With a city plan almost tailor-made for exploring, Hanoi will keep you busy for days on end. From the main thoroughfares to the maze of back alleys there's something to see around every corner.

There are several walking tours to join and they seem like a good idea as only those with a working knowledge of Hanoi's layout should venture out alone.

For the athletically minded fitness clubs abound along with Golf and Hash House Harriers running opportunities.

Sports

Fitness Clubs Pretty

much any top-end hotel will have a fitness club but will charge non-guests for use. Expect to pay in the region of $15-20 for a full day use.

The same applies to swimming pools but these are a lot cheaper at $2-10. Hash House Harriers A worldwide 'club' of instant friends, join in the fun at the Moca Café (14-16 Pho Nha Tho) on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Running routes vary but are never too taxing.

Cultural

Splash out with Mua Roi Nuoc or Water Puppets

Some visitors claim that you haven't seen north Vietnam unless you have been to see a water puppets show and Hanoi is the best place to see one.

Puppets are manipulated by means of long rods by puppeteers standing in the water behind screens and most puppets have moveable limbs and head.

The music is as important as the action and the whole show is very accomplished with the purposely murky water allowing the colourful puppets to appear and disappear as if by magic.

Explore the city

Hanoi has lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas to explore and the city's relatively simple layout adds to the appeal. Raise a glass 'Bia hoi' translates as 'fresh beer' and Vietnam's favourite tipple is indeed brewed without any preservatives and as a result is marvellously cheap.

It is said that if you go out with $10 you can enjoy 100 beers! Hanoi is the bia hoi capital of Vietnam and trailing through the old quarter from minibar to minibar is an enjoyable way to explore the place. Just take a compass along.

Hanoi's opera house was erected by the French between 1901 and 1911 and is a small-scale replica of the Palais Garnier, the older of Paris's two opera houses. Since its restoration in the 1990's the opera features international opera and ballet shows.

Information on performances can be found in the daily English-language newspaper the Vietnam News and the monthly The Guide, published by the Vietnam Economic Times.

An alternative source of information is Time Out, a free supplement in the weekly Vietnam Investment Review.

Night market

In the old town, the outdoor Night Market is very different from a normal day market, mostly because it's more of a social event. Locals stroll up and down the streets shoulder to shoulder, looking at the inexpensive goods sold at the lighted stalls. It's fun and colourful, and certainly not about the shopping.

Ho Tay Water Park and Moon Park

When the heat hits Hanoi, the Hanoians hit the water at the Ho Tay Water Park, some five kilometres north of the city centre. After cooling off on the water slides and in the refreshing pools, you can catch a stiff breeze on the double-corkscrew roller coaster in the adjacent Moon Park.