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The Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature is one of Hanoi’s most peaceful and photogenic spots – and a must-visit for anyone interested in Vietnamese culture. Built in 1070, it was Vietnam’s first university, dedicated to Confucius and used for educating the country’s brightest scholars.

As you wander through its five courtyards, you’ll pass ancient stone gateways, manicured gardens, lotus ponds and incense-filled altars. Look out for the 82 stone turtle steles, each engraved with the names of graduates who passed the royal exams. The turtles (some of which look suspiciously like seals!) symbolise wisdom and longevity – a reminder of how deeply education is valued in Vietnamese society.

Inside the temple buildings, you’ll find information boards detailing the education of the scholars, along with ornate red-and-gold shrines, statues of Confucian scholars, offerings of fruit and flowers, and beautifully-carved wooden beams. It’s incredibly atmospheric, especially early in the morning before the tour groups arrive.

Although the Temple of Literature is not technically a museum, it functions very much like one, with displays explaining how students studied, what subjects they learned, and how exams and teaching worked in Vietnam’s earliest university. Audio guides are available, and there are clear English explanations throughout.

• Opening Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Entrance Fee: 30,000 VND (approx)

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum & Museum

No trip to Hanoi is complete without visiting the Ho Chi Minh Complex – one of the most important political and historical sites in Vietnam.

Inside the mausoleum, visitors slowly walk past Ho Chi Minh’s preserved body, guarded by soldiers in immaculate white uniforms. It’s a solemn and carefully choreographed experience, but one that offers insight into how deeply “Uncle Ho” is respected.

Afterwards, explore the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which is full of photographs, sculptures, propaganda posters, and symbolic installations that reflect Ho Chi Minh’s life and principles. You can also see replicas of Ho Chi Minh’s simple stilt house, where he lived and worked – a contrast to the grand presidential palace nearby.

The complex has a strict dress code (shoulders and knees must be covered) and visitors are expected to behave respectfully.

• Opening Hours: Apr–Oct: 7:30–10:30 / Nov–Mar: 8:00–11:00 (Closed Mondays & Fridays)
• Entrance Fee: Free

Hoa Lo Prison Museum

The Hoa Lo Prison – nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American POWs – offers a sobering look at Vietnam’s turbulent history. Originally built by the French in the late 19th century to imprison Vietnamese revolutionaries, it was later used to detain American soldiers during the Vietnam-American War. 

The museum’s first rooms focus on this era, with original French-era iron shackles, narrow cells, and reconstructions showing how prisoners were restrained. Display panels share personal stories, resistance tactics, and photographs that capture the harsh realities of colonial rule.

Later rooms cover the Vietnam-American War period, with exhibits on American airmen held at the prison. You’ll see letters, personal belongings and interviews explaining daily life during captivity. Despite its heavy history, the Hoa Lo Prison Museum isn’t graphic – just extremely moving and thought-provoking.

• Opening Hours: 8:00-17:00
• Entrance Fee: 30,000 VND
• Audio Guide: 50,000 VND

Vietnam Women’s Museum

The Vietnam Women’s Museum is one of the most beautifully-curated and underrated museums in Hanoi. It celebrates the vital role women have played in the country’s history, culture and family life.

The first floors focus on ethnic costumes, marriage traditions, childbirth rituals, handicrafts, and the crucial role women play in family life. The displays are colourful and incredibly detailed – showcasing silk, embroidery, textiles, jewellery, and ritual objects from ethnic groups across the country.

The upper floors take a powerful shift into wartime history, sharing the stories of female guerrilla fighters, spies, messengers and frontline nurses. Photographs, documentary footage, and personal artefacts reveal how essential women were in Vietnam’s fight for independence. I really enjoyed the museum and think it’s one of the best museums for understanding Vietnam beyond the usual narratives.

• Opening Hours: 8:00–17:00
• Entrance Fee: 60,000 VND per person (audio guide included)

Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

If you love cultural history, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is a great choice! It offers an impressive deep dive into the lives, traditions and art of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, from the well-known Hmong and Tay to smaller communities in remote mountainous regions.

Inside, you’ll find over 15,000 artefacts: brightly woven clothing, ceremonial masks, farming tools, musical instruments, wedding jewellery, traditional crafts, and ritual objects. The information boards are detailed but easy to follow, giving you a sense of each group’s customs, beliefs, and daily life.

The outdoor area is a highlight. Here, you can walk through full-sized replica traditional houses, including a Tay stilt house, an Ede longhouse, and a soaring communal house from the Central Highlands. You can even go inside them to imagine what domestic life once looked like back then.

