What currency is used in Hanoi?

Hanoi uses the Vietnamese dong (VND).

What is the emergency number in Hanoi?

In Hanoi, call 113 for police, 114 for fire, 115 for ambulance.

How much does a day in Hanoi cost?

Roughly $20-35 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $50-90 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Hanoi?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Hanoi without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Hanoi travel guide

Vietnam

A thousand-year-old capital of lakes, scooters and pavement kitchens, where breakfast is a bowl of pho on a plastic stool.

Essentials

Language: Vietnamese; English in hotels and tourist areas, less elsewhere
Currency: Vietnamese dong (VND)
Plugs: Types A, B, C and F, 220 V
Emergency number: 113 for police, 114 for fire, 115 for ambulance
Tipping: Not traditionally expected, but small tips for guides, drivers and good service are increasingly common and appreciated.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $20-35, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $50-90, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Hanoi

Old Quarter: dense, busy streets once named after the goods sold on them.
Tây Hồ (West Lake): quieter and leafy, popular with long-stay travellers.
French Quarter: wide boulevards, colonial buildings and the opera house.

Getting around Hanoi

Ride-hailing apps cover cars and motorbike taxis. To cross the street, walk at a slow, steady pace and let the traffic flow around you.

Best time to visit Hanoi

October to December and March to April, avoiding the summer heat and rain.

Top things to do in Hanoi

Walk around Hoàn Kiếm Lake at dawn, when locals exercise along the shore
Visit the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's first national university
Watch a water puppet show at the Thăng Long theatre
Visit Hỏa Lò Prison, now a museum of the colonial and war years
See the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, early in the day and dressed respectfully; it closes on some weekdays and for maintenance each year, so check before you go

What to eat in Hanoi

Phở: a clear beef or chicken noodle soup, eaten mostly at breakfast
Bánh cuốn: thin steamed rice rolls filled with pork and wood-ear mushroom
Chả cá: turmeric-marinated fish fried at the table with dill and spring onion
Bia hơi: light, cheap draught beer brewed daily and drunk on street corners

Day trips from Hanoi

Ninh Bình: limestone karsts and rowing-boat trips through caves, about two hours by road
Ha Long Bay: a bay of limestone islands, best on an overnight cruise, about two and a half to three hours by road
Perfume Pagoda: a cave temple reached by boat and cable car, about two hours away

Local etiquette

Cover shoulders and knees in temples and at the mausoleum, and take shoes off where others have. Do not leave chopsticks standing upright in a bowl of rice, as it recalls funeral offerings.

Staying connected

SIMs and eSIMs from Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobifone are cheap and sold at the airport with a passport, and Wi-Fi is nearly universal in cafés and hotels.

Staying safe

Traffic is the main hazard, so cross slowly and predictably and always wear the helmet on a motorbike taxi. Phone and bag snatching from passing motorbikes happens, so keep valuables away from the road side, and agree prices before buying from street vendors.

A local tip

Have bún chả for lunch and an egg coffee in a hidden upstairs café.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Hanoi on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Hanoi for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Hanoi, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Hanoi

What currency is used in Hanoi?: Hanoi uses the Vietnamese dong (VND).
What is the emergency number in Hanoi?: In Hanoi, call 113 for police, 114 for fire, 115 for ambulance.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?: October to December and March to April, avoiding the summer heat and rain.
How much does a day in Hanoi cost?: Roughly $20-35 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $50-90 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Hanoi?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Hanoi without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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