Hanoi has been the Capitol of Vietnam for 1,000 years. Its true that many tourist from the era of the Vietnam War visit Hanoi as part of a pilgrimage to pay homage to those who paid the ultimate price during the conflict, but Vietnam can not be defined by a single conflict. There are centuries of history and culture aside from that one chapter in the history of the country, and that is where the true merits of Hanoi and Vietnam as a whole can be seen. The country also has a number of significant cultural festivals that attract people to Hanoi from around the globe. If you would like to experience all that Hanoi has to offer, keep reading to learn how to visit Hanoi, Vietnam.
Obtain a Passport. Any time you travel internationally, you are required to travel with a valid passport. This passport will be stamped by a Customs and Immigration Officer when you arrive in Vietnam, and will be inspected by a Customs Officer when you return to the United States. If you do not already have a Passport, visit the State Department web site for detailed instructions on how to obtain or renew a US Passport. Do not put this step off until the last minute. There is often a significant backlog for passport services, and you can not be guaranteed that your passport will arrive in time for your trip if you wait until the last minute.
Obtain a Visa to enter Vietnam. Any US Citizen who visits Vietnam will be required to have a Vietnamese visa in their passport. This Visa must be obtained by the Vietnamese Embassy or a Vietnamese Consulate in the United States. It is best if you can apply for the visa in person, but visas can usually be obtained by mail as well. Vietnamese Visas are only good for a single entry visit. What that means is that you visit Vietnam, then visit another country, then return to Vietnam, you will need a separate Visa for the second entry. Additional information can be obtained by visiting the web site for the Vietnamese Embassy in the United States.
Decide when you would like to visit Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi has two standard tourist seasons. The first is the Summer tourist season, which runs from late June until the end of August. The second is the Winter tourist season, which begins in October and ends with the New Year celebrations that take place in January or February (depending on the year). Many people prefer to avoid the crowds and visit Hanoi during the off-season. These people will opt to visit Hanoi between February and April or from September to November. Although you will miss most of Hanoi’s festivals during the off-season, you will find the city to be far less crowded, and will have the added benefit of more pleasant weather.
Select a hotel to stay at in Hanoi. There are plenty of locations to choose from, as Hanoi has an abundance of classy hotels that cater to the needs of Western guests. Some popular locations for tourists who visit Hanoi, Vietnam include the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, the Swiss-Belhotel Horison and the Hilton Hanoi. There is also a very nice Sheraton Hotel and a Sofitel Metropole Hanoi. If possible, find a hotel that will have you situated near attractions, such as Hanoi’s historic temples, the One Pillar Pagoda or the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. If you have chosen to visit Hanoi during the tourist season, be sure to book your rooms several months in advance, because most of the better hotels will be filled to capacity during the Summer festivals.
source: eHow.com
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