Hanoi holidays

Set on the banks of the Red River, Hanoi is an exciting and busy city, where you’ll encounter the unexpected at every turn. Buzzing scooters weave through a tangle of backstreets, past time-worn pagodas and groups of people practising tai-chi in well-maintained parks. The smell of cooking is never far away; the aroma of street food and restaurant kitchens giving the air an exotic tang. Surprisingly low-rise, the skyline is a fabulous jumble of ancient and modern: the ornate buildings of the Old Quarter rubbing shoulders with more recent constructions. You’ll even find evidence of Hanoi’s occupied past, in the European-style Architecture of the French Quarter.

Travel to Hanoi with Qatar Airways Holidays holiday Packages are an excellent way to discover the hidden gems and surprises that this graceful city has tucked away.

• For a break from Hanoi’s hustle and bustle, take a trip to Hoan Kiem Lake. Tranquil and serene, the lake surrounds the Ngoc Son pagoda, which stands on a little island at the lake’s centre.
• For a dip into the city’s cultural past, catch a show at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. A traditional Vietnamese art form the puppeteers operate their puppets from a pond or purpose-built pool.
• Hanoi’s answer to Notre Dame, the Nha Tho Cathedral is an unexpected piece of Gothic architecture, complete with towering spires and elaborate arches.
• The Old Quarter is a vibrant mix of old, colonial buildings and traditional Vietnamese architecture. You’ll find the narrow, winding streets littered with street traders, selling local produce and arts and crafts and small, diner-style restaurants selling freshly-cooked takeaway meals.