• Opening Hours: 8:30–17:30 (closed Mondays)
• Entrance Fee: 40,000 VND

Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

Art enthusiasts will love the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum. Home to the country’s largest and most diverse collection of art, it traces Vietnamese art from ancient times to the modern era, so you get a sense of how different periods – Buddhism, dynasties, colonisation, war – shaped each artistic style. 

Highlights include:

• Lacquer paintings created through painstaking layer-by-layer techniques
• Buddhist wood carvings from pagodas across northern Vietnam
• Cham sculptures from central Vietnam, with beautiful sandstone details
• Propaganda art from the 20th century, filled with bold colours and patriotic messages

You’ll get a sense of how Vietnam’s art has evolved over the centuries – shaped by religion, war and social change. The collection is big but not overwhelming, and the building itself is very photogenic – a yellow colonial-era structure with leafy courtyards.

• Opening Hours: 8:30-17:00 (closed Mondays)
• Entrance Fee: 40,000 VND

Vietnam Military History Museum

If you’re craving a deep dive into Vietnam’s conflict-filled past, the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi is well worth visiting. Located around 30 minutes’ drive from the Old Quarter, this massive, purpose-built complex is a thoughtfully-curated journey that spans centuries of Vietnamese history. 

Upon arrival, your eyes are immediately drawn to the 45-meter-tall “Chiến Thắng” (Victory) Tower, which symbolizes Vietnam’s enduring fight for independence. Nearby is a courtyard filled with captured U.S. aircraft parts, tanks, helicopters, anti-aircraft guns, and Soviet-era fighter jets. The pile of twisted airplane wreckage (known as the “Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument of the Air”) is especially striking.

Inside the museum, you’ll find detailed exhibits on major conflicts: the resistance against French colonisation, the First Indochina War, and the Vietnam-American War. Look out for battlefield maps, soldiers’ personal items, wartime photographs, and large propaganda posters that capture the spirit of the era. This museum isn’t just about military hardware – it’s a tribute to Vietnam’s journey through war, resistance, and renewal. 

• Opening Hours: 8:00-16:30 (closed Mondays & Fridays)
• Entrance Fee: 40,000 VND

You can easily reach the museum by Grab taxi or buses 71, 74 and 107 (which stop near the museum gate). If you’d like to do a guided tour, this Vietnam Military History Museum & Landmarks Tour has excellent reviews.

Tips for Visiting Hanoi’s Museums

• Dress respectfully at religious and political sites (especially the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum).
• Start early to avoid the crowds and midday heat.
• Go during the week – weekends can be very crowded with tourists, locals and groups of school children.
• Plan around closing days – many museums close on Mondays.
• Pair nearby attractions to make the most of your time. (e.g., Temple of Literature + Fine Arts Museum).

Historic Hanoi Walking Tours

If you want to dive deeper into how the Vietnam War shaped Hanoi – not just politically, but socially and culturally – I highly recommend the Vietnam War: Uncovering Hanoi’s Untold Stories walking tour.

Our guide, Kien, led us through neighbourhoods that most visitors never set foot in, sharing stories about life under the planned economy, how families coped when Vietnam was divided, and what unification really meant for people in both the North and the South.

What I especially appreciated was how open and balanced he was. Kien didn’t shy away from complicated topics: the legacies of French colonialism, the years of Japanese occupation, and the long shadow of the Vietnam War. Thanks to his excellent English (he studied abroad), we could freely discuss a huge variety of topics – politics, social issues, crime, and what everyday life in Hanoi once looked like.

Highlights include:

• Cho Gioi, once Hanoi’s bustling black market
• The Kham Thien B52 Memorial, a sombre reminder of the 1972 air raids.
• Train Street, now a tourist hotspot but once an important smuggling route during the war

The tour lasts around three hours and moves at a relaxed pace, with plenty of time to chat, ask questions, and take photos. The tour includes a complimentary drink at the beginning, a short taxi ride in the middle and a drink at the end, making it excellent value for money.

What makes the experience even more meaningful is that 20% of the profit is donated to two incredible local organisations: the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin, and the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in Hanoi. A wonderful way to support important causes while learning more about the city’s past.

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I hope this blog post has convinced you that Hanoi’s museums offer so much more than just a look into the past – they provide an understanding of the people, culture and values that define Vietnam today. If you’ve been to any of the above museums or monuments, which was your favourite?

Looking for more ideas about sightseeing in Hanoi? Check out my blog post Ultimate 3-Day Hanoi Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors.

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow