Considered the most beautiful season of the year, Autumn is full of magnificent colors and refreshing after a long Summer. Hanoi is always the most exciting destination for Autumn trips for domestic and international tourists.

The nostalgic beauty of Hanoi in the autumn. Photo: Yeu Ha Noi

Travel booking platform Booking.com has just announced the top five fall travel destinations in Vietnam, with Hanoi taking the top spot.

Other ideal destinations in Vietnam include Lan Ha Bay in Hai Phong City, the Dong Van Karst Plateau in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, the flower city of Da Lat in the central highlands, and Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province.

Wonderful delicacies of Hanoi

Travelers to Hanoi are in for a treat in the autumn, according to the travel site. The city is transformed into a magical wonderland with the most enchanting and delightful atmosphere imaginable. From the crisp and fresh air to the scent of milkwood flowers, "you will be surrounded by enchanting scents you won't forget". 

"Take a walk along the streets around the West Lake, such as Phan Dinh Phung, Quan Thanh, and Quang Trung, and you'll be enchanted by the beauty of the milkwood flowers".

If you're feeling adventurous, navigate the maze of alleyways in the Old Quarter to discover local fall delicacies like green rice flakes and ragworm fritters. For a more relaxing experience, find an open-air cafe and enjoy a cup of Vietnamese egg coffee while soaking up the cool autumn breeze".

Some of Hanoi's other wonderful fall specialties include com or young sticky rice, cha ruoi or ragworm cake, che long nhan or sweet longan soup, as well as seasonal fruits such as sau chin or ripe dracontomelon, pomelo or Citrus maxima, persimmon, and others.

Com or young sticky rice is a specialty of Hanoi Autumn. Photo: Hang Nguyen

Joyful cultural events

Many cultural events are being held in Hanoi to take advantage of the season.

With the theme "Hang Nhac Street" - inspired by the names of 36 streets in Hanoi - Monsoon Music Festival 2023 will be held from October 14 to 22 at various venues in Hanoi's Old Quarter, including the Cultural and Arts Center (22 Hang Buom), Old Hanoi Street Cultural Exchange Center (50 Dao Duy Tu), Golden Bell Theater, Nguy Nhu Kon Tum Auditorium, Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, and others.

Thang Long Citadel Night will be held on October 21 and 22 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, with musical performances and art exhibitions.

The festival will feature 40 Vietnamese and international artists and bands, including Buc Tuong, Ngot, Vu, Lope Dope, Meow Lac, Phao, Suboi (Vietnam); Xinh Xo, Forgotten Future (USA); Sun Jun, Fergessen (France); Dust&Metal (UK-US); Lydmor (Denmark); Andreas Tilliander (Sweden); Munan (Korea), Club Mild (Singapore), and Rome in Reverse (Italy).

Hanoi girls show off their beauty in an Ao dai show at the Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2022. Photo: Hang Nguyen

The Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2023 will be held from October 13 to 15 in the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake, with the participation of designers, ao dai brands, traditional craft villages and travel agencies from Hanoi and other provinces and cities.

According to the plan, the opening ceremony of the festival will be held on the evening of October 13 this year in the pedestrian area around Hoan Kiem Lake, with a combination of music, lights and performances showcasing ao dai from the northern, central and southern regions.

Ideal places for a day out

Hanoi in Autumn is like putting on a new coat, with blue skies, white clouds and cool breezes contrasting with the scorching sunny days of summer. It's an ideal time for a day trip to explore the charming capital.

Let's start a new day at Hoan Kiem Lake; later visit the Temple of Literature and the Vietnam National Museum of Ethnology; and finish a funky nice day with street food and bia hoi (draft beer) in the Old Quarter area.

Hoan Kiem Lake is located in Hoan Kiem District, in the heart of Hanoi. The tourist attraction captures the hearts of many locals and travelers alike thanks to its beautiful natural scenery.

The emerald color of Hoan Kiem Lake is caused by the green algae Chlorophyta, which is peculiar to the area and cannot be found anywhere else. The green water of the lake becomes a mirror in which the rows of lakeside trees are reflected. The lake has it disinvite beauty in autumn with romantic scenery of willows falling on the surface of the lake, such an ideal place for memorable photo shoots.

Visiting the city these days, visitors will come across romantic images: lovely girls taking pictures with Hanoi flower vendors on the street. Photo: Yeu Ha Noi

Let's walk down Trang Thi Street to visit the Temple of Literature - Vietnam's first national university, located on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. The temple was built in 1070 and is also one of several temples in Vietnam dedicated to Confucius, sages and scholars.

End your morning with a stroll to the nearby Fine Arts Museum, which has a staggering display of some 10,000 works of art in every medium imaginable - a comprehensive history of the nation's arts from ancient times to the present. There is also a fine collection of art from around the world.

After lunch in the museum's courtyard, let's head to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology on Nguyen Van Huyen Street in Cau Giay District. Presenting the unique cultures of Vietnam's ethnic groups, the museum has become an exciting tourist attraction in Hanoi. Here, visitors can learn about the traditional Vietnamese way of life, from religious events to symbolic rituals of all Vietnamese ethnic groups.

Then it's time for a sumptuous dinner, and Hanoi's Old Quarter offers a wide variety of choices, from Vietnamese street food to Western eateries to Michelin-starred restaurants.

After dinner, join the crowd and enjoy some impromptu performances on Hoan Kiem pedestrian street. The fun doesn't end until late at night, with several nightclubs in the area.

Autumn is also the season of the fall foliage in Hanoi. Photo: Yeu Ha Noi