Hanoi- Vietnam’s capital city, is a humming metropolis renowned for its colorful culture, rich history, and unusual fusion of old and new. Whatever your interests—history, cuisine, or adventure—Hanoi has something to offer everyone. The best things to see and do on Hanoi tours are outlined below.
History Landmarks of Hanoi
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh’s last resting place is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hanoi. Situated in Ba Dinh Square, the dominating building is a major representation of Vietnamese culture and history. The last resting place of the revolutionary Vietnamese leader is the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (Vietnamese: Lăng Chủ tịch Hồ Chí Minh) in Hanoi, Vietnam. In this massive edifice in the center of Ba Dinh Square, on September 2, 1945, Ho, the Workers’ Party of Vietnam Chairman from 1951 until his death in 1969, read the Declaration of Independence, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Except for Monday, every morning the public is invited.
Address: 1 Hung Vuong, Ba Dinh, Dien Bien, Hanoi
One can get here via automobile or public transportation.
If you drive a car or motorcycle, don’t forget to designate the two parking spots on Ong Ich Khiem Street (across from the Mausoleum Guard Command) and Ngoc Ha Street (the entrance to the Ho Chi Minh Museum). You might check out the 09, 33, 22, 45, and 50 bus routes that pass Ba Dinh Square if you’re taking one.
The Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature
The address is Dong Da District, Hanoi‘s 58 Quoc Tu Giam Street.
The Chinese scholar Confucius was honoured by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong’s construction of the Temple of Literature in 1070. Then, as Imperial Academy, it became the first university in Vietnam. Hundreds of eminent scholars and mandarins had been educated there over its more than 700-year history up to the colonial era. Despite the aftermath of war, the temple is nonetheless exquisite both architecturally and culturally.
Operation hours are continuous from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Adult admission is seventy thousand Vietnamese Dong.
The student fee is 35,000 VND (student cards required).
Temple of Literature References
Quoc Tu Giam, Van Mieu, Ton Duc Thang, and Nguyen Thai Hoc are the four major streets that are near to the Temple of Literature. From any part of Hanoi, you may easily reach the temple. Either use Google Maps to get the directions and drive here, or book a ride using the local hailing app, such as Grab or Gojek. The shrine is near the stops for buses routes 25, 4, 23, and 38.
Hoa Lo Prison
Hoa Lo Prison
Known by another name, “Hanoi Hilton," Hoa Lo Prison offers a sobering look into the turbulent history of the nation. Later used during the Vietnam War, it was originally constructed by the French to house political prisoners from Vietnam.
Number 1 Hoa Lo Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
A short 15-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake, Hoa Lo Prison enjoys a fantastic position in the center of Hanoi. From any location in the city, visitors may therefore readily reach this attraction. Among the widely used modes of transportation are the vehicle, motorbike, taxi, and public bus.
The busses numbers 2, 9, 40, and 49 all stop close to the prison if you would like to take one. Should you own a car, parking is accessible at the Hoa Lo Prison entrance.
Including holidays, Hoa Lo Prison is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission to Hoa Lo Prison is fifty thousand VND each individual.
Cultural Encounters
A Water Puppet Show
Water Puppet Show
A fascinating approach to learn about Vietnamese culture is to take in a water puppet play, a distinctive art form that originated in the rice fields of Northern Vietnam. Every day in Hanoi, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre presents amusing and educational shows.
From entertaining commoners to regal audiences, water puppetry developed as a folk art form. A new peak for the social standing of the art was reached in the 12th century when the best water puppet troupes in the nation were selected to entertain the monarch and guests during the Lý Dynasty. Vietnam’s treasured intangible cultural legacy, water puppetry (múa rối nước) continues to enthrall audiences several decades later.
The Old Quarter
The Old Quarter
The Old Quarter, in the center of Hanoi, is a busy neighborhood with little lanes named for the commodities that were customarily sold there. Wandering, shopping, and sampling regional street food are all highly encouraged.
Situated north and west of Hoan Kiem Lake is the Hanoi Old Quarter. 36 streets make up this area. Hang Dau Street runs on the northernmost edge of the ancient quarter, and Phung Hung Street runs on the westernmost. Hang Bong Street, Hang Gai Street, Cau Go Street and Hang Thung Street are located in the southern area; Tran Quang Khai Street and Tran Nhat Duat Street are located in the eastern section.
You have a number of options for getting to Hanoi Old Quarter, including buses, taxis, motorbike taxis, and so on. Buses going to Hoan Kiem Lake are numbers 09, 14, 36; going to O Quan Chuong Gate are numbers 03, 11, 14, 18, 22, 34, and 40.
