Thong Nhat Park - A Hanoi locals hideout

Situated in Dong Da District, a central district of Hanoi is a beautiful green space, the biggest park of Hanoi - Thong Nhat (or Lenin) Park. Ever since its establishment, for the small price of 4,000 VND, the people of Hanoi have come to Thong Nhat Park to escape the city’s heat, exercise, and make friends. This park is a must-visit of Hanoi, and in this article, we will discuss why.

How Thong Nhat Park becomes a locals’ favorite

If passing by Le Duan or Dai Co Viet street, you might notice a large, fenced green space alongside the road, this is Thong Nhat Park (or Lenin park) in Hanoi. Thong Nhat Park has been a familiar name to Hanoi’s locals for decades, but not many people know about its origin. Before turning into a green haven today, Thong Nhat Park used to be the space for a dumpster and swamp. The Thong Nhat Park (or Reunification Park) today was only constructed after the reunification of Vietnam’s North (Hanoi) and Vietnam’s South (Ho Chi Minh City). Nowadays, positioned between the Old Quarter and Hanoi’s center districts, with 50 hectares (123 acres) of green scenery and its human-made lake, Thong Nhat Park has become Hanoians’ favorite hideout. Let’s discover what tourists can do at this “Central Park” of Vietnam!

What to do at the biggest park in Hanoi? 

Make some local friends

Whether you’re new to Hanoi or are already locals, Thong Nhat Park is the place to make acquaintances! People all over Hanoi come here, to enjoy the park’s exercising equipment, to meet friends, join events, and even participate in group meditations! How fun would it be to find a new friend among this crowd!? Besides being a community center, Thong Nhat Park also has many facilities for children, such as a huge playground and an area for roller skating. Therefore, the park is fun for the entire family, and it might be the perfect space for families to make friends, too!

Enjoy a nice jog 

The best way to make friends is to enjoy a sports activity, and at Thong Nhat Park, the best sport to do is jogging. Besides an array of Vietnamese most unique plants (some were even brought from Ho Chi Minh city), Thong Nhat Park also has a gorgeous man-made lake called Bay Mau lake. Not only does this lake provide the park with gorgeous scenery but also coolness. Also, in this beautiful park, bicycles and any motor vehicles are completely banned, making it the perfect place for running or jogging. As a matter of fact, for this reason, many major marathons in Hanoi have been organized in this green space.

Participate in local events

Because of its size, Thong Nhat Park is also often chosen as the destination for many local events, such as:

Annual new years fireworks

In Vietnam, fireworks on Lunar New Years’ (or Tet) have been an annual tradition for many decades. In each city of the country, 3 or 4 “perfect” destinations are chosen each year as the launching destinations for fireworks. At these locations, locals will gather to celebrate the first seconds of the new year. Thanks to its size and convenient position, Thong Nhat Park has been chosen for many recent years. So if you plan to celebrate Lunar New Year in Hanoi and Hoan Kiem Lake is too crowded for you, it is a great idea to come to Thong Nhat Park and enjoy a true local holiday!

Annual Book Festivals

Each year, Vietnam’s biggest publishers go all out for a few days, in preparation for the greatest reading event of the year, the Annual Book Festivals at Lenin Park Hanoi. This is a paradise for Hanoi’s readers because not only can they purchase books at a reasonable price but also join in events that promote Vietnam’s reading culture. This is a few days of the year when Thong Nhat Park is especially busy and exciting!

The perfect location for a day out 

Thong Nhat Park location

Positioned nearby Hoan Kiem Lake and the central districts of Hanoi, Thong Nhat Park is the perfect location to pass by on a Hanoi day tour. Specifically, from the Old Quarter area, you can arrive at the park in under 15 minutes by motorbike!  

Cafes and famous destinations nearby

While on this exciting Hanoi exploration, there are some recommended destinations and cafes you might want to check out!

The Central Circus

Hanoi’s Central Circus is the most popular in the city. Here, tourists can enjoy performances by the country’s most amazing artists! It is the perfect stop for children after their trip to Thong Nhat Park.

• Address: Number 67-69 Tran Nhan Tong street, Hai Ba Trung District
• Opening hours: 8 A.M - 5 P.M
• Prices: 120,000 VND (day shows), 150,000 VND - 200,000 VND (night shows) 

Vietnamese Women’s Museum

Similar to Hanoi’s Central Circus, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum is one of the must-sees of Hanoi. This is an amazingly well-done museum that tells stories of Vietnamese women (history to present) and feminism development in Vietnam, and it is only 9 minutes driving away from Reunification Park!

• Address: Number 36 Ly Thuong Kiet street, Hoan Kiem district
• Opening hours: 8 A.M - 5 P.M
• Prices: 40,000 VND (adults) and 10,000 VND (children 6-16 years old)

Tierra Wine Bar

Awarded a 4.4 star review on Google, Tierra Wine Bar serves western cuisine and drinks at a reasonable price and friendly service. The bar is also located right behind the Central Circus, making it the perfect resting station after a whole day outdoors! 

• Address: Number 2 Nguyen Quyen street, Hai Ba Trung district
• Opening hours: 11 A.M - 12 P.M
• Prices: 100,000 VND ~ 500,000 VND 

Thong Nhat Park of Hanoi, a perfect local hideout! For foreigners, it could be a great place to make local friends. So make sure you check out Thong Nhat Park when you come to Hanoi!