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In our travels, we experience moments that change us.
It might be a cultural ceremony that gives new insights into the meaning of life. It could also be a moment in nature that opens our eyes to the beauty of wildlife.
As for me, I often find those meaningful experiences in the mountains. Conquering my fears? Finding inner peace? My adventures there always gave me that.
During our Vietnam trip, I was expecting a memorable experience in Sapa. There lies Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam and through Indochina. But it ended up happening in Hanoi, right in the middle of the city.
It was completely different from the usual.
I must say, I was lucky. I only spent one day in Hanoi, yet I had already experienced a lot of wonderful moments.
I couldn’t have been luckier that my trip to Hanoi turned out to be on a weekend. That is when Hanoi Walking Street takes place. It was an experience that changed the way I see travel forever.
I cover the story in more detail in another post, “Visit Hanoi: Why Spend at Least a Day in Vietnam’s Capital”.
But in essence, Hanoi Walking Street made me realize not to judge a place by how close it is to home. Or never judge a destination based on its location on the map.
To this day, I always mention visiting Hanoi on a weekend whenever someone asks for travel tips.
I had so much fun the night I experienced Hanoi Walking Street. And I don’t want anyone to miss out on making their Vietnam trip extra special.
In fact, if I were to describe Hanoi Walking Street based on my experience, it is none other than this.
“A blissful celebration of Vietnamese culture.”
Let me tell you more about it in this post.
Hi reader! It’s Eljon, and before we continue, I want to welcome you to my blog, Explore to Thrive. Here, I share my experiences with traveling, reflections on spirituality, personal growth and insights on building an online business, all to make a difference. But my mission goes beyond that. You can learn more about what I do by visiting my homepage.
What is Hanoi Walking Street?
Good to know: If you heard Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street before, it’s the same as Hanoi Walking Street. It’s also the same with Hồ gươm Walking Street.
(I’m not sure why there are three different names. But based on how bloggers describe them, like this one and this one, they’re the same. I guess it’s also called Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street since most happenings happen around the lake.)
Regardless of their names, the event left me with the right impression of its purpose.
Did you know that Hanoi Walking Street began in 2016 to promote Vietnamese culture?
Hanoi tourism started it to let visitors experience the city in an experiential way. Since that year, Hanoi has come alive in a new way on weekend nights. The street is bustling from six in the evening until midnight.
One interesting fact is that Hanoi Walking Street is not only for tourists.
The event is also for locals. It gives them a chance to unwind after their daily routines. That explains why, during my visit, I spotted so many Vietnamese people.
To be honest, that made the event more special for me as a tourist. I got to meet more of the locals. It also served as an immersion into the lives of the people living the culture I was experiencing.
As you can already tell, I was not aware that Hanoi Walking Street was about to happen that day. By luck, it was only a coincidence that my Hanoi trip fell on a weekend.
So when I started exploring that afternoon, I was very surprised.
At first, I could not understand why there were no motorbikes or cars on the road. I also could not understand why people were everywhere.
It only started making sense to me when the light of day began to fade, and I saw people taking over the streets.
What to Expect During Hanoi Walking Street
I began my evening stroll along Hanoi Walking Street at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square.
This lively square sits between the Old Quarter and the French Quarter, north of Hoan Kiem Lake. That’s where I spent my afternoon before exploring Hanoi Walking Street.
I started exploring a bit early. But even then in those moments, lively scenes were already unfolding around me.
The first thing that made me smile from ear to ear was the bubble man entertaining a group of children. He made this huge bubbles that moved like dancers through the air, making everyone watch.
Lively music played in the background, and it only made the scene even more joyful.
The adults were having a good time too. I could see it in their playful gestures. They were jumping on soft feet and clapping, as they encouraged the kids to pop the giant bubbles.
As I wandered further, I came across a group of Vietnamese teens playing Double Dutch. It is a jump rope game where two people turn two long ropes in opposite directions.
In this game, at least two people hold the ends of the ropes while one or more players jump in the middle. Success requires precise timing, quick reflexes, and perfect rhythm.
The teens I watched that night?
They were incredible. With great skill and coordination, they kept jumping for a full minute without missing a beat. Watching them was mesmerizing, and I couldn’t help but admire their energy and focus.
Another cool scene I came across on Hanoi Walking Street was a circle of locals. Teenagers and young adults gathered in the middle of the street and sang together.
Actually, that moment struck me.
I didn’t understand the words of their song, but watching them, I could see the joy they shared. Some glanced into each other’s eyes as they sang, and in that simple connection, their song felt special.
A little further on, a popsicle stick tower competition was underway.
It was fun to watch, but I moved on after a short while. I could feel that there were even more interesting things happening, so I decided I should head over.
I must say, something I saw before the singing group made that night even more special.
It was an activity that happened in front of a cultural center called Thung tam Thing tin Van hoa Ho Guom. There, I saw families having a great time as music played in the background.
The music came from a skilled ensemble performing in front of the cultural center. That moment, they played with such energy that the whole scene seemed to come alive. It was buzzing with joy and excitement.
Adults were chatting and laughing, while kids ran around, chasing each other. It was like they’re having the time of their lives.
Watching it all, I could not help but feel like the place had turned into a little utopia.
