Cheap Flights to Hanoi

Major Events and Festivals

Tet Nguyen Dan

Tet Nguyen Dan celebrates a new lunar year. The holiday is held in late January or early February, and is an exciting time to book return flights to Hanoi. During the week-long festival, locals pay respects to their ancestors by leaving offerings and burning incense. A range of festivities are held every day and visitors with flights to Hanoi can join in should they like. Some of the celebrations include firework displays, parades, dragon processions, and a calligraphy festival at the Temple of Literature.

Perfume Festival

The Perfume Festival is a major event held on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The exact date changes yearly, but it often falls between mid-February and early March. During the festival, locals make a pilgrimage to Perfume Pagoda on the outskirts of Hanoi. The purpose of the festival is to pay respects to Buddha and to pray for prosperity in the year ahead. If you plan return flights to Hanoi during this event, you can see unique celebrations at the Perfume Pagoda, including a dragon dance, and join locals as they make the final 120-step trek of the pilgrimage to the Huong Tich Cave.

Lim Festival

The Lim Festival is held in a small village 18 kilometres (11 miles) outside of Hanoi. If you have cheap flights to Hanoi in mid-February, take a day trip to Lim Village to experience this spiritual festival. The festival first began as a way to celebrate a Buddhist nun named Ba Mu, who spent her life at Lim Pagoda. Visitors with airfare to Hanoi can enjoy several forms of celebration, including traditional music and dance, spiritual processions, and weaving competitions.

Landmarks and Monuments You Can’t Miss

Imperial Citadel of Thang Long

The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is a fascinating spot to visit after cheap flights to Hanoi land in Vietnam. The Imperial Citadel is a series of historic buildings, with the oldest dating back to the Ly Dynasty in 1010. For the next 800 years, the citadel served as official seat of the Vietnamese court. Landmarks to see within the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long after flights to Hanoi include the Hanoi Flag Tower, Kinh Thien Palace and North Gate.

St Joseph’s Cathedral

This Gothic-style church is a reminder of Vietnam’s legacy as a French colony. St Joseph’s Cathedral was built in 1886, and mimics designs of Paris’s famed Notre-Dame. When you have plane tickets to Hanoi, spend some time at St Joseph’s Cathedral to learn more about the French influence that is still very much alive in the city. Inside the church, visitors with return flights to Hanoi can admire stained-glass windows made in France, as well as a statue of the Virgin Mary and the cathedral’s two distinctive bell towers.

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum was built in 1973 as the burial place for former president Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh played a crucial role in establishing modern-day Vietnam, declaring the country’s independence from France in 1945 and serving as a leader during the Vietnamese Revolution. The design of the mausoleum took inspiration from the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow, but incorporates traditional elements of Vietnamese architecture. Visitors with airfare to Hanoi can view the embalmed remains of Ho Chi Minh and learn more about his widespread influence.

Hanoi Opera House

Hanoi Opera House is considered one of the most significant examples of French architecture in Hanoi. It was modelled after Palais Garnier in Paris. As the Vietnamese fought for independence from the French, Hanoi Opera House served as a backdrop for several political events, such as meetings held by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and conflicts during the Battle of Hanoi. Today, performances are held regularly at Hanoi Opera House. For a special experience, book tickets to Hanoi Opera House to see one of the operas, ballets or stage productions.

Packing Tips for Flights to Hanoi

Whether you plan flights to Hanoi in summer or winter, prepare for warm weather. Pack lightweight tops, shorts, a hat, and sunscreen. During winter, temperatures can drop to about 15°C, so you may want a pair of pants and a jacket as well. While Vietnam is accepting of Western clothing, visitors with cheap flights to Hanoi are expected to dress respectfully while visiting religious sites. Bring along a sarong that you can use to cover your shoulders or legs for these occasions.

A plug adapter is another essential when you’ll be flying into Noi Bai International Airport (HAN). Vietnam uses plug types A, C, and F. It’s also a good idea to have some cash on you when you arrive. The Vietnamese dong is the official currency, but many vendors also accept US dollars. Before your flights to Hanoi, you may want to exchange NZ dollars into a combination of Vietnamese dong and US dollars to use during your holiday.