On the top 10 world’s destinations with reasonable cost for 2016 listed by Lonely Planet, Hanoi is also one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. The lively one-thousand year old Hanoi is a fascinating blend of the east and the west.

(TRAVPR.COM) VIETNAM - March 8th, 2016 - Visiting the Old Quarter, the unique vestige comfortably lying around Hoan Kiem Lake, you may get lost in a totally different world from the rest of the city. The streets’ heart and soul is exposed in the ancient commercial streets and named after their original businesses dating back about 1,000 years. It is a shopper’s delight and features artistic products from around the country, fashioned by many top artists and craftsmen. It is where night owls head to with live music, discos, clubs and bars as well as decent karaoke joints being the norm here. The Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre and Dong Xuan market, etc. are within easy reach of the Old Quarter. For those who love cooking and Vietnamese food, French baguettes and coffee have something very much in common with pho rice noodles together with many culinary classes around.

Hanoi's local cuisine is some of the best in Vietnam, and the finest local dishes are usually served at just open-air joints at street side. Hanoi is a street food paradise with exotic sauces as one way of creating a tasty meal from basic elements all through the year. Bun cha and cha ca are tasty and shouldn’t be missed during your visit to the capital.

Hanoi is also famous for elegant French architecture, especially in the French quarter where wide open streets, majestic buildings and high-end hotels, restaurants and shops await. It is home to some of Hanoi’s fanciest restaurants and hotels such as Sofitel Metropole Legend Hotel, Hilton Opera and the Opera House.

Oozing with charm, Hanoi still remains true to its essential personality and is an amazing city to experience. It is often the start or end point of a trip to Vietnam giving a great welcome or farewell.

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