• Discover the diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic groups and their cultural heritage.
• Admire Hanoi’s oldest Buddhist pagoda, beautifully located on West Lake’s Golden Fish Island.
• Step into Vietnam’s past at the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" prison, once used during the French colonial period and the Vietnam War.

ROUTE

Hotel pickup (Old Quarter area) → Ho Chi Minh Complex → One Pillar Pagoda →
Vietnam Ethnology Museum (or Vietnamese Women’s Museum on Mondays) → Lunch at
local restaurant → Tran Quoc Pagoda → Temple of Literature → Hoa Lo Prison →
Hotel drop-off

PICK-UP/ DROP OFF AREA

• Pick-up and drop-off are available within the Old Quarter area only.
• For hotels outside the Old Quarter, guests are required to come to a designated meeting point, where the tour guide will meet and pick you up.

OVERVIEW

This full-day Hanoi City Tour offers a comprehensive introduction to Vietnam’s
capital, combining history, culture, architecture, and daily local life. From
iconic landmarks linked to President Ho Chi Minh to ancient pagodas, museums,
and colonial-era sites, the tour is ideal for first-time visitors who want to
understand Hanoi in a single day.

DESCRIPTION

Starting in the morning, the tour takes you to Hanoi’s most important
historical and cultural attractions. You will explore the Ho Chi Minh Complex,
learn about Vietnam’s ethnic diversity at the museum, enjoy authentic
Vietnamese cuisine, and visit some of the city’s oldest religious and
educational landmarks. The day ends with a visit to Hoa Lo Prison, offering
deeper insight into Vietnam’s past before returning to your hotel.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• Ho Chi Minh Complex: Visit the final resting place of President Ho Chi Minh and walk around the peaceful gardens to see the stilt houses where he lived and worked.
• One Pillar Pagoda: Admire one of the most unique pagodas in the world, symbolizing purity and compassion.
• Vietnam Ethnology Museum / Vietnamese Women’s Museum: Discover the rich culture, traditions, and daily life of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups (Women’s Museum on Mondays).
• Local Vietnamese Lunch: Enjoy a delicious Vietnamese meal at a local restaurant, with vegetarian options available.
• Tran Quoc Pagoda: Visit Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, beautifully located on a small island in West Lake.
• Temple of Literature: Explore Vietnam’s first university and learn about the country’s long tradition of education and Confucian values.
• Hoa Lo Prison: Gain historical insight into Vietnam’s resistance period during French colonial rule.

THINGS TO BRING:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Modest clothing (cover shoulders and knees for mausoleum and religious sites)
• Hat, sunscreen, and water
• Camera or smartphone
• Some cash for personal expenses

WHAT YOU GET AFTER THE TOUR

• A deeper understanding of Hanoi’s history and culture
• Knowledge about Vietnam’s ethnic diversity and educational heritage
• Insight into the country’s colonial past
• Authentic local experiences and cultural exposure

NOTES:

• Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday. But still can take picture of the Mausoleum and visit around that area.
• We will visit Vietnamese Women’s Museum instead of Vietnam Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays.
• Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees in the public places like temples, pagodas, HCM Mausoleum, etc
• The order of the itinerary can be changed depending on the situation.

Optional Add-Ons: (Available upon request for an additional fee)

• Cyclo Ride: 45-minute traditional cycle ride around Hanoi’s Old Quarter. ($5/person)
• Water Puppet Show: Experience a 50-minute traditional Vietnamese water puppet show. ($5/person)
• Combo Option: Cyclo ride + Water Puppet Show ($10/person).