Bus
A taxi is one of the most widely used forms of transportation in Hanoi, hence visitors can hail one from any location.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
About 8 kilometers from the city center, on Nguyen Van Huyen Street in the Cau Giay neighborhood, is the more than 4 hectare site of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. First built at the end of 1987, it was opened in 1997. Member of the Tày ethnic group Ha Duc Linh designed the museum, which is shaped like a Dong Son drum. French architect Véronique Dollfus created the interior design. Bronze Drum, Outdoor, and Southeast Asia are the three primary exhibition areas.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Natural Attractions
Hoan Kiem Lake
Hoan Kiem Lake
A glittering jewel that adorns the cityscape of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is Hoan Kiem Lake. With an 11,55 hectare total size, the strategic Hoan Kiem Lake location makes it a well-known icon for both locals and visitors from all over the world. Natural freshwater lake Hoan Kiem Lake, sometimes known as Ho Guom Hanoi, is located in the center of Hanoi. The lake was formerly referred to as Thuy Quan Lake (rough translation: Naval Lake) since it was utilized in naval exercises or Luc Thuy Lake (rough translation: Emerald Lake) because of its green water all year round. It was nicknamed Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) about the fifteenth century since it was connected to the story of King Le Thai To (1385–1433) giving the magical sword back to the turtle god.
West Lake
West Lake
West Lake is the biggest freshwater lake in Hanoi and a favorite destination for both residents and visitors. There are several old pagodas, eateries and cafes with breathtaking views all around the lake.
The largest lake in the capital city, West Lake is situated in the northwest of the city and spans 17 kilometers in shoreline and 500 hectares in area. At first, it was a section of the adjacent Red River. Its present position is the outcome of erosion and many floods.
Known by several names, including Kim Nguu Lake, Mu Suong Lake, and Xac Cao Pond, was West Lake. Every one of them was connected to a myth about the beginnings of the fabled West Lake.
Ba Vi National Park
Nature lovers will find Ba Vi National Park to be a great place to visit, just a short drive from the city. The park has three-peaked mountain, lovely vistas, and hiking trails.Tan Linh commune, Ba Vi District, Hanoi City
Ba Vi National Park, one of the most well-known locations in Vietnam with outstanding natural beauty, is situated around 60 kilometers west of Hanoi (previously Ha Tay Province). The 9,702.41 hectare Park borders Luong Son and Ky Son, two districts of Hoa Binh Province. The varied ecology and crisp, clean mountain air set against a magical backdrop of clouds and tropical rainforests are what entice many tourists to this site.
2,181 distinct plant species are found in the park; 64 of them are uncommon and are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Along with 193 bird species, 68 reptile species, and 26 amphibian species, there are 54 species of mammals and numerous rare and valuable species such pheasants, big lobes, civets, and so on.
The cuisine in Hanoi
Bun Cha- the famous food
Grilled pork combined with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and a delectable dipping sauce makes up Bun Cha, another meal you really must try. Taste buds will be delighted by this Hanoi speciality.
Bun Cha
Egg Coffee – famous drink
Egg coffee, a speciality of Hanoi, is a thick, creamy drink prepared with egg yolk, sugar, condensed milk and strong Vietnamese coffee. It’s a terrific opportunity to learn about local coffee culture and the ideal pick-me-up.
Egg Coffee
Shopping and Memorabilia
Dong Xuan Market, a famous marketplace in Hanoi
Dong Xuan Market, the biggest in Hanoi, is a busy marketplace where you may buy anything from clothes and accessories to regional cuisine and trinkets. Experiencing the local market culture is highly recommended.
Night Market
Night Market
The Hanoi Night Market is a vibrant event with street sellers offering a range of products, held in the Old Quarter. Try the street food, browse for mementos, and take in the lively vibe.
Summary
Beautifully fusing the old with the new, Hanoi provides a wide variety of sights and activities. This fascinating city offers plenty to see and do, from historical sites and cultural events to breathtaking scenery and delicious food. Whatever your length of stay—a few days or longer—Hanoi’s charm and energy will make an impression.
Don’t forget to regularly follow our Facebook page and Website for more interesting information about travelling to Hanoi and to book Hanoi tours at the best prices.
We will explore the most amazing places in the north of Vietnam. First, North Vietnam Hanoi Tour will bring you to explore Hanoi charming city, with a half-day city tour, you will visit the most iconic attractions in Hanoi such as President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake and the old quarter of Hanoi. After Hanoi, we are going to Tam Coc, Ninh Binh where we visit the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, enjoy the boat trip in Tam Coc and to discover the countryside. For ending two days of Inspirational Hanoi – Ninh Binh – Halong Tour, we will spend one night stay on a cruise to explore the seven natural wonder of the world. Let’s explore the Magnificent North of Vietnam with Impress Travel.
