While the Hanoi metropolis is officially 13,400 square kilometers is size (it gobbled up a few neighboring districts in 2008), most of Hanoi's important tourist sites are only a few minutes' walk ride away, radiating away from Ba Dinh Square and the Citadel that served as the kernel of Hanoi as we know it today. (Read about Must-See Sights in Hanoi.)

Ba Dinh Square is the site of Ho Chi Minh's proclamation of Vietnamese independence in 1945.

The square is Ground Zero for the Ho Chi Minh cult of personality: the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum dominates the square (a building he would have hated - Uncle Ho wanted a far less magnificent tomb for himself).

The Mausoleum is flanked by two other structures that venerate Uncle Ho's life: the Ho Chi Minh Museum that showcases his personal effects and tells the story of his revolutionary life; and Ho Chi Minh Stilt House on the grounds of the Presidential Palace. The One Pillar Pagoda, a replica of an ancient temple stands between the Mausoleum and the Museum.

Immediately opposite of the Mausoleum, the Hanoi Citadel represents a remnant of the original city founded on this spot. Within the Citadel's gates, visitors will find buildings dating back to both Vietnam's pre-colonial period and the French occupation; a Military Museum next to the citadel shows off artifacts saved from the 20th century's near-interminable wars.

Just a few minutes' walk from the Mausoleum, you'll find the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's first university.

The French Quarter is, as the name implies, the area where the French colonial administration set itself up. The French built many administrative buildings and colonial housing units in this area, and lined it with wide European-style boulevards. Even today, the French Quarter is home to some of Hanoi's finest hotels - chief among them the Metropole.

Other structures worth seeing around the place are the Hanoi Opera House, Hoa Lo Prison - the "Hanoi Hilton", and the Museum of Vietnamese History.

Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter represent Hanoi's main tourist draw, the very heart of the city. The lake is a favorite site for old Vietnamese doing their tai chi and couples having their wedding photos taken. For more on this historic body of water, read Walking Through Hoan Kiem Lake.

At the lake's northern tip, visitors can enter Hanoi's Old Quarter, a busy warren of narrow streets that house some of the city's most renowned budget hotels, shops, and restaurants. There are over 70 streets crammed in this area (the common count of "36 streets" is a bit of figurative wordplay); most of them take their name after the goods that used to be exclusively sold on that street back in the old days. For more on the area and its wares, read our article on Shopping at the Old Quarter, Hanoi.

Eating in Hanoi

Hanoi's food culture should not be missed while you're in town; Hanoians swear by local dishes like bun cha (grilled pork and noodles) and cha ca (turmeric fish), and will defend their local cuisine to the death. These dishes are served from streetside stalls and restaurants, most of them located in the Old Quarter.

Hanoi and northern Vietnamese in particular are particularly partisan about beloved dishes like the pho noodle dish (which is prepared differently from pho in Saigon and the south). In fact, northerners claim that pho was invented in their neck of the woods, thus attracting the allegiance of pho purists.

• Chow hounds: Hungry yet? Look at our Menu of Must-Try Dishes in Hanoi for dishes to sample and restaurant locations in Vietnam's capital city.

For Hanoi street food, visit Tong Duy Tan Street, where the sidewalks are lined with outdoor stalls serving local delights to guests sitting on plastic tables and chairs.

The café culture in Hanoi is very well developed, and offer guests a nice, relaxing break from their jaunts across the city. When the night sets, Hanoi doesn't disappoint: read our article on Bars, Pubs, and Live Entertainment in Hanoi.

Hotels in Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi has a full complement of hotels for tourists of all budgets, including some with impressive pedigrees.

The French built a few magnificent European-style hotels in the French Quarter, which were subsequently abandoned when the Communists took over. As the government relaxed controls on foreign businesses in the capital, old hotels like the Metropole (compare rates) came back to life.

Tourists with a smaller budget gravitate towards the hotels and hostels in the Old Quarter, where tourists are just a few minutes' walk away from Hanoi's best shopping, dining and entertainment.

• Stay a while: For a comprehensive run-down of your hotel options in the city, check out this list of hotels in Hanoi, Vietnam.

When to Visit Hanoi

Hanoi is most pleasant to visit from September to November, and again from March to April - coinciding with autumn and spring. Winter is far too cold for enjoyable walking around the city, and Hanoi's year-round humidity reaches an intolerable peak in the summer.

The Lunar New Year festival of Tet coincides with the coming of Spring, and lends Hanoi a festive atmosphere it hardly gets at any other time of year.

Read more about Weather in Vietnam.

Hanoi Tips for Travelers

When shopping at the Old Quarter, keep in mind that the prices are rarely fixed; you'll be expected to haggle for the purchase if you want to get the most bang for your buck. Haggle with a smile, and be prepared to walk away. Read more about how to haggle in Southeast Asia or read about Money in Vietnam.

You'll always have the option to book a tour through your Hanoi hotel, but if you want to save money, you should book directly at the tour agency. Book through the hotel if getting pick-up and drop-off right at the hotel lobby is important to you. Read more about Hiring a Travel Agency in Hanoi.

Hanoi, as with the rest of Vietnam, is still a bit of a Wild West where tourist services are concerned. The government exercises very little oversight over tourist services, as a result there are plenty of con men just waiting to scam you off of your cash. Read this article about scams in Vietnam for the lowdown.