HOLIDAY IN HANOI

With its charming buildings and green spaces, Vietnam's capital city deserves a place on your bucket list

- HELENA CARTWRIGHT

WHY GO?

Hanoi is a wonderful assault on the senses. Step from your hotel into the street and you’ll be met with humidity, the scent of coconut rice, buildings with scrolling ironwork balconies and the constant beep-beep of car horns. A visit here rewards you with once-in-a-lifetime memories of misty lakes, steaming bowls of soup and bustling markets. And while Hanoi feels exciting and edgy, it’s very safe, making it ideal whether you’re travelling alone or with the family.

WALK THE OLD QUARTER

Get your bearings in the city with a wander round the labyrinth of 36 streets that make up the Old Quarter, near the Red River. The area is packed with historic landmarks, including the 19th-century faux Gothic St Joseph’s Cathedral and bustling undercover markets. Don’t panic if you get lost (and you will), chances are you’ll find yourself back where you started – without even realising it!