Why Ngoc Ha Should Be On Your Radar When Visiting Hanoi

Of all the places that I visited in Hanoi there’s one that really stood out: Ngoc Ha neighbourhood.

Where is Ngoc Ha in Hanoi?

Ngoc Ha neighbourhood can be found around the back of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum. For an exact location, put Dinh Ngoc Ha into Google Maps or follow this link.

Like everywhere in Hanoi, it’s easy to reach by Grab car or scooter. A ride on the latter will cost you mere pennies or cents from wherever you are in the city.

A little history of Ngoc Ha, Hanoi

To paraphrase the long history of this gorgeous area:

• Ngoc Ha is one of the oldest areas of Hanoi, dating back over 1,000 years
• In the olden days of Hanoi, the city was made of artisan guilds each famous for a different handicraft. Ngoc Ha was a flower village where people grew bonsai trees in their individual plots of land and sold them to make a living.
• As Hanoi grew, the area of Ngoc Ha managed to keep its garden plots, making it one of the greenest areas of the city today!

Start at Dinh Ngoc Ha Temple…

Start your visit to Ngoc Ha by finding the gorgeous Dinh Ngoc Ha. This Buddhist temple is set around a lake with a pretty bridge connecting it. Lilypads bob in the water and pink flower lanterns hang from the trees. As well as being totally lovely, it’s usually pretty quiet. You’ll hardly believe you’re in one of the busiest cities in Asia!

More photos from my visit to Ngoc Ha Hanoi…

When you’ve explored the temple and lake area, wander through the covered market streets…

I hope my quick guide and photo blog inspires you to visit Ngoc Ha while you’re in Hanoi. My visit cost me nothing, apart from a few thousand VND for a whole fresh jackfruit. For a totally different – and much more peaceful – side to Hanoi, don’t miss this perfect old-fashioned neighbourhood!

Thanks for reading my Ngoc Ha guide!

Check out some of my other Hanoi posts:

• The ultimate Southeast Asia bucket list
• The perfect Southeast Asia 3 month itinerary
• Tried & tested Asia backpacking advice
• The ultimate Vietnam travel itinerary
• Complete Hanoi travel guide
• The 9 hidden gems in Hanoi
• Finding the best egg coffee in Hanoi
• Complete guide to Hanoi street food
• Neighbourhood guide: Truc Bach, Hanoi
• Best Hanoi cafes
• Visiting Train Street Hanoi

See you next time for more adventures,

Rose

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Ps. Pin this Ngoc Ha travel guide for later!

Vietnam quick links

Getting around by air – it’s easy to get between cities by flight. I use Skyscanner to find the best-value flights, using the ‘search by month’ tool to find the cheapest dates. You can also use the ‘to anywhere’ feature if you’re flexible on where you’re going.

Stay connected with E-sim data plans that don’t require delivery or collection; just span the QR code.

In my opinion, Lonely Planet offer the best guidebooks. Get the latest Lonely Planet Vietnam.

For Vietnam buses and trains, I use 12GoAsia. The search feature allows you to compare prices and durations.

I use Booking.com for accommodation. They have the best range of hotels and self-catering apartments, plus you can filter by review score and price to find the best-rated budget places. For hostels, I use Hostelworld.

To save money on accommodation, I use Trusted Housesitters, a website that connects homeowners going away and travellers who can sit their homes & pets.

For activities, I use GetYourGuide as they have a huge range of affordable tours.

Need travel insurance? I use True Traveller (for UK & Europe residents) since it’s affordable but covers everything you’d need including various activities, valuables and pre-existing conditions. Unlike some companies, they insure you if you’re already travelling / don’t yet have your flight home booked. Get a quote.

For travel insurance for other nationalities, I recommend Hey Mundo and for long-term digital nomad travellers, I suggest Safety Wing.

Check out my resources page for more travel discounts and tips!