Best tours of Hanoi

Hanoi is a city with an interesting French, Chinese and Southeast Asian influence, which is clearly reflected in its architecture. The Vietnamese capital has a rich historical and cultural heritage to be discovered in its temples, pagodas, traditional markets, museums, memorials and other destinations.

Among the best things to do in Hanoi you will find a wide range of tours, allowing you to explore the city on foot, by bicycle, tour bus and even on board a vintage jeep. You can also take a boat ride on Hoan Kiem Lake and connect with the tranquillity of this beautiful natural area.

The streets of the Vietnamese capital exhibit an important part of the history and culture of this city, so it is essential to walk through them carefully. During your 3-day stay in Hanoi or longer, take a tour of this chaotic but interesting city and discover all that the Vietnamese capital has to offer.

While you can do this tour on your own, ideally you should join a guided activity. This way, you will be accompanied by a local person who knows the history of each place. In this case, you will connect with the guide at a pre-arranged location in the city centre, and from there, you will start your adventure.

Hanoi tour routes usually incorporate must-see destinations such as:

• One Pillar Pagoda. This is a Buddhist temple built by King Ly Thai To, to thank the goddess Quan Am for the birth of his first-born son.
• The Ho Chi Minh Complex, which houses museums, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and other areas of interest related to the life of the former president of North Vietnam.
• The History Museum, with an important collection of artefacts ranging from prehistoric times to the different Vietnamese dynasties (Đinh, Lý, Trần, Lê, etc).

Details of interest

• Price: the cost of the tour is approximately 26€ per person.
• Duration: this tour lasts at least 4 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Benefits of this option: You will learn about Hanoi's must-see sights and some of its history. You will also learn how to find your way around the city with the help of your guide.
• Disadvantages of this option: this activity usually ends at the starting point in the city centre, so you will have to transfer on your own to the hotel.

There are many ways to explore Hanoi and the vintage jeep tour is one of them. You will have a different and fun time, enjoying not only a sightseeing experience, but also a cultural one. You will feel like you have gone back in time to the Soviet era (50's and 60's).

You will get into a Soviet era jeep and, together with a driver-guide, you will go on a route that will allow you to take a look at the jewels of the city. All this, while the guide tells you the history of each place as you pass by.

This cultural and sightseeing tour of Hanoi by jeep will allow you to see these places:

• The West Lake; a beautiful lake dotted with many pagodas and with a privileged panoramic view of the city.
• The Train street;
• The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a solemn structure inaugurated in 1975.
• The French Quarter, founded between the 19th and 20th century with a particular architectural style combining eclectic, neoclassical and Vietnamese.

Details of interest

• Price: the jeep tour can cost an average of €48 per person.
• Duration: the usual time allowed is 4 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: vintage jeep.
• Advantages of this option: you will enjoy a tourist and cultural experience in the same activity.
• Disadvantages of this option: jeeps can beinconvenient for people with back problems.

Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the city's landmarks. A natural space located in the centre of the Vietnamese capital, it will allow you to escape from the bustling and busy streets. There, you can enjoy a boat ride and see the surroundings from a completely different perspective.

This is one of the best cruises in Hanoi. A scenic tour, which you can take on a rowing or motor boat, as well as a dragon boat. Whichever you choose, you can relax and breathe in the fresh air as you cruise along this mile-long lake, lined with trees and overflown by beautiful birds.

Along the way you will see sights such as Huc Bridge, Turtle Tower, Ngoc Son Taoist Temple, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ba Da Pagoda, among other destinations around the lake. You will be able to take some amazing pictures. And, if you like this kind of experience, you can also opt for Halong Bay cruise from Hanoi.

Details of interest

• Price: the approximate value of this experience is 3€ to 9€ per person.
• Duration: The boat ride has a maximum duration of 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will sail around one of the most emblematic lakes in Hanoi and see the city from a unique perspective.
• Disadvantages of this option: the length of the tour might be a bit short for some people.

