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Hanoi Full Day Private Tour: City Highlights & Historic Train Street Experience

5.0

22 Ratings

Hoàn Kiếm

Experience the best of Hanoi on a full day private tour. Discover the city's historic landmarks, explore hidden corners, and immerse yourself in the local culture.

Duration: 8 hours, 30 minutes

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum - At 8:30am, your tour guide and vehicle will pick you up from your hotel to begin exploring Hanoi. The first stop is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Ba Dinh Square, the final resting place of Vietnam’s most iconic leader, known as ‘Uncle Ho’. His body is preserved in a glass case here, despite his wishes. Visiting this site offers a unique historical experience. The mausoleum, modeled after Lenin’s in Russia, was constructed starting in 1973 and opened to the public in 1975. Security is strict, and visitors must dress respectfully (no shorts, sleeveless shirts, or miniskirts) and leave their bags and cameras outside. Uncle Ho’s remains are sent to Russia annually for maintenance, so the mausoleum is usually closed from October onwards.
Presidential Palace Historical Site - The Hanoi Presidential Palace, part of the Ho Chi Minh Complex, was originally the Palace of the Governor-General of Indochina. Built in 1906 by French architect Auguste Henri Vildieu, this beautifully restored French-style building is now used for official receptions. Although intended as President Ho Chi Minh’s official residence, he chose to live in a traditional stilt house instead. The yellow three-story building, inspired by French architecture, has 30 rooms and is surrounded by a lush garden, orchard, long boulevard, and carp pond. Visitors can view it from a short distance but are not allowed inside.
Ho Chi Minh’s Stilt House - This simple yet significant site was the living and working place of President Ho Chi Minh, one of Vietnam’s most important political figures. The stilt house, known for its peaceful and fresh atmosphere, offers visitors insight into the simplicity and greatness of the man who lived there.
One Pillar Pagoda - According to legend, the One Pillar Pagoda was built following a dream by the childless Emperor Ly Thai Tong, in which the enlightened being Avalokiteshvara handed him a baby son on a lotus flower. The pagoda, resembling a lotus flower (a Buddhist symbol of enlightenment), was commissioned by the Emperor in gratitude to the bodhisattva and Quan Am, the Goddess of Mercy, after the birth of his son. Inside, a richly gilded statue of Quan Am is the main feature at the altar. The current concrete pillar supporting the wooden pagoda replaced the original, which was destroyed by the departing French. Behind the pagoda grows a bo tree, said to be an offshoot of the tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, gifted from India in 1958.
Temple of Literature & National University - Often considered one of Hanoi’s most picturesque attractions, the Temple of Literature was built in 1070 as a university dedicated to Confucius, scholars, and sages. This well-preserved site is a prime example of traditional Vietnamese architecture. It features a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards, and passageways once used by royalty. The Temple of Literature showcases historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties and has become a memorial to education and literature. Initially, the university only accepted aristocrats, the elite, and royal family members, but later opened to talented commoners. Successful graduates had their names engraved on stone steles atop stone turtles.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - A must-see in Hanoi, this museum amazes tourists with its carefully displayed artifacts, including clothes, tools, and models of rituals, funerals, and weddings. The exhibits offer a glimpse into the traditional culture and daily life of ancient ethnic groups.
Hoa Lo Prison - Originally used by French colonists for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for U.S. prisoners of war during the Vietnam War, Hoa Lo Prison was known to American POWs as the “Hanoi Hilton”. After Operation Homecoming, it housed Vietnamese dissidents and other political prisoners. Most of the prison was demolished in the 1990s, but the gatehouse remains as a museum. Built between 1886 and 1889 by the French, the prison, called Maison Centrale, was intended for Vietnamese prisoners, especially political ones seeking independence, who often faced torture and execution. It became a symbol of colonial exploitation.
Train Street - Hanoi Train Street offers a unique glimpse into local life, with real railway lines running through it instead of typical road traffic. Homes and businesses open directly onto the tracks. Locals go about their daily activities, with motorbikes zooming by, women cooking aromatic foods, children playing, and animals lounging in the sun.
Hanoi Opera House - Located in Hanoi’s French Quarter, the Hanoi Opera House was built by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911. Modeled after Paris’s Palais Garnier but on a smaller scale, it features Neoclassical architecture. After the French left, the opera house hosted several political events and street fighting during the battle for Hanoi. It is usually closed, opening only for special events, so visitors can only view it from the outside and learn about its history.
Old Quarter - Around 5:00pm, your car and driver will drop you off at the same place you were picked up. If you wish to spend more time in the Old Quarter, you can ask the guide to drop you off there for some private time. Say goodbye to your tour guide and driver, marking the end of your trip!

What's Included

Entrance fees & Sight-seeing fees
Private air-conditioned transfer
Bottled water provided
Light meal included: Noodle Soup with Beef/Chicken
Vegetarian options available
English-speaking tour guide

What's Not Included

Tips/Gratuities
Others not mentioned in program

Additional Information

A splendid opportunity to appreciate the ancient charm of Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a history that spans over 2000 years.
Experience the beautiful amalgamation of French colonial architecture, serene lakes, and age-old pagodas and temples.
A Hanoi city sightseeing tour in a compact group led by a professional tour guide, covering all major spots suggested by travel guides.
Make the most of your limited time by discovering the significant sights and hidden treasures of stunning Hanoi.
Embark on this private tour to understand Hanoi’s local culture better while exploring the city’s major attractions and interacting with its inhabitants.
Join this extensive city tour and enjoy the convenience of complimentary hotel pick-up and drop-off.
With flexible departure times because it’s a private tour, you can enjoy a relaxed experience without worrying about tardiness.

For further information and support, please connect us via Whats/App +84-9-8-2-8-0-4-3-9-9
Ho Chi Minh mausoleum opens only in morning time and closed weekly on Monday; Friday
When visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, all passengers must dress modestly, shorts wearing must be to knee length.
Passenger shoulders must be covered by scarfs when visiting Ho Chi Minh mausoleum
Ethnology museum is closed on Monday. So this site will be replaced by Woman museum.

Location

Hanoi Opera House

Tràng Tiền

This meeting point is located near Hanoi Hilton Opera Hotel. You can meet our tour guide here if you do not need hotel pickup

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

5.0

(22 Ratings)

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1 star

Ravindram152

Jun 5, 2024

Highly recommend - Well worth doing this tour! was our guide and he was willing to customize our tour to make sure we saw what we wanted to see. He did a great job talking us through the historical context of locations we visited.