Hanoi is for many visitors their first glimpse of Vietnam, and it is unlike any other city in the country. This atmospheric capital is home to a wealth of French colonial architecture, as well as parks, lakes and museums but there are also vibrant markets and street hawkers wearing conical hats. Navigate the streets swarming with motorbikes, wander down quiet shady avenues and look in the windows of high-end boutiques. This is a city of opposites, embracing its past and looking to the future. There are many sights to see in and around Hanoi, but it is also a good base for visiting Halong Bay and attractions to the north.