Bach Mai Hospital; international clinics in Ba Dinh and Tay Ho
Before you go
Check your visa
Many visitors need an e-visa, applied for on the official government portal only. Avoid look-alike agency sites.
Crossing the road
Walk at a slow, steady pace and let motorbikes flow around you. Do not stop suddenly or run.
Use Grab or Xanh SM
Ride-hailing apps show the price up front. Avoid unmarked taxis and agree cyclo prices before you sit down.
Carry cash
Street food, markets and small cafés want dong in cash. Count the zeros: 10,000 and 100,000 notes look alike.
Skip Train Street
Tours to the famous railway-side cafés are banned and the cafés operate without permission. Watch trains from Long Bien Bridge instead.
Dress for temples
Cover shoulders and knees at pagodas, temples and the mausoleum.
Pack a layer
Late-November evenings can drop below 20°C, and boats on the bays feel cool in the wind.
Watch the air
Air quality can be poor on still days in late autumn. Check an air-quality app and carry a mask if you are sensitive.
Stay connected
Buy a local SIM or eSIM at the airport; Grab and maps need data.
Ask before photos
Ask before photographing vendors and elders, and buy something if you take a close portrait at a stall.
Mind your bag
Keep phones away from the kerb side of the pavement; snatch thefts from motorbikes do happen.
Lunch closes
Many museums and temples close for an hour or two around midday. Plan sights in the morning and late afternoon.
Hanoi is generally safe and friendly. Traffic is the main risk: take care on the roads, wear a helmet on any motorbike, and check the entry rules for your passport before you travel.