Hanoi

With more than a thousand years of history, and bearing the cultural imprint of Chinese and French colonialism, Hanoi’s architectural and culinary influences are rich and varied.

The city, set in the Red River delta, is the capital of Vietnam and the second largest – after Saigon – in the country.

Scattered with jewel-like lakes, the twisting lanes of its Old Quarter packed with silk shops and bamboo carpenters and the grand villas and tree-lined boulevards of its French Colonial era, this is a city where you can indulge in a freshly-baked croissant as easily as the Vietnamese traditional noodle dish of pho.

When your private charter flight arrives at Noi Bai International Airport, it’s a 30km drive to the city centre.

The Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake, a luxurious urban resort perched next to the city’s largest lake with tranquil pavilions over the water, boasts views of the country’s oldest pagoda – the sixth century Tran Quoc.

Or you can check into the Sofitel Legend Metropole in the city’s French Quarter – with dark wood floors, cream walls and rattan fans evoking the colonial era, with all the modern amenities of the 21st century.

Enjoy a plunge in the sapphire pool, or tuck into exquisite French cooking at Le Beaulieu – just one of the hotel’s choice of restaurants.

For a more tranquil stay, the Silk Path Boutique boasts stunning lakeside views from its rooftop bar in the city’s Old Quarter.

Its small restaurant La Cour offers a mix of French and Vietnamese cuisine, with treats such as deep fried spring rolls full of chocolate and sprinkled with cinnamon.

For some traditional local cooking head out to Quan An Ngon, which boasts Vietnamese specialities from across the country – from popular street food such as steamed rice pancakes with fish sauce and shrimp seasoning, pho and banh mi to classical royal cuisine.

For the more adventurous diner who wants to experience a once-in-a-lifetime meal, Hanoi is also famed for its Hung Snake restaurant – serving, as the name suggests, snakes.

If you want a strong drink after your 11-course cobra menu, head to Nê Cocktail Bar for a Pho cocktail blended with star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, fresh coriander, lime.

The menu shows off the flavours of Vietnam, accompanied by a lively jazz soundtrack.

Vietnam’s history isn’t just experienced through its culinary heritage. Travellers can snap up some traditional gifts from the stalls in the labyrinthine Old Quarter, then tour the grand colonial buildings of the French Quarter such as the Opera House and the Indochine History Museum.

Book a tour of the former Hoa Lo prison (known colloquially as the Hanoi Hilton) which incarcerated American prisoners during the Vietnam War, including the senator John McCain, or you can visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

The ancient Vietnamese art of water puppetry can be enjoyed with an enchanting show at Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre.

The best time to book a charter plane to visit Hanoi, and avoid the soaring temperatures and downpours of the summer months, is from October to the end of March. The winter climate brings mild temperatures and blue skies.

With its blend of cuisine, architecture and history, you’ll soon find out why Hanoi regularly tops polls of the most popular places to visit in Asia.