Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is not only a city with a rich history and culture but also a famous tourist destination with many scenic spots. However, when exploring Hanoi, visitors need to keep in mind a number of locations and situations to ensure a safe and enjoyable trip. Below is a detailed list of places to avoid or keep in mind when traveling to Hanoi.

The night markets are too crowded in Hanoi

Night Market

Dong Xuan Night Market and Old Quarter Night Market are popular destinations for tourists looking to experience shopping and street food. However, on weekend evenings, these markets often become very crowded with thousands of shoppers and tourists. 

Reasons not to go:

• Too crowded: During peak hours, the market becomes extremely crowded, difficult to move around and uncomfortable. You may feel overwhelmed by the large number of people and not have enough space to comfortably shop.
• Petty theft: Due to the large number of people, pickpocketing and petty theft at the market are also higher, especially among tourists unfamiliar with the area. Thieves often take advantage of crowds to pickpocket or steal customers’ belongings.
• Poor product quality: Floating night markets often sell products of unknown origin and quality. Many fake and poor quality products easily cause disappointment for customers when purchasing.
• Poor hygiene: The environment in these markets is often not thoroughly cleaned. Street food stalls often do not comply with food hygiene and safety standards, easily leading to the risk of food poisoning when eating here.

Advice:

• Maintain personal property: Always keep your wallet, phone, and valuables in a zippered pocket close to your chest.
• Avoid carrying too much cash: Only carry the necessary amount of money and use bank cards when possible.
• Go with the group: Go with friends or relatives to support each other in crowded situations.

Railway area on Phung Hung street

Train Street

The railway area on Phung Hung Street has become a famous tourist attraction thanks to unique photos of trains running through the neighborhood.

Reasons not to go:

• Danger: Although the area is famous for its beautiful photos of the railroad running through the neighborhood, standing near the railroad as it passes by is dangerous. Many people are not aware of the safe distance when taking photos, leading to a high risk of accidents.
• Not safe: This place is not designed for tourism and has no safety measures for visitors. Lack of signs and protective barriers makes traveling here risky.

Unhygienic sidewalk restaurants along Hanoi streets

Night Street Food

Hanoi is famous for street foods such as pho, bun cha, banh cuon, and fried spring rolls, but not all sidewalk restaurants ensure food hygiene and safety. Some shops may not have good food preservation conditions and are susceptible to flies, mosquitoes and dust, leading to the risk of food poisoning.

Advice:

• Choose a reputable shop: Refer to reviews on social networking sites such as TripAdvisor, Google Maps or travel blogs to choose highly rated restaurants.
• Observe the processing method: If you find that the restaurant has poor hygiene conditions, find another location.
• Avoid eating raw food: Limit eating raw dishes such as salads and salads to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

Less lit and deserted areas at night in Hanoi

Some areas in Hanoi can become deserted and poorly lit at night, especially small alleys or neighborhoods far from the center. Traveling in these places may be unsafe, especially for travelers unfamiliar with the locality.

Advice:

• Choose the main road: Always choose main roads with street lights and lots of people when traveling in the evening.
• Use a mapping application: Use mapping applications like Google Maps to determine the safest and shortest route.
• Go with the group: Go with friends or relatives to ensure safety.

Spontaneous motorbike taxi services

Although traditional motorbike taxi services and ride-hailing apps like Grab are very popular, there are still spontaneous motorbike taxi drivers who lack credibility. They may not use the meter or claim higher prices than they actually do.

Advice:

• Use a ride-hailing app: Use reputable ride-hailing applications such as Grab, Be, or GoViet to ensure transparent and safe prices.
• Negotiate price in advance: If using a traditional motorbike taxi, agree on a price before boarding to avoid being “cut off".
• Check the license plate: Make sure the license plate matches the information on the app to avoid being scammed.

Souvenir shops “tourist trap" along Hanoi streets

Some souvenir shops near famous tourist destinations often sell goods at much higher prices than the actual price. They can use marketing tricks to convince tourists to buy.

