Some free fishing spots in and around Hanoi

So, where can you go fishing? Which fishing spots are best? Join us as we explore Hanoi’s famous free fishing lakes and services!

Some free fishing spots in Hanoi

You don’t need to travel far; right here in Hanoi, you can choose from a range of airy, spacious fishing lakes teeming with a wide variety of fish. Best of all, these fishing lakes are completely free – you won’t have to pay a penny. You can check out some of the free fishing spots listed below

• In the Red River area: you can go fishing completely free of charge at the eroded banks along the Red River, at the foot of Vinh Tuy Bridge. This spot offers a wide variety of fish for you to enjoy catching, such as tilapia, catfish, carp, snakehead and snakehead catfish, amongst others.
• In the Long Bien Bridge area: Right at Long Bien Bridge, you can also fish completely free of charge; moreover, not only is there a diverse and abundant variety of fish here, but the scenery is also very beautiful, especially in the late afternoon when the air is cool and refreshing—anglers can both fish and enjoy the cool breeze.
• In the Duong River area: Along the Duong River embankment and the Kim Son retaining wall, you can choose a suitable spot for fishing. Many anglers describe the area as quiet, breezy and ideal for deep-water fishing.

The above are free, public fishing spots that do not belong to any particular organisation; however, the catch rate here will be lower as natural rivers tend to have sparser and fewer fish. Below, we’d like to recommend a few fishing spots within Hanoi city centre that can also be considered free

Free fishing spots within the city

1. Fishing at West Lake

This is a famous fishing spot within Hanoi city limits; whilst it is not entirely free, you can fish here using a rod whilst walking along the lake’s shore. Occasionally, officials may issue a reminder, but this is generally negligible. Every afternoon, there is a large crowd of anglers around the lake.

You can catch many different types of fish here; I’ve fished here a few times myself. I use a float rig with a neatly coiled line held close to the shore; if a fish takes the bait and the line rolls out, that’s when I reel it in.

At the weekend, a few of us often come out here to set up our float rods and sit reading the paper; there are loads of anglers around the lake’s shore. This is a spot where fishing is 99 per cent free within Hanoi city limits.

To be honest, there are far too many fish in the lake; fishing is partly for entertainment and partly to maintain ecological balance. At the start of the month or on the full moon, there are loads of people releasing fish back into the water. Around the shore, there are mainly tilapia – just joking, but you couldn’t catch them all even with an electric shocker (laughs).

2. Fishing in park lakes

There are many lakes in parks, such as those at Nghia Do Park, Yen So Park and Thong Nhat Park... The thing is, these fishing lakes are patrolled by security guards, but if you’re on good terms with them, fishing is practically free. The fish here are mostly small, so it’s perfectly fine for recreational fishing.

a. Nghĩa Đô Park Lake

(Just between us, mind you) I live near this spot and go for a few laps around here every day. It isn’t strictly a free fishing spot, but if you’re just fishing for fun, you can join in. Just bring a small fishing rod; sit in a corner and fish for tilapia – you’ll be reeling them in non-stop.

I come here regularly and have occasionally seen security guards reminding anglers, but it’s very rare. Even when they do, they usually just say fishing isn’t allowed and then let people carry on. But every single afternoon, there are always a few blokes sitting there fishing.

A little tip: you can ask the security guards about the fishing service; I reckon it won’t cost much (laughs).

b. Seven-Mau Lake

The 7-mẫu lake, also known as Thống Nhất Park Lake, isn’t entirely free to fish in, but it’s similar to Nghĩa Đô Lake (and most inner-city parks in Hanoi) in that it’s fine if you’re just fishing for fun for a couple of sessions.

I’ve seen on forums that people have discussed fishing here, noting there are various types of fish, though they’re small and it’s just for fun. If you’re looking for a more challenging experience with ‘water monsters’ weighing 5–10kg, this isn’t the right place; you should look for commercial fishing lakes instead.

I’ve also heard that you can arrange with the security staff to fish here on a monthly basis for a reasonable fee of 400k per month (mind you, this is just what I’ve heard; to find out if it’s true, you’ll have to try it for yourself – it’s all up to you… :D)

In summary, some of the park’s fishing lakes are fine if you just want to pop in occasionally for a bit of recreational fishing; but if you’re planning to spend more time fishing for free in Hanoi, you’d be better off heading to West Lake.

I wouldn’t encourage you to visit these park fishing lakes too often, as you really should ask the security guards for permission first; I’m just mentioning them for your reference.

Famous commercial fishing lakes in Hanoi

Slightly different from free fishing lakes, commercial fishing lakes are quieter, allowing anglers to enjoy truly relaxing moments, and you’re more likely to catch a good haul. You can also choose these as venues to meet friends or business partners for private discussions. You shouldn’t miss out on the following well-known fishing lakes:

Dam Soi Fishing Lake

Dam Soi Fishing Lake is a popular destination for anglers seeking to unwind after long, stressful and tiring days. Situated at 36 Tram Dien, Dinh Cong, Hoang Mai, Hanoi, the lake covers a vast area. The lake is home to many species of fish, such as black carp, white carp, black catfish, snakehead and gold carp. What’s more, the fish here are quite large, weighing an average of 5kg or more, offering anglers the chance to test their skills to their heart’s content. Furthermore, Dam Soi Fishing Lake regularly hosts lively fishing competitions between numerous anglers.

Address: 36 Tram Dien, Dinh Cong, Hoang Mai, Hanoi
Approximate price: 300,000 VND per session

Noi Bai Lake – Soc Son

For those living near the Sóc Sơn area of Hanoi, Noi Bai – Sóc Sơn Lake is undoubtedly an ideal choice. Situated right next to Car Park 3 outside Noi Bai Airport, Noi Bai – Sóc Sơn Lake is primarily stocked with tilapia – large, tasty fish with very fragrant flesh. Furthermore, these fish are easy to catch, which is why anglers usually return with a good haul after each fishing trip. In addition, there is a restaurant on site offering dining services in a spacious, airy and well-equipped setting. You are sure to be satisfied when you visit.

Address: Vĩnh Gia Hotel, Noi Bai Lake, Vo Nguyen Giap Road, Soc Son
Approximate price: 200,000 VND/4 hours

Thien Duong Lake

Drive past Thanh Tri Bridge, then turn off towards Bat Trang for about 1 km to reach Thien Duong Lake. The lake is highly regarded by anglers for its beautiful scenery and clean water, with main fish species including grass carp, Indian roach and common carp.

Approximate price: 100,000 VND/3 hours

Ly Son Fishing Lake

This is one of the most popular fishing spots, attracting many visitors with its spacious lake, peaceful atmosphere and cool, breezy surroundings.

Address: 380 Linh Nam, Tran Phu Ward, Hoang Mai District, Hanoi.
Recommended price: 100,000 VND/3 hours

The above are some of Hanoi’s most popular free fishing lakes and services; do choose the one that suits you best and is most convenient!
However, you should also pay attention to your fishing tackle, as it is a crucial factor in determining the success of your fishing trip. Tuấn Kiệt Fishing Tackle Shop is always on hand to answer any questions and provide customers with high-quality, reliable and reasonably priced fishing tackle in Hanoi.

Buy fishing tackle from Tuấn Kiệt on Shopee: