Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh: where should you visit?

Located in the center of the North, Ha Noi is the capital of the country, at the confluence of the Red River. For more than a thousand years, Ha Noi was the center of all resistance movements against northern aggressors to secure the independence of the Vietnamese nation. Ha Noi also characteristically contains many beautiful lakes with their surrounding gardens and trees providing a vital source of energy.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh is the cultural center of the South and the Mekong Delta. Both of them are the biggest tourist centers in Vietnam. Can’t choose which one to visit? Let’s do a lowdown on how they differ.

About climate

Ho Chi Minh is located in southern Vietnam, which has 2 main seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to November. The dry season lasts from December to April next year. There is almost no winter, so the climate is particularly favorable for year-round tourism.
Ha Noi is situated in a tropical monsoon zone with four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. From November to March, it’s cold and has little rainfall. It is hot and rainy from April to October.

Where is the best for culture and history?

Ha Noi has over 1,000 years of history. The ancient name of Ha Noi, Thang Long, means ascending dragon. In fact, the cultural and historical remains of the city bear the mark of a rich past and many heroic legends. By exploring the city, visitors can gain a better understanding of the country and its inhabitants.

With more than only 300 years of history, Ho Chi Minh possesses numerous interesting buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese, and European cultures.

There are also many pagodas, churches, museums, shopping centers, and local markets where you can visit and explore the local culture and life.

Where should you go to relax?

Both the city’s resources and accommodations are attractive to many travelers. In Ha Noi, the average winter temperature is 17.2 degrees Celsius, but it rarely drops below 5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, temperatures in HCMC never fall below 20 celsius. The city contains many beautiful lakes such as Thanh Nhan, Bay Mau, Dong Da, Thanh Cong, Giac Vo, the West, Ngoc Khanh…and Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of Hanoi. These are charming places to take a moment away from the chaotic city streets and watch elderly locals quietly enjoying games of chess and mahjong.

The average temperature in Ho Chi Minh is 27.5 °C, making it favorable for year-round tourism. Also, there are many parks with green trees or water parks for travelers to escape the southern heat, from December to April next year.

Where should you shop?

With many ancient and handicraft villages in Ha Noi, Ha Noi offers superior choices of crafts, silk accessories, and high-quality handmade products. Many of them are exported to countries around the world, including Japan, the US, and EU member states. Here are some famous markets in Ha Noi: Dong Xuan, Ha Noi weekend night market in Old Quarter, Hang Da, Cho Hom, Long Bien market…

Located in the center of the South and the Mekong Delta River, it is the city where you can find almost everything, including almost all domestic products, especially those from the Mekong Delta, as well as modern products from other countries. Ho Chi Minh City is also known as “the kingdom of the malls”, with vast, modern air-conditioned edifices housing copious brands and designer shops.

Which is best for food?

The cheapest and one of the most delicious ways to experience Vietnamese cuisine is street food. You don’t need a guide or a good restaurant to have what you want to eat. In September 2016, President Barack Obama had sampled his dinner at just a local shop in Ha Noi. He enjoyed himself sitting on a low plastic stool, eating noodles and pork bits with chopsticks, the local way. And we believe that only when you follow the local way, that is the best way for you to fully taste local food. Let’s go to the best food in Ho Chi Minh and Ha Noi.

In Ha Noi, many popular Vietnamese dishes originated here. Pho (noodle soup), Vietnam’s national dish, is one of the most popular dishes, and you can get it on just about any street corner for as little as a dollar. Besides Pho, there are some other famous dishes such as Bun Thang, Bun Cha, Bun Dau Mam Tom…Generally, the taste of food in Ha Noi is frugal, gentle, slightly sour.

The street food in Ho Chi Minh City tends to have a wider variety of flavors. It comes from traditional cuisine, dating back to when the older generation came to explore the South of Vietnam. Their slogan in food is “ salty foods need to be too salty, sour foods need to be too sour, sweet foods need to be too sweet, bitter foods need to be too bitter”.

Each city has its own way to cook the traditional cuisine, with different flavors; you could feel it just after trying Pho- the national dish.

Which one is better for nightlife experiences?

Both cities have backpacker areas. In Ho Chi Minh, the backpacker area is on Bui Vien and Do Quang Dau Streets, and in Hanoi, it is in the Old Quarter. You don’t need to think too much in order to see which one should be chosen first for excellent nightlife experiences because both of them are the same. Furthermore, it is quite cheap to enjoy a glass of beer and talk to other travelers or locals on tiny plastic chairs around the backpackers’ areas.

Where is the best base for day-trips?

This depends on what you’re looking for.
From Ha Noi, you can visit:

• Ha Long Bay, a dreamy seascape of jagged limestone rocks jutting out over calm waters, is Vietnam’s number one tourist attraction.
• Ninh Binh has been favored by nature. The harmonious mingling of the mountains, plains, rivers, and sea has created strangely attractive landscapes. In this area, Hoa Lu was chosen as the capital of Dai Viet in the 10th century.
• Ancient and handcrafts villages such as Bat Trang pottery village, Silke village of Van Phuc, Quat Dong embroidery village, ancient village of Duong Lam, Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan weaving village…

From Ho Chi Minh, you can visit:

• Cu Chi underground tunnels: explore the underground network of tunnels and bunkers that stretch for over 200 Km. Learn about the importance the tunnels played in the Vietnam-American war, and how they were used specifically by the Viet Cong guerrilla fighters. While there, you will not only have a chance to explore the war bunkers, command centers, and weapon stores but also experience real fire with many different types of guns…
• Mekong Delta River: witness daily local life, floating markets, and local businesses. Discover small villages to visit the orchards and fruit plantations, or simply enjoy a boat ride through the picturesque small creeks of the Delta.
• Tay Ninh Holy See: visit the Cao Dai religion and witness their midday celebration.
• Can Gio Ecological Zone: explore Monkey Island, visit the Crocodile farm, and see other wild animals in the mangrove forest.

So which one should you go to?

Ha Noi is also known as the old capital, with a more historical, less glitzy side that offers visitors a glimpse of traditional Vietnamese culture and many opportunities to see the best of the country’s artistic and creative offerings.
Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh is a commercial center of the country and inevitably has more investment, fancier hotels, smarter restaurants, and an exclusive nightlife scene