Best Nightlife In Hanoi - Top 13 Things to Do

There is never a boring time in Hanoi, especially at night time. When the sun has set, Hanoi becomes noisier and offers many exciting activities to do and interesting places to go. The night is the time when you can feel the city in the greatest tunes and the mixing between locals and expats. let’s check it out this guide on nightlife in Hanoi to know what to do at night in Hanoi after dark. 

4 Chilling & Relaxing Things To Do at Night in Hanoi

1. Wander around Hanoi Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake

Just strolling out the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake could be one of the best activities to do at night in Hanoi. It seems like half of the people living in Hanoi hanging out here at night. That’s why it is so crowded and full of motorbikes on the roads of Old Quarter areas. 

Walking around 16 streets, getting in a random store, taking some pictures, talking to Vietnamese young people, there would be a great way to immerse in the local culture and lifestyle.

2. Have a Dinner at the West Lake

The West Lake, or so-called Ho Tay by Vietnamese people, is a popular destination for foreigners to Vietnam. The largest lake in Hanoi becomes more gracious at night than ever.

Going around and finding a restaurant for dinner, you can easily enjoy your meal while feeling the beauty of the lake under the street lights in the evening.

3. Drink Lemon Tea at a Corner of St. Joseph’s Cathedral

After dinner, the St. Joseph’s Cathedral is an ideal place for relaxing. Enjoying a cup of lemon tea, you may feel like a truly Hanoian. It is the most favorite and picked-up drink of the Vietnamese young people in the North of Vietnam. 

Drinking lemon tea and chit-chatting is always fun. Especially when sitting at a corner of the St.Joseph’s Cathedral, you can even enjoy its Gothic Revival architecture and beauty and see a lot of Catholics going there for praying.

4. See Hanoi from Above

Have you ever wondered how Hanoi looks from above? You can find the answer by looking for a rooftop bar, café or restaurant and getting there. Surely, you will not be disappointed since a different Hanoi will appear in front of your eyes. It is a panoramic view of Hanoi from above. It looks peaceful and quiet, contrary to the noisy and crowded Hanoi that you feel on the road. 

If you are looking for a place for such experience, you can search for these: Top of Hanoi, Summit Lough, Skyline Hanoi, Cielo 13 Sky Bar, Avalon Café & Lounge,…

>> Check Out Our Tour on Four Hours Hanoi by Night!

6 Cultural Activities at Night in Hanoi

 1. Watch a Water Puppet Show

Dating back 1000 years ago, water puppetry is a unique traditional art form of Vietnam. For those who want to get closer to Vietnamese tradition, a water puppet show after dinner or while having dinner is a good choice. Most of the shows tell about the folktales and legends about Vietnamese heroes by using puppets and a traditional Vietnamese orchestra. It is better to book a ticket in advance because it is quite crowded in the evening. In Hanoi, the best theatre for water puppet show is Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

2. Enjoy Hanoi Street Food with a Free Local Guide

Enjoying local cuisine is a must in any tour. Visiting Hanoi, you will have a chance to discover the unique delicious street foods in the North of Vietnam. A local tour guide will be available for help. Most of the tour guides will take you to go sightseeing in the evening first, normally walking around the Hoan Kiem lake.

Then, in the Old Quarter, they will introduce you to many traditional Vietnamese foods like Pho, Bun Cha, Banh mi, Egg coffee, Banh cuon, etc. These will leave imprints in your mind and probably make you crave for after you go back to your hometown.

3. Visit Quang Ba Night Flower Market

Wandering the streets in Hanoi, you may see ladies with bicycles laden with fresh-cut flowers. They all begin their work late at night and in the early morning in Quang Ba night flower market, one of the most atmospheric markets in Vietnam. If you want to experience as a local and join in something free in Hanoi, this could be the best place to go. 

Quang Ba is where you can see the colorful flowers and crowds of wholesalers arriving. Not only is this a place for shopping for your souvenirs, but it is also an ideal place for taking photos and feeling the atmosphere in the night market.

4. Catch a Show at Vietnam Central Circus

The Hanoi Central Circus was founded in 1956, making it the oldest circus in Vietnam. If you travel with your friends or family, this is an ideal site for fun. Performances run from 8 pm between Tuesdays and Sundays. You can watch clowns in vibrant costumes, animal performances, and especially the gravity-defying acrobatic performances.

5. See Ionah Show

At 7:45 pm every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, you can watch a must-see Ionah show at Star Galaxy Theatre. It is famous for showing the beauty of Hanoi on stage through a perfect combination of dance, music, circus, and theatrical arts. It brings to the audience the world of surprise and delight by excellent visual impression and light effects, as well as movements.

6. Watch a Show at Hanoi Opera House

Hanoi Opera House was built more than 100 years ago by 2 French architects. It is one of the most favorite landmarks in Hanoi. There are many concerts and government events here. If you visit Hanoi but do not have time visiting countryside areas, an hour-long show called Lang Toi (“My Village”) will bring the Vietnamese rural life on the stage for you. You should get a ticket online and arrive earlier before the showtime.

