Vietnam's most charming city, Hanoi is home to about 6.5 million people. Less vibrant and more reserved than its cousin to the south, Hanoi is a great place to explore on foot. If Ho Chi Minh City is defined by hustle and bustle and people on the move, Hanoi's trademark is green parks and tranquil lakes.

Hanoi and the surrounding area have plenty to interest visitors. Its central area is compact – most of the main attractions are within walking distance. Tree-lined boulevards, colonial buildings and many lakes make pleasant routes for a pedestrian tour. If you don't mind becoming an attraction for the Vietnamese, a ‘cyclo’ tour can be a less strenuous way of seeing some of the sites. Visitors that are more adventurous may be attracted by cycling or riding on the back of a motorcycle – however, this is a decision best made after you've seen the traffic situation!

The city is divided into districts, many of which take their name from a lake within the district's boundaries. Each district has its own charms.Perhaps the most interesting district, is that of Hoan Kiem. At its center is Ho Hoan Kiem (Lake of the Restored Sword). A broad path encircles the lake, attracting residents to its shores throughout the day. At dawn you'll find young and old walking, jogging, practicing Tai Chi and playing badminton. After dark, young couples walk hand-in-hand or seek privacy under the trees and on the numerous park benches at the water's edge.

To the north and west of the lake is Hanoi's famed Old Quarter with its confusing maze of narrow cobblestoned streets. Home to numerous guest houses, mini-hotels, art galleries, restaurants and shops, the Old Quarter is worth a day of aimless wandering and discovery. Many visitors, particularly backpackers, choose this area as their base in Hanoi.

South and east of the lake, the wide tree-lined boulevards of the old French quarter offer a stark contrast to the confusion of the old quarter. The French colonial influence, obvious throughout the city, is particularly evident here. Many colonial villas are now home to embassies, upscale hotels and restaurants.

Those spending more than a couple of days in Hanoi will want to explore other areas of the city as well. Ba Dinh District, west of Hoan Kiem, is the up-and-coming business center and home to the posh Hanoi Daewoo Hotel. Scenic Ho Tay District to the north is dominated by Ho Tay (South Lake) and boasts numerous historic sites and temples.

Hanoi has four distinct seasons. Winters can actually be quite chilly; although snow is foreign to Hanoi residents. Summers are hot and rainy. Probably the best time to visit is spring and fall.

Hanoi currently boasts Vietnam’s most modern airport, Noi Bai, opened only a couple of years ago 35 km from the city, and already planning a second terminal. The city has seven five-star hotels and a wide range of hotels at lower standards. There is a large variety of restaurants offering most of the main international cuisines and nearly all of the differing styles of Vietnamese food. They range from top-flight gourmet establishments with prices to match, to street-side ‘cafés’ where a filling meal often costs less than a dollar.

It’s a shopper’s paradise. There are retail outlets ranging from massive indoor markets to humble street stalls, upmarket designer brands, western-style supermarkets and, of course, the commercial centre in the Old Quarter where you can find practically anything from ripped-off DVD's for less than a dollar to a tastefully designed tombstone with your likeness inscribed into the stone.