Son Tay ancient citadel in Hanoi

 Located in Son Tay town, 42 km from Hanoi center, the citadel was constructed in 1822, the 3rd year under Minh Mang reigne - Nguyen Dynasty. Son Tay citadel is one of 20 built during Nguyen Dynasty but this citadel is the only one built of laterite entirely. The citadel is stronghold defending Hanoi city from the north west. 

Photo thoitrangtre

The total area is 16 hectares surrounded by deep moat and high wall of 4.4 meters. There are 4 entrance gates, cannons placed on wall looking to 4 directions. Each side of the citadel is about 500 m, the surrounding moat is 3 m deep and 20 m width. The center of citadel is ritual place with 2 square lotus ponds on 2 sides and high tower. 

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Visit to the citadel it brings us to the memory of 19th century. Son Tay citadel is green and multi-color by trees and flowers all year round. It is well preserved by locals for the citadel was recognized as National Heritage since 1994. One day tour to Son Tay citadel can be combined with visit to Duong Lam village, Ngo Quyen temple, Phung Hung temple...  

Photo: Nguyen Tien Quang

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Phở or noodle soup with beef Hanoi

 Phở has been so popular since early 20th century, and Hanoi is homeland of Pho. Travel to hanoi it is must-tried food for both domestic and international travelers.

Till early 1920 Hanoi people get used to noodle soup of fried noodle with buffalo meat, not beef. One day some restaurants tried to create new ingredient for Pho by using beef that was also cheaper than buffalo meat, and they discover that the new Pho has fantastic taste. Since the the name of "Pho Bo" or Noodle soup with beef become resounding brand across country. 

The ingredient of Pho includes sliced beef, strips of rice noodle, broth stewed with cow bone and spices of lemon grass and ginger, onion, anise, mint leaves, bean sprouts, garlic, chili sauce, and others. Delicious broth decides the quality of Pho so that each restaurant hold their owned formula of making broth or soup. 

Walking along Hanoi Old quarter you can see the standing poster "Pho Bo" everywhere. It can be eaten in the morning, at lunch or dinner time, but normally for breakfast. It intensifies you strength and wake you up when having a bow of Pho on winter morning. It is quite fair to say that Pho Bo is Heritage of food in Hanoi. Come and try Pho as one of the best street food in Hanoi

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Ancient house of 87 Ma May

 The house of 87 Ma May is situated right in the heart of Old quarter Hanoi belonging to Hoan Kiem district. The house is well preserved as a must-see place if you wish to know deeper about another Hanoi in the past.

Photo Internet

87 Ma May house was built by the late XIX century, in an area of 160 sqm. The length is 28 m, the width is 5m in front and  6m on the back. By passing time the house was owned by different families. Till 1999 when it was recognized as National heritage, there were 5 families living there. 

                                                                         Photo Internet

The house consists of 2 floors and 2 block that is separated by small opened yard in middle for wind and sunlight. The house front used to be a shop, back yard are bedrooms, place receiving guests, toilet, and kitchen. On the second floor, it consists of ancestor worshiping space, living room, open yard, and bedroom. 

                                                                   Photo Internet

Main materials for construction are wood and brick. Architecture of the house is very Hanoi style in business area in the past. The house is open for visit everyday. Take a short walking tour in Old town of Hanoi and visit 87 Ma May house. 

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Travel around Hanoi center by Electric car

 There are diverse means of transport in Hanoi capital city such as public bus, motorbike taxi, car taxi, cyclo or rickshaw, and electric car. In recent years people get used to hire Grab bike, car booked through apps on mobile phone. Here, how to choose the mean of transport to visit Hanoi.

We highly recommend electric car to explore Hanoi center and West lake area. This mean of travel suits small group from 2- 6 people/ 1 car. It moves slowly around bustling streets in Old quarter, French quarter with colonial buildings, Hoan Kiem lake, West lake, and old traditional villages by West lake. You feel quite comfortable and not scare at massive number of motorbike at rush hour in Hanoi.

You can buy ticket at Hoan Kiem lake or in the front of Dong Xuan market for one hour tour inside Old city through handcraft shop, narrow streets, temples, lake....or another one-hour itinerary around French quarter with Opera house and colonial buildings from early 20th century. 

If you choose the pick-up point by West lake you have another itinerary of 3-4 hour tour around the lake and it's traditional villages with some stops for visit temple and see daily life of the locals. 

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Districts for tourist attraction in Hanoi center

 Hanoi contains 17 outlying districts, 1 town of Son Tay, and 12 urban districts including Ba Dinh - Dong Da - Hai Ba Trung - Tay Ho - Thanh Xuan - Long Bien - Hoang Mai - Ha Dong - Cau Giay - Bac Tu Liem - Nam Tu Liem. But major number of hotels and tourist attractions are allocated in Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Tay Ho, and Hai Ba Trung dictricts.

Hoan Kiem district is the heart of Hanoi city where there are numerous hotels, old quarter, temples and pagodas, traditional markets, and lovely Hoan Kiem lake.

Ba Dinh district includes historical Ba Dinh square, Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Government offices, and foreign ambassies, Parliament House. It is country political center.

Tay Ho district where has the large lake of Hanoi name West Lake with 500 hectare large. Surrounding the lake are old villages, vast field of flowers. 

Hai Ba Trung district consists of 2 parts old one and new one from 1960s. Most of universities were built since 1955 in the district beside modern buildings in recent decades. 

Travel to Hanoi you should stay and explore tourist sites in districts mentioned above before others.  

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Top 10 prestigious Golf courses in Hanoi

 In recent years Vietnam become popular destination in Asia. In addition, Vietnam is also ranked as the one of  best attractive Golf destinations in Asia and the world in 2019. 

In total Vietnam has over 80 golf courses across the country, in which 32 are at international level. We figure out that the number of country golfers reach 300,000 in 2025. Many golfers from EU, Korea, Japan, and South East Asia choose Vietnam for holiday and combine with golf play.

Come to Hanoi capital you can spend one day at one of top 10 golf courses in the suburb of Hanoi city as the followings:

Epga Ecopark - Long Bien Golf Course - Van Tri Golf Course - Hanoi Golf Course - Dai Lai Star Golf - Kings' Island Golf - Dam Vac Golf - Sky Lake Golf Club - Tam Dao Golf and Resort - Legend Hill Golf Course

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