5 Unexpected Things We Learned in Hanoi
Traveling to visit our friends in Vietnam was a completely new experience for us, especially since it was our first time to an Asian country.
We arrived in Hanoi with almost no grasp of the language (unless you count the words phở and bahn my from our menu vocabulary, but even those – we found out – we had been pronouncing incorrectly).
Our friends had already lived in Hanoi for a year, and thanks to them (and their Vietnamese colleagues who loved sharing local insights) we quickly learned things we never would have picked up on our own.
For fellow first-timers, here are a few of the unexpected things that stood out to us during that first visit.
Looking for travel guidance? We’ve been returning to Vietnam almost annually over the past decade and created this post on things to do in Hanoi (map included) here.
Last updated: November 2025. Originally published: April 2015.
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Traffic Secrets
- Traffic: Crossing the street uses a steady, predictable pace – don’t wait for a gap.
We had heard about the traffic in Vietnam. And having lived in Dominican Republic, the crazy things people carry on their motorbikes was – yes, crazy – but not entirely surprising.
However, before our “orientation” to Hanoi, we had no idea how to properly cross the street! We would have waited forever for a gap in the traffic and then tried to make a break for it.
Thankfully, our friends and hosts showed us the secret. Once we tried it with their help, it worked like magic.
In case you missed it, here’s our post with the entertaining video of the first time we crossed a major street in Hanoi.
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Exercise in the City of Lakes
- Exercise culture: Lakeside parks come alive at dawn with group workouts and tai chi.
There’s a whole world of activity that takes places every morning around Hanoi’s many lakes.
We had no idea we would see so many people – especially senior citizens – taking advantage of the lakeside park near our friends’ home. Many of the exercises people were doing were familiar to us, like walking or tai chi, but there were some really interesting new variations (see the blog post Staying Fit in Hanoi for details).
TIP: If you like discovering local routines and navigating new cities with confidence, our Toolkit shows how we plan experiences like these.
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Coffee Culture
- Coffee culture: Try egg coffee and other creative drinks you won’t find elsewhere.
We knew that Vietnam made coffee. What we didn’t expect was the number of coffee shops we would see on every block in Hanoi. They also have some creative ways to serve coffee.
Among the drinks we tried were: a coconut sorbet with espresso poured over it, yogurt and coffee, and egg coffee.
Egg coffee, a specialty of certain Hanoi cafes (now popular across the entire country), was probably our favorite. It’s a bit like eggnog in its creaminess. Needless to say, we really enjoyed discovering the coffee culture in Hanoi.
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North and South
- North vs South differences: Language, food flavors, and culture vary widely by region.
Another thing we came to realize during our first trip is that there are often some big differences between the northern and southern regions of Vietnam.
For example, the language is spoken differently, such that the Vietnamese workers we met in Hanoi said they have trouble understanding villagers they meet in the southern parts of the country.
Because of the war, many of the Vietnamese people who migrated to the States come from the central and southern regions. So the Vietnamese food we’ve been exposed to at home is not necessarily the same style as that in Hanoi (or elsewhere in the North).
Fortunately, for our own palettes, food in the North is not as spicy!
As with most countries, Vietnam is full of diversity, and each region is unique. It’s always important to remember that the things we experience in one particular town or region is not necessarily true of the entire country.
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Many Kinds of Phở
- Phở varieties: Hanoi serves phở in many forms (soup, rolls, stir-fried, and more.)
Historians say that phở got its start in and around Hanoi at the turn of the century. It turns out that the Vietnamese noodle soup we’re familiar with from back home is just one kind of phở.
The word phở actually refers to the noodle itself, and there are several ways to prepare it.
During our stay in Hanoi, we tried: Phở (noodle soup), Phở cuốn (rolls), Phở chien (deep fried squares), and Phở xao (fried noodles). You can see more about these dishes in this pho post.
Read next: Things to do in Hanoi on a budget >
Hanoi First-Timer FAQ
Is Hanoi easy to navigate for visitors?
The Old Quarter can feel chaotic and overwhelming at first, but once you understand the rhythm and unspoken rules of traffic, it becomes much easier. We’re really glad we had guides to ease us into Hanoi the first time, but plenty of visitors manage independently.
TIP: Use Google Maps to download map data for offline use, plan safe routes, and vet locations before you visit. We walk through our exact setup and lesser-known map features step by step inside the Google Maps Travel Hacks tutorials in our Toolkit.
Is it safe to walk around the lakes?
Yes. Hanoi’s lakes are popular with locals from early morning through evening, especially for exercise. We felt comfortable walking there during the day and at dawn with our friends.
Anywhere in Vietnam, just watch out for uneven steps and other physical hazards.
How common is English in Hanoi?
English is widely spoken in tourist areas, coffee shops, and hotels, but much less so in residential neighborhoods. Simple gestures, photos, Google Maps, and Google Translate help a lot.
TIP: Preparing your phone in advance and familiarizing yourself with essential apps like Google Maps and Translate are key to navigating confidently. If you’re a member, refer to the step by step guidance and best practices in our Smartphone Savvy Travel tutorials before your trip.
Where can I try egg coffee?
Cafés around Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter, like Giảng Cafe, were among first to serve egg coffee. However, these days, the egg coffee trend has expanded to many coffeeshops across the country.
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You might also like these posts:
–A budget guide to Hanoi
–Best food in Hoi An: Our favorite restaurants
–5 Best day trips from Hoi An
–3 Day Hoi An Itinerary and Self-Guided Walking Tour Map
–Hue to Hoi An Motorbike Tour/Transfer
–10+ Day Vietnam Itinerary North to South
–Central Vietnam Destinations and Itinerary
–A budget guide to Ninh Binh
–A budget guide to Hue
–A budget guide to Mai Chau Vietnam
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