For those on a couples getaway to Hanoi, there is no lack of things to do if you want to bask in each others’ presence and enjoy the city as a couple. Here are 10 things you can do with your special someone for a truly lovely experience.
Sail Along Halong Bay on a Romantic Cruise
Nothing says romantic more than going on a cruise trip along one of Vietnam’s most famous natural sites, Halong Bay. Containing at least 1,600 islands and islets, the Bay offers one of the most idyllic views of Northern Vietnam’s waters. Since 1994, it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you know for sure that this is one of Vietnam’s greatest treasures. The Bay has also been featured in huge blockbuster films, such as Kong: Skull Island (2017), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and Pan (2015). If you’re looking for something to do on your cruise, try (safely) recreating some scenes from these movies. Book a 2 day 1 night cruise to maximise the quality time spent together!
Dine at Hanoi’s Finest Restaurants
While ‘fine dining’ may not be the first choice of activity for travellers to Southeast Asia, Hanoi has no lack of cosy restaurants for you to dine with your special someone at. Bask in the warm lighting, enjoy some delicious and heartfelt food alongside a soulful bottle of wine - there’s no better recipe for a perfect night out! Choose from a wide variety of cuisines such as Vietnamese, French and Italian, and enjoy some of the best restaurants in Hanoi without breaking your bank.
The city’s finest restaurants include Khuê Restaurant, located in Le Jardin Hotel and Spa, which serves a value for money 3-course meal. La Badiane is another renowned restaurant in Hanoi’s fine dining scene, and is well-regarded for its French cuisine, though some of its fusion food is equally deserving of attention.
Pose Along Long Bien Bridge
When you’re in Hanoi, do as Hanoians do and visit the Long Bien Bridge on your date! Connecting the Hoan Kiem District with Long Bien District, the Bridge is a historic icon in Hanoi, and was first named after Paul Doumer, the then French Governor-General of French Indochina and French President.
Many young couples come here to stand at the bridge and admire the vastness of the river and the many boats that dot the waters. During the sunset, this makes for a beautiful and poetic image that is sure to set the mood for a romantic dinner after that. It’s a place to go if you’re also looking for some peace and quiet amidst the busy city.
Admire Hanoi at Night at Lotte Center SkyWalk Observatory
If you’re thinking about adding a different flavour to your date, how about enjoying a birds’ eye view of Hanoi that you can only get at Lotte Centre’s Skywalk Observatory? Open till midnight, the Observatory gives you one of the most stunning views of the city that will surely astound you. It is a bit pricier for tourists, but in return you can take as many photos and stay for as long as you want soaking in the view, which definitely makes the tickets worth buying! If you want to commemorate your visit there, there’s even an area for you and your other half to dedicate and write heartfelt messages to each other. What better way is there to spend the evening?
Walk Around Hanoi’s Rose Park
Get your cameras out and snap that perfect shot of each other standing amidst endless fresh roses, all in a myriad of different colours and arrangements! Rose Park, located in Long Bien District and only a 30-minute drive away from Hanoi’s city centre, is the first of its kind to open in Vietnam. Look out for the huge rose maze in the park, where you’re bound to have fun trying to navigate your way out of it with each other’s help. A place that gives you both boundless fun and promises many pretty pictures, this place is definitely one of your must-visits on your romantic trip to Hanoi!
Share a Drink at a Rooftop Bar
Top off your date at one of Hanoi’s many rooftop bars, which are all located in the heart of the city. Some of the top picks include Top of Hanoi. Located on the 65th floor of the Lotte Centre, this is the highest open air bar in Hanoi. Take in all the panoramic views as you sip on your professionally-crafted cocktails!
You can also try Skyline Hanoi, nicknamed the “Rooftop of the Old Quarter”. Eleven storeys up and spanning several floors, the bar offers not just smart cocktails but a one-of-a-kind view of Old Quarter and mouth-watering Vietnamese and international dishes.
Stroll Around Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake is one of Hanoi’s most iconic sites, and also one of the best places to have an inexpensive but quality date. Don’t be fooled by its simplicity, there are in fact many things to occupy your time with at the park! You can observe locals going about their daily group exercises in the morning, walk and bike around the park, visit the Huc bridge and even join the locals in their evening dance classes since you already have a partner. Make a stop here and go on a date the local way!
Explore Hanoi Book Street
Paging all bookworm couples: Hanoi’s very own Book Street is one of the best places to enjoy a slow-paced date while appreciating the wonders of literature and culture. The street is lined with two rows of bookstores, and though it only runs for about 200m, there is much for you to browse, read and buy for yourselves! Most of these stores sell both Vietnamese and English language books, and most have really good discount sections. Unleash your inner bookworms and sift through preloved and vintage paperbacks right here! This is a modern cultural highlight not to be missed. As it’s located near the Hoan Kiem Lake, there’s even more to see and do on your date once you’re done walking this street.
Discover Hanoi’s “romantic streets” on Foot
As a city rich in history, Hanoi is home to many streets and paths that are reminiscent of a nostalgia for the old times. Streets such as Phan Dinh Phung are known to have wide roads, and in autumn the leaves of the trees that line the road turn a crisp golden brown, evoking an image that is very poetic and romantic - the perfect mood for dates!
This road is also the site of many a local couple’s wedding shoots, so you know this place has a certain realness to it that other more popular sites may lack. Kim Ma Road and Hoang Dieu Road are also two places that are favourites among young lovers seeking some quality time with their partners, so if you’ve got time to spare, add them to your list too!
Relax and Unwind With a Couples’ Massage
Get the rest and relaxation you’ve earned by indulging in a romantic couples massage in the city! There are plenty of places for you to choose from, each with their own speciality. Hanoi La Belle Spa & Wellness is situated in the Hoan Kiem district and offers many attractive types of massages such as the Bamboo Massage and the Asian Blend Massage. Though it’s a bit pricier, it definitely ranks as one of the more professional and high-end massage parlours around.
Serene Spa in Old Quarter is also an upscale parlour that offers various couple massage packages. With services ranging from aromatherapy to hot stone massages, the attentive staff aim to make you feel wholly at ease and free.
Given the myriad of activities that you can experience in the city of Hanoi, there are endless ways you can celebrate your relationship and make the most of the city at the same time. These places are also situated very close to each other, allowing you to maximise your day and plan for a romantic date that’s packed with delightful activities to do!