HANOI ARRIVAL – GREETING – HANOI CITY TOUR– Private Tour (L)
Good morning, pick you up at Noi Bai International
Airport and transfer to Hanoi Capital city.
Check-in the hotel then have lunch at the restaurant.
Afternoon sightseeing tour begins with a visit to President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum ( closed on Monday and Friday, every afternoon, and whole from 15 June – 15 August, view the outside the building). Inside the mausoleum, there are sightseeing of the Presidential Palace (view from outside), President’s Fishpond, House On Stilts, and One Pillar Pagoda.
Next, we will pay a visit to the Temple of Literature. It is where Confucius – The founder of Confucianism was worshiped. This place as known as the first National University of Vietnam. It is where kings, mandarins, talented people of Vietnam training to the functionary.
Our tour continues with an exciting visit. We will visit one of the most beautiful lakes in Hanoi is Hoan Kiem Lake. Then, we will go to the Ngoc Son Temple, which is in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake.
Continue a short walking tour around the old quarter with a tour guide.
Day Inclusions: Private A/C transfer, English-speaking tour guide in Hanoi, lunch, entrance fee, hotel in Hanoi
Day 02
HANOI – NINH BINH (TAM COC, HOA LU) TOUR (B/L)
Good morning, have breakfast at the hotel.
7.30 – 8.00 AM: Pick you up at your hotel in the Old Quarter and transfer to Tam Coc.
8.00 – 10.00 AM: After two hours of transferring, our tour guide will introduce you to Vietnam as the history, culture, lifestyle of local people. On the conical hat, we will have a mini-game show to teach you how to say and write some Vietnamese simple words such as Xin Chào, Tạm Biệt, Tôi yêu Ninh Bình, etc. We will give you a little souvenir and you can wear it during the trip.
10 AM: We will prepare for a boat trip to visit the beautiful Tam Coc. It takes 1.30 hours rowing along the Ngo Dong river through the three mysterious caves. You can enjoy spectacular scenery surrounded by rice paddies and towering limestone mountain peaks.
11.30 AM: We will get on Thanh pier for a short walk to visit Thai Vi Temple, which is one of the well-known temples in Ninh Binh, Vietnam. We will continue 10 minutes walking along majestic valley with rice fields, rivers and lotus ponds for Tam Coc Nature Lodge where we will relaxing
Enjoy your lunch in here – Vietnamese food.
1.30 PM: you have a chance to be a fisherman and learn how to catch the fish in the pond or river.
2:00 – 3:00 PM: We ride a bike to Thung Nang, along the river among the rice field, lotus ponds, and limestone Mountains. We will continue to through a peaceful Dan Khe Trong village. This area is a real picture of the rural countryside in the north of Vietnam.
15: 00: Return the van, drive to visit Hoa Lu Ancient citadel which was built in the 10th century, and the temple dedicated to King Dinh and King Le
4:00 PM: Back to Hanoi Capital.
18:30: Arrive in Hanoi & we will drop you at your hotel in the Old Quarter.
Have dinner is available on your request.
Overnight at the Hanoi Hotel.
Day Inclusions: Car/Mini-Van, Outstanding English speaking guide, Lunch – Vietnamese Cuisine at Tam Coc Nature Eco Lodge, All sightseeing tickets, Good bike with gears, 02 bottles of Mineral water, Services charges and government tax, Rowing boat to visit Tam Coc, One conical hat as souvenir, Demonstration of teaching to learn how to write, speak Vietnamese, and catch fish
Day 03
HANOI – HALONG CRUISE (B/L/D)
Good morning! Enjoy your with have breakfast at your hotel, then check-out the hotel.
07:30 am – 08:00: Pick up from your hotel to travel to Halong Bay (notice: pickup time can be a bit flexible depending on each different Cruise, distance Hanoi – Halong bay is 160km, a stop for break time on halfway for a refreshment).
You enjoy the drive and sightseeing the peaceful countryside scenery during the bus trip (4 hours), we arrive at the Ha Long bay seaport at around noontime.
12h 30: You will aboard the cruise, check-in & enjoy a welcome drink while your cabin will be assigned.
Check-in your cabin and put your luggage in, relax and may do a short inspection tour by moving around the cruise to discover about the cruise’s architecture & design
Enjoy the sumptuous lunch with fresh seafood meal while cruise slowly gliding out into the Halong bay.
15h00 – 16h00: Explore the amazing Sung Sot Cave – the most beautiful cave in Halong Bay.
16h00 – 17h00: Cruising to Titop Island. Go swimming and relaxing at the beach of Titop or climb up to the top of the island for a view panorama of Halong Bay.
17h00 – 17h30: Return to the boat, enjoying beautiful seascape on the way.
17h30 – 19h00: Enjoy Sunset Party on the sundeck and admire the best moments of the day when the sun starts to set.
