Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is a must-visit destination for backpackers and budget travellers in Southeast Asia. But is it a must-visit destination for gay travellers? YES! It has a unique blend of history, culture, food, and vibrant energy. This makes it an ideal spot for those seeking adventure and authentic experiences. For gay travellers, Hanoi has enough to keep us entertained in our unique way.
If you’re reading this you are either just starting or finishing your journey in Vietnam or still planning. Regardless this guide is going to help you make the most of your time in Hanoi. Hanoi has a lot to cram in! This guide will look at what attractions to visit, where to stay and where to play. As well as some tips for exploring the city without breaking the bank. Planning to Visit Thailand after Vietnam? Check out our gay guides for Thailand HERE.
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What to do while staying in Hanoi?
There is so much to do in Hanoi that you could easily stay over a month. I’ve put together a list of highlights for Hanoi. To see all of them and enjoy them, you are going to need at least a week. If you don’t have a week, then I would choose activites based on your interests.
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay, with its stunning limestone karsts and emerald waters, is a must-visit destination in Vietnam. For travellers based in Hanoi, planning an overnight trip to Ha Long Bay is a popular way of visiting the area. Especially if pushed for time. Another option is to stay on Cat Ba Island, this gives you the chance to explore Ha Long over a few days rather than rushing it. Check Here for accomodation on Cat Ba Island.
If you are booking a tour to take you down to Ha Long Bay and back I recommend you book a tour which lets you sleep on the boat overnight in the bay .It’s a magical experience surrounded by the limestone islands which glow in the moonlight. You can have the option to stay on a party boat or a boat which is calmer, I did the calmer option as I wanted to make the most of my time in Ha Long.
I booked my tour through my hostel Nexy, which included coach pickup from the hostel down to Ha Long to the boat, an evening meal, a cooking class, overnight on the boat in the bay, a tour of the bay including getting off onto one of the islands so we could get in the water as well as a kayak tour of part of the bay.
Where I booked through the hostel I had the added bonus of not taking all my stuff down the bay, instead just leaving most of my stuff in the hostel ready for my return.
Ha Giang Loop
The Ha Giang Loop is a spectacular motorbike journey in northern Vietnam, famous for its rugged mountains, winding roads, and breathtaking scenery. The loop generally starts and ends in Ha Giang City, covering a distance of about 350 kilometres. The journey typically takes 3-5 days, depending on your pace and the stops you make along the way.
To start the loop, you’ll need to get to Ha Giang City, which is north of Hanoi. The most common way to reach Ha Giang from Hanoi is by bus. Several overnight sleeper buses and daytime buses run daily from Hanoi’s Bus Station. The journey takes about 6-8 hours. I would strongly recommend you book one of the “VIP” buses or you can end up sleeping on the isle floor like a friend of mine did, he didn’t mind it but that’s a no from me.
Now once you get to Ha Giang City you have a choice to either rent your own motorbike or book a tour with stops along the way which include accommodation, your bike and if you like an ‘easy rider’ which is a person who drives the motorbike while you chill at the back and take photos and enjoy the scenery.
Tips for the Ha Giang Loop
Get an easy rider like I did, not only does this make your life a lot easier but your ride will be safer. We have 3 people who came off in our group who didn’t have a driver and they had some big gashes but also had to play catch up after some went to the medical centre. Remember these guys ride this loop for a living so they know the roads very well!
My tour was fully booked through my hostel including the coach up to the city, accommodation, bike and ‘easy rider’. It was expensive but worth it as it was an experience of a lifetime. Book it through your hostel and all the worry is taken away so you can just enjoy the experience.
City tour
Hanoi’s city centre is compact so that gives us a great advantage of visiting many spots in a short period. You could do the following city tour in a day but I recommend at least two days. Check with your Hostel to find out the time for the train passing in Train Street so you can marvel at how strange this street is with a coffee in your hand.
Hỏa Lò Prison
Begin your day at Hoa Lo Prison, often called the “Hanoi Hilton.” This historic site provides a sobering look at Vietnam’s colonial past and the American-Vietnam War era. Explore the preserved sections of the prison and learn about the experiences of Vietnamese revolutionaries and American POWs. Make sure to grab the headset when you enter the museum as this gives the story of the museum more depth.
Vietnam Military History Museum
After Hoa Lo Prison, head to the Vietnam Military History Museum. Located near the Flag Tower of Hanoi, this museum showcases Vietnam’s military history from ancient times to the present day. View a diverse collection of artefacts, including weaponry, aircraft, and tanks, and gain insights into Vietnam’s long struggle for independence and reunification.
