Hanoi · Day tour
Hanoi City Full Day Tour
Great for familiesEasy fitness levelDaily departures
Price on request
Duration
Day trip (~9h)
Departure
Daily
Pickup
Hanoi (any hotel)
Group size
1+ guests
Fitness
Easy
Type
Culture & heritage
Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River, is one of the most ancient capitals in the world. Travelers find well-preserved colonial buildings, ancient pagodas, temples, and unique museums within the city center.
Itinerary
08:00-08:30
Hotel pickup
Pickup by guide and shuttle bus from hotel in Hanoi.
08:45
Tran Quoc Pagoda
Located on Golden Fish Island in West Lake. Oldest pagoda in Hanoi (built 6th century).
09:30
Ho Chi Minh Complex + One Pillar Pagoda
See embalmed body of Ho Chi Minh, walk garden to 2 houses where he lived & worked 1954-1969. Then One Pillar Pagoda - Goddess of Mercy worship, considered most unique pagoda in the world.
**Important rules:** - Modest dress required (shoulders + knees covered) - Mausoleum CLOSED Mondays and Fridays - Mausoleum CLOSED for annual maintenance ~15 June - 15 August (still allowed exterior photos + area walk)
11:15
Vietnam Ethnology Museum
Culture of 54 ethnic groups across Vietnam.
**Substitution:** Closed Mondays → swap to Women's Museum.
12:45
Lunch
Vietnamese cuisine at restaurant, 8 dishes set menu.
14:00-14:15
Temple of Literature
First university of Vietnam, established 11th century.
15:15
Hoa Lo Prison Museum
French colonial prison, later held US POWs during Vietnam War. Known to American POWs as "Hanoi Hilton".
16:15-16:30
Tour ends
Drop-off back at hotel.
Notes
- Order of itinerary may change based on guide's arrangement
- Tour may finish slightly earlier/later in some cases
- Optional Cyclo Ride / Puppet Show available at end of tour (extra fee, confirm with operator)
- If Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum closed, area walk + exterior photos still included
✓ Included
- Shuttle bus during trip (Ford Transit, New County, or similar)
- English-speaking guide (5+ years experience)
- 1 bottle of water/person
- Entrance tickets for all sites
- Vietnamese lunch (8 dishes)
✕ Not included
- Drinks at lunch
- Tips for guide and driver
- Personal expenses
🎒 What to bring
- Cash, phone, camera
- Raincoat/umbrella (depends on weather)
- Sunscreen
- Modest clothing covering shoulders to knees (mausoleum + temples)
Travelling with children
- Free for children under 5
- Full price from age 9
Good questions about this tour
What happens if the mausoleum is closed on the day I visit?
No problem - even on closure days we still walk through the surrounding complex, so you'll get great exterior photos and a feel for the site. If we're visiting on a Monday, we'll also swap the Vietnam Ethnology Museum for the Women's Museum, which is just as interesting.
I'm not a fan of old-style bus tours - is this one for me?
Totally understand - bus tours aren't for everyone. We'd suggest our 3.5-hour Hanoi Food Tour with Train Street instead, which is fully on foot and feels much more local. We can also help you plan a self-guided Old Quarter walk if you'd prefer to explore at your own pace.
Isn't one day too rushed for so many landmarks?
It is a packed day, but it's flexible - we're happy to skip one or two stops and ask the guide to slow the pace down so you can enjoy each site properly. Another option is to split the highlights across two half-day tours instead, which feels much more relaxed.
