Hanoi

Hanoi is one of those cities that feels like it has stories buried in every street corner, and with over a thousand years of history, it really does. As the capital of Vietnam, it sits in the north of the country and blends ancient traditions with a buzzing modern energy that makes it unlike anywhere else in Southeast Asia. The Old Quarter is one of the best places to feel this mix, where narrow streets twist and turn through a neighbourhood that has been a centre of trade for centuries, each lane once dedicated to selling its own particular goods.

The city also has a quieter, more magical side. Hoan Kiem Lake sits right in the middle of Hanoi like a calm green jewel, with a small island temple reached by a vivid red bridge. Local legend speaks of a giant turtle living in its depths, and remarkably, a real one did live there until just a few years ago. Add to this the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s very first university, still visited by students hoping for a little extra luck before their exams, and you have a city full of wonder at every turn.