Day Inclusions: Hotel breakfast, shuttle bus A/C transfer, English speaking tour guide on CRUISE only, entrance fee, full board, joint Cruise in Halong bay with private cabin (2 persons share 1 cabin)
Day 04
HALONG BAY – HANOI (B/L)
Start your day with Tai Chi exercises or a photo hunt.
07h00 – 07h30 Have breakfast on board and enjoy the peaceful morning of Halong Bay.
08h30 – 09h30 Kayak among the hidden areas of the bay, around the Drum Cave.
09h45 Return to the boat. Freshen up and check out of your cabin.
10h00 – 10h30 Continue your cruise exploring the Bay, passing Ba Hang fishing village, Dog Islet, and more.
10h30 – 11h30 while heading back to the harbor, watch the fruit carving demonstration and participate in the Cooking Class before enjoying a traditional Vietnamese lunch.
11h45 – 12h00 Disembark V’Spirit Classic.
12h15 – 12h30 Transfer back to Hanoi.
About 16:00 – Arrival back to Hanoi central city, recheck in the hotel
Dinner is available on your request.
Free time & Overnight in Hanoi city
Day 05
HANOI CITY CENTER TO NOI BAI AIRPORT – DEPARTURE (B)
Good morning, enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Then, you have some free time to explore Hanoi city before going to Noi Bai airport for your scheduled flight.
The end of the tour, thank you and see you again!
What’s included in this trip :
A/C accommodation with DOUBLE or TWIN ROOM (2 persons share 1 room; single room can be available on request) with daily breakfast
A/C transfer from Airports to the hotel and other tourist destinations according to the itinerary
Bus round trip to Hanoi – Ha Long Bay; (private land transfer available on request)
2 days 1 night on Joint Cruise trip in Ha Long Bay, with DOUBLE or TWIN (2 persons share 1 cabin; single cabin can be available on request), full meals on board
Kayaking in Ha Long Bay
Meals as indicated in the itinerary. (Breakfast = 04; Lunch = 04; Dinner = 01)
English- speaking guides as specified (Chinese/ Malaysian speaking guide can be available on request)
Entrance fees
Mineral water (2 bottles/ per day with sightseeing tour)
What’s excluded in this trip:
All international and domestic flights
Specified as Chinese/ Malaysian/ Indonesian/Thai speaking guide can be available on request to pay for extra-fee.
Travel Insurance
Airport taxes
All meals not mentioned
Tips for tour guides, drivers, crew members in Ha Long Bay, other attendants if may have (3 USD/pax/day)
Other personal expenses not mentioned.
3 STAR HOTELS & CRUISES IN VIETNAM SELECTED
Destination
Room Type
HOTEL NAME, ROOM TYPE & WEBSITE
Hanoi 3-star Hotels
Adamas Deluxe City
ADAMAS HANOI HOTEL Refer: http://swancruiseshalong.com/
3-star Halong Bay Cruises
Swan Cruise Deluxe
SWAN CRUISE HALONG BAY
Refer: http://swancruiseshalong.com/
4 STAR HOTELS & CRUISE IN VIETNAM SELECTED
Destination
Room Type
HOTEL NAME, ROOM TYPE & WEBSITE
Hanoi 4-star Hotels
The light deluxe with window
THE LIGHT HOTEL HANOI
Refer: thelighthotelhanoi.com/en/
4-star Halong Bay Cruises
Sealife Suite Canbin
HUONG HAI SEALIFE CRUISE HALONG BAY
Refer: www.sealifegroup.com
5 STAR HOTELS & CRUISE IN VIETNAM SELECTED
Destination
Hotel Category
HOTEL NAME, ROOM TYPE & WEBSITE
Hanoi 5-star hotels
Deluxe Sketch Apricot Hotel
APRICOT HOTEL HANOI
Refer: apricothotels.com/room/sketch
5-star Halong bay Cruises
Deluxe Room with Ocean View Margaret
MARGARET CRUISE HALONG BAY
Refer: https://margaretcruises.com
The hotels and cruise are subject to change to similar category in case of fully booked
Ranana
You feel like organized tour, but you are in a privet tour. Impress Travel make the different.
We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.
Ebrahim
Tour of Vietnam
Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!
Solly Pochee
The tour was fantastic
I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating! We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC. The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T". I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all. Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team. Sulaiman Pochee
Bernard Lim
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel
Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.
Derek.Schooling
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel
This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress. Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.
My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide). Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .
We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress
CHECK PRICE & AVAILABILITY - BEST QUALITY GUARANTEE
All the latest breaking news & travel information on Hanoi travel. Browse The Independent’s complete collection of articles and commentary on Hanoi travel: Hanoi attractions, travel news, gallery, culture, history and tips.