Explore Hanoi’s cultural treasures for free this weekend
Hanoi celebrates Cultural Heritage Day, which falls on November 23, with a citywide cultural feast, granting travelers free entry to legendary relics and immersive heritage experiences.
Hanoi is offering free entry to its most iconic heritage sites on November 23, giving residents and tourists a rare chance to explore the capital’s cultural treasures at no cost as the city marks Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day.
The Hanoi Flag Tower, part of Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Ba Dinh Ward, Hanoi. Photo: Duy Khanh/ The Hanoi Times
The move covers some of Hanoi’s most visited relics, including Hoa Lo Prison, the Temple of Literature, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Co Loa Relic Site. It is the city’s widest heritage-access program in years, aiming to draw visitors deeper into its historic core.
Building on the spirit of the 20th Cultural Heritage Day, the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake and the Hanoi Old Quarter has launched complimentary tours at the 22 Hang Buom Cultural and Arts Center, kicking off a series of free cultural experiences across the city.
From there, the journey expands to the city's signature historical spaces. Travelers can walk the solemn corridors of Hoa Lo Prison, explore the scholarly courtyards of the Temple of Literature and wander the ancient remains of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. All will open their doors to visitors at no charge for the day.
Among these destinations, Co Loa stands out for its profound historical layers. Visitors can dive into the exhibition “Heritage Echoes - Colors of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Co Loa,” where artifacts and visual documents bring the ancient capital to life.
Co Loa historical relic site from a bird-eye view. File photo
Once the political center of the Au Lac Kingdom under An Duong Vuong in the 3rd century BC and later Dai Viet under King Ngo Quyen in the 10th century, Co Loa remains one of Vietnam’s oldest and most unique archaeological citadels.
In the Old Quarter, the cultural atmosphere is equally vibrant. At the heritage site at 40 Lan Ong Street, an exhibition dedicated to renowned physician Hai Thuong Lan Ong, the father of Vietnamese traditional medicine, introduces visitors to traditional medical practices, along with a space offering aromatic herbal teas.
This experience leads naturally to the nearby Kim Ngan Communal House at 42–44 Hang Bac Street, where the exhibition “Kim Ngan Communal House Storytelling Space” presents traditional Hanoi craftsmanship, from jewelry making to horn carving.
As evening falls on November 22, Kim Ngan Communal House transforms into a stage for “Old Town Music Stories,” a heritage music performance that echoes through the narrow streets, deepening the cultural ambiance of the Old Quarter.
Complementing the performances, visitors can participate in hands-on activities such as printing ancient motifs with Thanh Lieu woodblocks or crafting souvenirs from traditional materials like silk, wood, and do paper.
Together, these free activities create a seamless cultural journey- one that weaves history, art, craftsmanship and community into a memorable experience for anyone exploring Hanoi during Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day this year.