Water Puppet Theater
After a morning of history, enjoy a traditional Vietnamese water puppet performance at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater. Located near Hoan Kiem Lake, this unique art form features puppets controlled by puppeteers hidden behind a screen, performing on a stage of water. The shows often depict Vietnamese folklore and rural scenes.
Go to the theatre beforehand to book your tickets and get a time to arrive you will most likely be given a show time within an hour or two so this is the perfect moment to explore the area surrounding the theatre and go exploring Hoan Kiem Lake
Bonus day out
Nestled within West Lake Park, Ho Tay Water Park stands as a beloved destination for both locals and tourists alike. This modern entertainment complex offers an array of attractions, including exhilarating slides, refreshing pools, and a leisurely lazy river.
You can indulge in the aquatic fun from April to November, except for Tuesdays when the park takes a rest. After splashing about, guests can explore the adjacent amusement park. It’s a great spot to unwind and cool off, especially on a hot day in Hanoi.
You can easily spend a whole day here but when a few friends from the hostel and I went there was no one in the park, no queues, the whole place to ourselves or at least it felt like that.
Gay Hanoi Accommodation?
Hanoi offers a huge range of budget-friendly accommodations, including hostels which are popular among young gay travellers. At this stage Hanoi doesn’t have any gay accomodation. However I did have gay encounters at both hostels I stayed at which are listed below . They are both located in the old quarter of the city centrally located so exploring the surrounding areas is a breeze.
Hanoi Central Backpackers Hostel
So when I first arrived at this hostel it was around 8 pm and Jesus I was not expecting the party that I walked into. I got picked up from the airport which was arranged by the hostel, just to take the worry away about landing and finding a way to the hostel as the airport is quite far from the city.
I arrived and walked into a party on the rooftop bar which seemed to involve everyone who was staying. A few drinks down and we are all on the way to a club. On the way I bumped into someone I met in Bangkok and it turned out he was also staying at the same hostel, what a coincidence!
Breakfast is included with this hostel which helped after that massive night out, the dorm rooms on offer have four, six, or eight beds and lockers. The rooms are ensuite rather than having a large shower block or room. The bar is on the rooftop which offers great views of the city. Overall a great party hostel to start your stay in Hanoi.
Nexy
Nexy is located a 15-minute walk from Central Backpackers so easy to get to if you want a change from the constant partying and rest your head. This hostel has a great range of amenities and social spots for you and your fellow travellers. The dorm rooms are spacious, with plenty of room between the beds and your Lockers under your bed rather than taking up space.
This hostel has a bar with well-priced drinks and a reception area on the ground level. Moving up to the first floor you will find a cosy hangout area with a games room and a TV room. They also have a computer area on the top level of the hostel along with a rooftop area to take in even more of those gorgeous views of Hanoi.
Many coffee shops surround the hostel and the famous train street is just a few minutes walk away so make sure you time your visit to the train street with a train going through, just ask at reception they will be able to let you know the best times to go down.
Overall this hostel is great for exploring the city and making new friends, this is also the hostel I used to book my trips to Ha Long Bay and Ha Giang. Making life nice and easy, as I had just left my bulky travel items with them.
Tips and tricks
Crossing the Road
When first stepping out into Hanoi, you may notice how scary it is to cross the road. I recommend keeping an eye out for cars and just crossing while praying to the gods so you don’t get hit by motorbikes.
Getting around Hanoi
Like the rest of south-east Asia Hanoi has access to the Grab app which I recommend you download and use for getting around the city, although you will be able to make most of your trips by foot.
Staying Safe
So Hanoi can be a little dangerous but you should be fine as long as you stay travel smart. Keep your belongings with you, use a bag that is securely attached to you and cannot easily be lifted off your body such as a backpack. If you use Grindr or any other gay app I would recommend staying close to your accommodation and if anything feels off just leave. Of course, if you are off meeting anyone let someone know where you are going…
Hanoi Gay Bars and Spaces
I haven’t been to any of the gay bars or spaces in Hanoi however I wish I did. I will be revisiting Hanoi in 2024 and I’m planning to visit all the gay establishments in Hanoi, so keep your eye on this post as I’ll update it. As far as my research has gone so far Hanoi has a few gay/queer bars as well as saunas so drop a look into Google and see what it says.
Conclusion
Hanoi has so much to offer any traveller, lots of history, culture and partying. Outside of Hanoi, you have the stunning landscapes of Ha Long Bay and Ha Giang. So take your time with the northern part of Vietnam you can easily spend a week or two enjoying Hanoi. For the Gay travellers to Hanoi, there is lots to offer and I plan to revisit this later this year around August 2024, so make sure you check back to see what I recommend.