With a population of 3.5 million, Vietnam's capital bustles with decidedly less chaos than Ho Chi Minh City. Its tree-lined boulevards and mix of Vietnamese and French architecture contributes to the city's overall elegance.

The best way to get a feel for Hanoi is to take a stroll or a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter - a fascinating commerical district where goods spill onto footpaths crowded with parked motorbikes, women squat over steaming cauldrons of soup and vendors scurry past carrying shoulder poles laden with produce-loaded baskets.

The prime tourist attraction in Hanoi is the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, who in 1954 became the first president of an independent Vietnam. Meanwhile, the History Museum, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the One Pillar Pagoda provide a cultural and historical context for your travels throughout Vietnam.

Before leaving Hanoi, make sure to squeeze in a performance of the famous water puppets and take an early morning stroll around atmospheric Hoan Kiem Lake and watch the locals doing Tai Chi.

The temperature drops significantly in Hanoi from December to March, so remember to pack warm clothing.