Advice:

• Check prices first: You should consult prices first, compare at many different stores before deciding to buy.
• Choose a store with clearly listed prices: Buy at places with clear and reputable prices to avoid getting ripped off.
• Ask local people for advice: If possible, ask local people for advice on prices and reputable places to buy.

Areas under construction or maintenance in Hanoi

Hanoi is a developing city, so it is inevitable that there are areas under construction or maintenance. These areas often do not have safety measures for tourists and are at high risk of occupational accidents. Traveling through construction areas may encounter construction materials, machinery, and unstable terrain conditions. During construction or remodeling, these areas have nothing interesting to visit, wasting your time. Unfinished projects often do not bring tourism value or cultural experiences.

Advice:

• Stay away from construction areas: Limit travel in areas under construction or maintenance to avoid the risk of accidents.
• Wear the mask: If you must go through these areas, wear a mask to protect your health from dust and dirt.
• Choose another path: Use the map to find safer alternative routes.

“Display" venues are too crowded in Hanoi

Some bars, clubs and entertainment areas in Hanoi can become too busy on weekends or holidays. This can lead to crowding, difficulty controlling and even security problems such as clashes and theft.

Advice:

• Choose a reputable location: Participate in entertainment activities at reputable places with good security.
• Avoid rush hour: If possible, arrive early or later than peak hours to avoid crowds.
• Maintain personal property: Always keep your wallet, phone and valuables in a safe place.

West Lake at night

West Lake

West Lake is one of Hanoi’s most famous and romantic places, attracting a large number of tourists and locals.

Reasons not to go:

• Security is not guaranteed: West Lake is a beautiful destination during the day, but at night, the security of the area is not well guaranteed. Incidents of theft and disorder have occurred here. Visitors may encounter unsafe situations if not careful.
• Chaotic traffic: At night, the area around West Lake often has chaotic traffic, making it difficult to move and prone to accidents. Especially on weekends or holidays, there is a lot of traffic, increasing the risk of accidents.
• Environmental pollution: In the evening, some areas around West Lake can become quite dirty due to waste from entertainment and eating activities of residents and tourists.

Areas with environmental sanitation problems

Some areas in Hanoi still have poor environmental sanitation, such as affordable boarding houses or some suburban areas. Garbage and wastewater that are not properly treated can affect the health and experience of visitors.

Advice:

• Find out in advance about where to stay: Before booking, research the accommodation thoroughly and read reviews from previous travelers.
• Choose a place with good sanitary conditions: Priority is given to choosing hotels and motels that have good sanitary conditions and are highly rated for their service.
• Use reputable booking services: Use reputable booking services such as Booking.com, Agoda to ensure quality accommodation.

Tourist attractions are too far from Hanoi center

Although tourist destinations on the outskirts of Hanoi such as Bat Trang Pottery Village, Duong Lam Ancient Village, or Perfume Pagoda are very attractive, traveling to these places can take a lot of time and effort. Furthermore, tourism support services in these areas may be inadequate.

Advice:

• Plan carefully: Plan in detail your time and means of transportation before deciding to visit tourist destinations far from the center.
• Use a reputable tour service: Join reputable tours to ensure safety and convenience.
• Bring enough water and snacks: In case you can’t find restaurants or services during the tour.

Conclusion

Hanoi has many attractive and diverse destinations for tourists to explore. However, as with any destination, there are areas and situations that travelers should be aware of to avoid unwanted experiences. To have a safe and enjoyable trip, you should avoid locations with security, hygiene and safety risks as listed above. Please read the information carefully and choose suitable destinations. By carefully preparing and being vigilant, you will have an enjoyable and safe trip exploring this thousand-year-old cultural capital, experiencing culture and life in Hanoi to the fullest.

Don’t forget to regularly follow our Facebook page and Website for more interesting information about traveling to Hanoi and to book Hanoi tours at the best prices.

All the latest breaking news & travel information on Hanoi travel. Browse The Independent's complete collection of articles and commentary on Hanoi travel: Hanoi attractions, travel news, gallery, culture, history and tips.