VLT-SIC13N - HANOI CITY TOUR

Over view
Itinerary
Hotels
Price

Explore Vietnam’s thousand-year-old capital on this insightful full-day Hanoi City Tour. Begin your day with hotel pickup and head to the historic Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist temple located on West Lake. Continue to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Complex, including the Stilt House and the iconic One Pillar Pagoda. Next, visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to learn about the country’s diverse ethnic cultures (replaced by the Vietnamese Women’s Museum on Mondays). After lunch in the Old Quarter, journey through Hanoi’s 36 historic streets before visiting the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, and Hoa Lo Prison, famously nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton.” The tour concludes at 4:00 PM with optional drop-off at Hoan Kiem Lake for independent exploration, a water puppet show, or a relaxing walk through Hanoi’s vibrant streets.

Duration: Full-day

Tour Highlights:

Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Complex, and One Pillar Pagoda
Explore the Museum of Ethnology or Women’s Museum (depending on the day)
Enjoy lunch in Hanoi’s bustling Old Quarter
Discover Vietnam’s first university at the Temple of Literature
Step back in time at Hoa Lo Prison

What’s Included:

AC Transportation
English speaking guide
Lunch
Water
Entrance fees

Ideal For:

This tour is ideal for first-time visitors to Hanoi, culture and history enthusiasts, and travelers with limited time who want to experience the city’s most iconic landmarks in one comprehensive day.

Detailed Itinerary:

08:00 - 08:30 – Hotel pickup from the Hanoi Old Quarter or Hanoi Opera House.

Morning Visits:

Trấn Quốc Pagoda: Located on West Lake, this is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi (over 1,500 years old), with ancient architecture and a serene lakeside setting.
Ho Chi Minh Complex:
- Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (outside only on Mondays & Fridays)
- Stilt House – where Uncle Ho lived and worked
- One Pillar Pagoda – a symbol of Hanoi, built in 1049
- Note: With departure days on Monday and Friday, Mausoleum Management Board will carry out maintenance of the mausoleum, you will visit only outside of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, stilt house and One Pillar Pagoda.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology (closed on Mondays – replaced with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum): Features indoor & outdoor exhibits on Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, with life-size traditional houses and cultural artifacts.
- Note: On Monday, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is closed, instead of the Vietnamese Women Museum.

12:00 – Lunch:

Return to the Old Quarter for a Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, enjoy a drive through the 36 Old Streets, with commentary from your guide.

Afternoon Visits:

Temple of Literature: Vietnam’s first university, built in 1070. Learn about ancient education and Confucian traditions.
Hoa Lo Prison ("Hanoi Hilton"): A former French prison turned museum. Learn about its role in colonial times and the Vietnam War, including stories of American POWs like John McCain.

16:00 – End of Tour:

Return to hotel or optionally stop by Ham Ca Map area to explore independently (at your own expense).
Options include:
- Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple
- Rent a bike or tram to tour the Old Quarter
- Watch a traditional water puppet show