3 Fun & Entertaining Activities at Night in Hanoi

 1. Drink Beer at Bia Hoi Junction

For first-time tourists to Hanoi, Bia Hoi Junction, as the quintessential nightlife spot, is a must-visit. In the evening, you can see hundreds of people enjoying beer on plastic stools at the corner of Ta Hien street in the Old Quarter. “Bia hoi” (fresh beer) is one kind of Vietnamese craft beer with only 4% alcohol. 

The price for a tall glass is quite cheap, just less than VND 10,000. Near the Bia Hoi Junction, you can also find night stalls that sell a variety of snacks such as skewered meats, steamed peanuts, and beef jerky, etc.

2. Shop at Hanoi Night Weekend Market

Opened every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, Hanoi weekend night market attracts huge crowds of locals and tourists. Running through the Old Quarter, it gathers a lot of roadside stalls and also local food vendors. This is a place for buying souvenirs for friends and enjoying plenty of iconic dishes at cheap prices. Here, you can find inexpensive T-shirts, accessories, handicrafts, sunglasses, and shoes, etc. And remember to bargain for better prices.

3. Go to Hanoi Night Bars, Clubs, and Pubs

The night bars, clubs, and pubs are most suitable for those who want to immerse in music and get away from stress. Here comes a list of Hanoi clubs, bars and pubs you should try at least once.

• Hero Club

As a popular nightclub in Hanoi for both Vietnamese and foreigners, Hero Club always gets crowded even after midnight. The club is located near the West Lake, so you will need a short ride to reach it from Hanoi Old Quarter. Grab taxis may be a good option if you go there after midnight.

Location: 42M Yen Phu street, Ba Dinh district, Hanoi

Opening hours: 9 pm – 3 am

Price: VND 100,000 – VND 150,000 for drinks; VND 100,000 for a balloon.

• Binh Minh’s Jazz Club

Opened 20 years ago, Binh Minh’s Jazz Club is a legendary nightlife spot. Visiting this place, you will have a chance to catch live jazz music performances. The club brings about an intimate ambiance with warm lighting, cozy seats. It is an ideal place for escaping the bustling city.

Location: 1 Trang Tien street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hours: 5 pm – 12 am

Price: VND 50,000 – VND 250,000

• Dragonfly Bar Lounge

Dragonfly Bar Lounge has 2 floors with a buzzling space which is especially busy on weekend days. Once the sun has set, the bar soon gets full of young locals and youthful expats. The parties keep going with the hip-hop and dance music, shishas, cocktails. The first floor is for dancing and playing pool or head; the second floor is for smoking tobacco and enjoying a game of Jenga.

Location: 15 Hang Buom, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hours: 6 pm – 11 pm

Price: VND 100,000 – VND 550,000

• Sunset bar

If you are looking for the best cocktails in Hanoi, Sunset Bar is an ideal place to go. The bar offers you a sophisticated range of wines imported from famous regions all around the world. Drinking a glass of wine and enjoying the view of West Lake will bring you a special experience.

Location: InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, 5 Tu Hoa street, Tay Ho district, Hanoi

Opening hours: 4 pm – 12 pm

Price: VND 150,000 – VND 300,000

• Legend Beer

Walking around Hoan Kiem lake at night, you will easily find a third storey bar named Legend Beer. There is nowhere else better for you to enjoy an iced beer and overlook Hoan Kiem lake. Legend Beer is famous for its own brewed drinks and German-style dishes such as sausages and pork knuckle.

Location: 1-3-5 Dinh Tien Hoang street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi

Opening hours: 8:30 am – 11 pm

Price: VND 200,000 – VND 500,000

Tips on Getting Out at Night in Hanoi

Discovering nightlife in Hanoi is fun. However, please note some tips for a safe and convenient trip:

• Bring your identification along in case you are asked. And do not bring valuable things like jewelry. Vietnam is a safe country but it still has petty theft.
• Keep yourself warm, bring your jacket if you visit Hanoi in the winter.
• It is better to go with your friends for safe, particularly at night because there may be robberies, thieves or drug addicts on the street. When you suspect anything, report to the nearest police station.
• Rent a motorbike. A motorbike is much more convenient and money-saving than taxis. Also, you can go around Hanoi at any time you want. However, please remember to wear a helmet because the road is always full of people and it is a little hard to move around in rush hours.
• Choose reliable tour agencies. You may think of calling a tour agency for a better trip. But, it will be better to check for their customers’ reviews before you choose. So, you can have a happy trip.

Hanoi is more than a city, it is an experience. Its nightlife is full of interesting options for visitors from many countries, which makes it different from other districts of Hanoi. Let’s discover the city at night time. If you are not sure about anything, please leave some comments. We are always willing to support.