Body: Run, eat, massage, repeat
Keep up your running regimen when visiting Hanoi. Head to West Lake, where a full circuit around the water’s edge racks up 15 kilometres. Following the broad, paved path, you’ll get a glimpse of local life – including people doing tai chi and fishing – and the area’s diverse birds. One of the city’s Airbnb Experiences (local-led activities run by the homestay-booking company) combines a guided run with a well-earned, post-run recovery bowl of pho noodles and a soothing foot massage in the Old Quarter.
Soul: Temple on a mountaintop
Escape the heat and hustle of Hanoi for nearby Yen Tu Mountain, a stunning forested nature reserve famous for Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen Buddhism, the philosophy formed when King Tran Nhan Tong swapped majesty for monkhood. Take a cable car or hike up to Yen Tu Pagoda for quiet contemplation, then stay overnight at newly launched hotel Legacy Yen Tu – MGallery by Sofitel. Famed hotel architect Bill Bensley designed it based on a 13th-century temple – an ideal setting for its yoga and singing-bowl meditation sessions.
