In my view, Hanoi does not have anything that is captivating. I took a taxi from the airport passing over a beautiful cable stayed bridge called Nhat Tan Bridge. Almost 4 kms long, it is 110m tall and built over Red river. Once I got into town, the 2 wheelers took over the roads.
What to see in Hanoi
Places to visit include Hoan Kiem Lake with a temple, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, Opera house(outside view), Tran Quoc Pagoda, The Temple of Literature, and so on. I think one day is more than enough to see all that Hanoi has to offer. Shopping in the old quarter is fun, though bargaining is a must. Some of the shopkeepers do not like bargaining, thinking all tourists have loads of money to spend and hence why bargain?
On Sundays, the road next to Hoan Kiem lake to closed to traffic and I saw the locals playing games on the road and enjoying themselves.
Hanoi is a convenient base for visiting Sapa, Ninn Binh province and Ha Long Bay.
Nhat Tan Bridge, near Hanoi, Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hanoi, Vietnam Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi, Vietnam Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam Vietnamese playing on the road, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam