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How many days are required to fully experience Hanoi?

2 days and 1 night tour in Hanoi, Vietnam: in-depth experience of history and culture. I just finished a 2-day and 1-night trip to Hanoi, and I can't help but want to share it. Vietnam's history and culture really lived up to my expectations, and every attraction amazed me.

Tour route:
Day1: Thang Long Imperial Citadel->Ba Dinh Square->Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum->Ho Chi Minh Museum->Hanoi Temple of Literature
Day2: Train Street->Hanoi Cathedral->Thang Long Water Puppet Show->National Museum of History

🍜Day1: In-depth experience of history and culture

At 7 o'clock in the morning, we gathered at the Hoan Kiem Lake bus station and took bus 09A to Ba Dinh Square. The ticket price was 7,000 dong. You can get on the bus from the front and back doors of the Vietnamese bus. After getting on the bus, sit down first, and the ticket seller will ask you for money. In order to have a smooth tour, it is best to wear a light jacket and long pants, covering your knees and arms, in line with the local dress code requirements.

📍Ba Dinh Square: Vietnam's "Tiananmen Square". The first sight of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was very solemn and solemn. However, we came at the wrong time. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was not open and could only be visited from the periphery. We first walked along the fence to the back, and then passed the security check to enter the square. The most important landmark on the square is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, whose architectural style combines the Lenin Mausoleum and the Vietnamese national style. Although I only caught up with the handover ceremony of the soldiers guarding the mausoleum, I still felt the solemnity and solemnity of Vietnam.

📍Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: This is the most important memorial site. Although the mausoleum is not open, the security check and fence area outside are very suitable for taking pictures. Remember to bring a 40,000 dong ticket to visit the former residence of Ho Chi Minh, which has an exhibition of cars used by Ho Chi Minh and an office area. But to be honest, the former residence is a bit small and not worth spending too much time.

📍Hanoi Temple of Literature: It takes about 20 minutes to walk from Ba Dinh Square to the Hanoi Temple of Literature. The Hanoi Temple of Literature was built in 1070 and enshrines the Confucian sage Confucius. The Kuiwen Pavilion of the Temple of Literature is the most famous building here and was once the symbol of UNESCO. The gate of the Temple of Literature is majestic, with high eaves, a very typical oriental temple style. The pool in front of the main worship hall is especially suitable for taking pictures. The entire complex consists of five courtyards, and we also saw many stone tablets and the corridors of Confucius' 72 disciples. We stayed here for about an hour and took a lot of photos. We must come to check in if we have time.

📍Ho Chi Minh Museum: The museum is open from 08:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Mondays. The adult ticket price is 40,000 dong. Remember to tell the ticket seller that you want a guide map when buying tickets. The museum provides free Chinese and English explanations. When we were visiting, a young lady explained all the way. The museum displays many deeds and precious cultural relics about Ho Chi Minh, especially Ho Chi Minh's office area and car show.

📍One-pillar Pagoda: The one-pillar pagoda around Ba Dinh Square is very effective and can pray for peace and health. Although the temple is not large, it is very unique. One pillar supports the structure of the entire temple. We took a lot of photos outside the temple, which is suitable for checking in and taking photos.

🍜Day2: Explore the atmosphere of life and artistic charm in Hanoi

🚋Train Street: In the morning, we came to Train Street. The environment here is a bit chaotic, but it is very lively. It is especially interesting to take pictures at the corner! There are many small vendors on the street, and the hawking sounds are one after another, which has the flavor of the streets of old Hong Kong. We took pictures while walking, slowed down our pace, and enjoyed this unique atmosphere.

⛪️Hanoi Cathedral: Then, we came to Hanoi Cathedral, also known as St. Joseph's Cathedral. The cathedral was built in the style of Notre Dame de Paris, France, and is open to the public for free visits during the day. The church has a magnificent appearance and exquisite details. The church is quiet and awe-inspiring. It is recommended that girls wear aprons at the door before entering the church. The church is about 20 meters high. We sat quietly in the church and felt the unique atmosphere of the church. I highly recommend everyone to visit it.

🎭Thang Long Water Puppet Show: Go to the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater to watch the performance at noon. This theater is the most representative water puppet troupe in Vietnam. The plots of puppets climbing trees, catching fish, and fighting on the water are very interesting. The performance lasts about 50 minutes. The ticket prices are 200k, 150k and 100k VND depending on the seats. It is important to buy tickets in advance to avoid missing the performance.

📍National History Museum: Came to the National History Museum of Vietnam in the afternoon. The museum was designed by a French architect and combines French colonial architecture with traditional Vietnamese architectural features. The museum introduces the history of Vietnam from prehistory to modern times in chronological order. It takes about 2-3 hours to visit carefully. The Dongshan Bronze Drum and the Nine Dragon Tongtian Crown in the museum are particularly worth seeing. It feels like traveling back to the Angkor National Museum.

🎈Travel tips:

1. Transportation: It is recommended to choose public transportation or shared bicycles. The traffic in Hanoi is relatively congested, and self-driving may be inconvenient.
2. Ticket purchase: It is best to buy tickets for the Thang Long Water Puppet Show and Hanoi Cathedral online in advance to avoid the cumbersome process of buying tickets on site and possible ticket shortages.
3. Photography tips: When taking photos on Train Street, choose a corner to take more emotional photos; the quiet atmosphere in the church is suitable for slow shutter speed photography.
4. Food recommendations: Order a cup of coconut coffee at Hanoi House Cafe opposite Hanoi Cathedral and taste the authentic coffee flavor of Hanoi.

I hope this guide will be helpful to friends who plan to visit Hanoi for two days. Enjoy this journey to explore the unique style of Hanoi!