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Dec 19, 2018 / 20:00

Hanoi shines in Skyscanner’s list of five best destinations for solo travel

This year, if you want to give yourself a bit more ‘me-time’ and headspace from day-to-day and family business, why not consider going it alone and exploring in a different way.

Hanoi has been named among five recommendable destinations in the world for solo travel, according to a list released by Skyscanner, a global metasearch engine.
 
Hanoi shines in Skyscanner’s list five best destinations for solo travel.
Hanoi shines in Skyscanner’s list five best destinations for solo travel.
“Hanoi is constantly rated as one of the safest cities for solo travel and you’re bound to bump into like-minded travelers in Vietnam’s capital – it’s a favourite among backpackers,” Skyscanner wrote.
“You should start in Hanoi Old Quarter and get stuck into the traditional street food from a steaming bowl of pho to sizzling fried pork bun cha. Sit and eat by the roadside so you can take in the bustling market scenes. And while the busy streets and disorderly traffic can be pretty overwhelming, it’s still easy to get around since every street is named after its trade, the magazine wrote.
If you’re travelling to find some inner zen, escape the chaos and take a stroll around Hoan Kiem Lake. Go in the morning when locals are practising tai chi or playing chess at The Temple of the Jade Mountain, or even better, visit in the evening when streetlights surrounding the lake are reflected in the water. And if you’re wondering when to book your flights, we’ve looked into it for you and found the best time to visit Vietnam, Skyscanner advises.
Head along to a water puppet show for a sense of authentic Vietnamese culture. This is no Punch and Judy – the tradition dates back to the 11th century and stems from a time when rice paddy fields flooded. Locals would then create their own entertainment and make puppets perform across the water, the travel magazine continued.
Montreal in Canada tops the list, followed by Reykjavik in Iceland, Amsterdam in Holland, Hanoi in Vietnam, Nashville in the US.
Hanoi has been ranked 4th among the seven destinations in Southeast Asia that you can make a quick three-day escape from the busy life, according to a list released by Prestige, a lifestyle media of choice for the affluent and influential.
In the ten months of 2018, the number of holidaymakers to Hanoi is estimated at more than 13.1 million, a 16.8% increase from the same period last year, according to the Hanoi Statistics Office. Of the total visitors in the period, the city welcomed over 3.4 million foreign visitors, marking a 16.9% rise from the same period last year.