city behind for rice fields, village lanes, and the legendary Co Loa Citadel — all just 30 minutes from Hanoi. Cross the Red River on the iconic Long Bien Bridge, watch farmers and buffalo at work, and hear myths of kings and golden turtles at Vietnam’s oldest fortress. With a home-cooked meal and stories of how rural life is changing, this ride reveals a side of Hanoi most travellers never see.

Just 2.5 hours from Hanoi, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is on every traveller’s bucket list — and yes, it can get crowded. The trick is to choose a boutique cruise that slips away from the masses, uncovering hidden coves, floating villages, and quiet corners of the bay. With limestone karsts rising from emerald waters, Ha Long still delivers unforgettable moments when experienced the right way.

About 2.5–3 hours from Hanoi, Cat Ba is Ha Long’s wilder, more adventurous neighbour. Beyond quiet Lan Ha Bay cruises, you can kayak hidden lagoons, trek jungle trails, or even try deep-water soloing on limestone cliffs. Stay overnight and you might see glowing bioluminescent plankton — an epic reward so close to the capital.

It takes about 6–7 hours by road from Hanoi to reach Ha Giang, but the payoff is Vietnam’s most spectacular drive. The loop winds past jagged peaks, sky-high passes, and remote ethnic villages — an epic multi-day journey for travellers seeking raw beauty and adventure. On this signature Seek Sophie experience, you’ll go even further with secret riverside campsites, kayaking through Tu San canyon, and lively village parties along the way. A once-in-a-lifetime northern adventure, and a must-do for anyone serious about exploring Vietnam.

About 5–6 hours from Hanoi, Sapa is famous for its breathtaking rice terraces and misty mountain valleys. While the town itself can feel crowded and overdeveloped, the magic lies just beyond — in the villages where Hmong and Dao families welcome travellers into their homes. Trek between cascading fields, cook meals in family kitchens, and immerse yourself in highland traditions. When done right, Sapa remains one of northern Vietnam’s most rewarding gems.