To be honest, that night I couldn’t stop thinking about how lucky those kids were.
Growing up surrounded by culture and community is such a gift. I’m sure experiences like this will give them a real sense of identity and pride in their homeland as they get older.
I have to admit, I felt a little jealous of the Vietnamese people in that moment. On Hanoi Walking Street, they get to celebrate and enjoy their culture every week.
Back home, especially in my province, experiences like that are rare.
We do have yearly celebrations. For example, fiestas and city-hood anniversary events. But even then, culture is rarely the focus. The events are usually centered around local celebrities or flashy activities like pageants. They highlight showiness rather than our traditions.
My jealousy of the Vietnamese people only grew as I walked past a concert. From what I remember, it happened near Ngoc Son Temple and the Puppet Theater.
Performers dressed in traditional attire sang Vietnamese songs with a sense of pride.
I am not sure if the songs were traditional, but they had the feel of traditional music and were very catchy.
As I looked for a better spot to watch the performers, I noticed a glowing area along the shore across the lake. Curiosity got the better of me, and I thought, there’s something new and interesting to see. So I decided to go check it out.
When I reached the southern tip of the lake, I saw even more musicians and performers. This time, they were playing pop songs on their instruments.
What made the performance interesting were the dancers. Their moves reminded me of Michael Jackson. And somehow their energy radiated out to the audience.
The atmosphere was electric! People, both locals and tourists, couldn’t help but start dancing along.
At a nearby intersection, it looked like there had been a dance competition. I wanted to check it out. But I got completely caught up in watching the musical performers and their dancers.
By the time I finally made it to the intersection, the competition was already over. It was around eight or nine o’clock, so I guessed it had started when Hanoi Walking Street began at seven.
Even though it was getting late, the fun didn’t seem to be slowing down.
Not far from the southern tip of the lake, on the way to the Old Quarter, I stumbled upon another family activity.
This time, the kids had taken over the road. They were all behind the wheels, driving their little cars. Parents watched with pride from the sidelines as lively music played along.
As I strolled along the western side of Hoan Kiem Lake, I noticed dozens of artists scattered around. It was like the park had turned into a huge open-air gallery!
I even saw some painters sketching visitors right there on the spot. Couples sat along the lakeside. The artists drew their portraits with the lake in the background.
Not too far from where the artists were, I came across another cultural performance. This one felt different. It was much more quiet and solemn, and it was only one musician performing.
According to Google Maps, the event happened at King Le Thai To’s Temple. It felt like the perfect setting for that kind of performance.
The performer was playing the Dan Nhi, a two-string Vietnamese fiddle known for its emotional sound.
That time? I couldn’t help but wonder as I listened, how could such a thin, two-stringed instrument make music that sounded so full and soothing?
As I finished walking around Hoan Kiem Lake, one more activity caught my eye. It was a mini mob dance, and this time older locals performed.
I can’t tell you how much that lifted my spirits. Seeing senior citizens moving to the music, carefree and full of energy, was so inspiring.
The dance happened in front of the Shark Jaw building, right facing the lake, though.
From there, I could have spent more time exploring Hanoi Walking Street. But by then I was feeling tired and hungry. So I decided to head back to my hotel and grab some food along the way.
And that’s where my Hanoi Walking Street adventure ended.
But since my hotel was in the Old Quarter, the night wasn’t over yet. I stumbled upon another event that evening.
That is the night market, which starts from Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square. It offered all sorts of merchandise and food. The market is perfect for souvenir hunting and trying local treats.
Wrapping Up Hanoi Walking Street
By the time I got back to my hotel, I couldn’t believe how many amazing moments Hanoi had given me that night. Hundreds of photos and videos filled my phone, each one a little reminder of the fun I had.
And indeed, Hanoi proved to have much more to offer than I imagined.
More than that, Hanoi Walking Street also taught me something simple but meaningful.
Even when a place is close to home, there’s still so much you can discover. You don’t have to fly halfway across the world to find something new. Sometimes, it’s only a short flight or train ride away.
Even if the weather feels familiar.
Even if the people look like people back home.
Even if the culture seems similar at first.
There’s always something there that can surprise you.
Just go and see it for yourself.
Thank you for reading!
Planning to Explore Hanoi?
Take a look at these maps and travel planning resources that can help you organize your trip.
Plan your visit with my Hanoi map, grouping the city’s must-see spots into a simple 2- or 3-day travel itinerary.
Dont skip any highlights by using my map and the walking route designed for an easy visit through Hanoi Old Quarter.
Find the best hotel deals, top experiences, and breathtaking day trips from Hanoi using trusted travel companies with my travel planning resources. Everything you need for your trip is there including SIM cards, car rentals, flights, and more.
Let’s Go Explore Northern Vietnam!
Hanoi makes it easy to explore Northern Vietnam without having to hurry. We managed a day trip to Ninh Binh and a two-day stay in Sapa during our visit. Have a look at our four-day itinerary by clicking the button below.
Thank you for reading
I hope my trip and experiences spark ideas for your travels and help you plan your next trip. But before you go, if you haven’t checked it out yet, drop by my homepage so I can give myself a proper introduction. Catch you there!
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