In the streets of the Vietnamese capital you will find dozens of street food stalls, offering a perfect combination of flavours, aromas, textures and colours. Take a stroll through Hanoi and surprise your senses by tasting traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

This tour can be done in the company of a culinary guide, who will tell you the history and cultural importance behind each of the dishes tasted. Together you will walk through the Old Quarter, which is home to the largest selection of street food, and discover a range of popular dishes.

Some of the recipes you will discover on this street food tour of Hanoi are usually these:

• Nem rán, known as spring rolls. This preparation combines vegetables, mushrooms and pork.
• Bun Cha, grilled rice noodles with a sauce.
• Bánh mì, which is a sandwich with various ingredients.
• Chè; this is a dessert of fruit, beans and rice.

Details of interest

• Price: the price of this tour starts from 23€ per person, approximately.
• Duration: 3 hours is the average time for this type of tour.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: You will delight your palate with the flavours of Vietnamese food.
• Disadvantages of this option: Tastings may not be enough, so if you want to eat a little more, you will have to pay for it on your own at each food stall.

Hanoi has amazing places, which you can use as backdrops for your photographs. You will create unique memories of your time in the Vietnamese capital, which you can save and, why not, share on your social media. Join a guided walk around the city and take the best pictures.

On an Instagram-worthy tour of Hanoi you will visit the city's most iconic and, indeed, most photogenic places. Some of them tend to be:

• The ceramic mosaic street, entered in the Guinness World Records due to it being the largest mosaic mural in the world.
• The Chua Tran Quoc, a pagoda with a history dating back to the 6th century and a privileged view of the city and Ho Tay Lake.
• St. Joseph's Cathedral, which surprises locals and tourists with its exquisite old Gothic architecture, resembling the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

You will be accompanied by a local guide, who will not only take you directly to each destination and tell you its history. He will also give you some basic photographic tips, so that you can create memorable compositions.

Interesting details

• Price: the photo tour costs around 29€ per person.
• Duration: the activity lasts approximately 4 hours.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to create lasting memories of your trip, taking pictures in the most outstanding cultural and historical destinations of the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: the tour generally incorporates walking past the facades of buildings and monuments, so you will not have access to the interior of these attractions.

The Hanoi bike tour is a fun way to explore the city while experiencing one of the most popular modes of transport used by locals. You will also cover a number of destinations in a short time and get a different perspective of the streets.

This bike tour usually starts in the city centre, where you will connect with the local guide in charge of the activity. He or she will give you some tips for safe riding and you'll be on your way.

Some of the places this bike tour might cover are as follows:

• The streets of the old town, full of monuments and old buildings such as the Cathedral of San José. You can stop to admire the exterior of each of the sights.

• The Presidential Palace, an imposing building in the French neoclassical style, built between 1900 and 1906.

• The Imperial Citadel Gate, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• The Cua Bac church, with asymmetrical spaces in which the bell tower stands out. A true example of French architecture in the city.

Details of interest

• Price: the value of this bike tour starts at around 31€ per person.
• Duration: the experience is designed to take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Advantages of this option: you will see more places in less time and get a different perspective of the streets.
• Disadvantages of this option: the streets of Hanoi tend to be very crowded and somewhat chaotic, so if you don't have a lot of experience driving, it could be dangerous.

Another popular activity is the sightseeing bus tours of Hanoi with free stops. You will enjoy a different perspective of the main monuments, museums, pagodas, theatres, natural areas, among other destinations. In addition, you will be able to create your own itinerary as you can hop on and off whenever you want.

On a panoramic tour aboard the tourist bus in Hanoi you will be able to make a complete route around the city and contemplate the surroundings. All this, while listening to the history of each place as you pass through the audio guide.

In addition, you will have approximately 14 stops, which will allow you to access emblematic destinations such as the following:

• The Flag Tower, an imposing monument of around 33 metres high, which has been named a World Heritage Site.
• Bach Ma Temple, a Taoist temple from the Lý dynasty.
• The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; an important monument that houses the embalmed body of the former president of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh
• The Frog Garden Fountain, built in white marble, features a large frog about a couple of metres long.

Details of interest

• Price: the entrance fee to the sightseeing bus starts at 19€ per person.
• Duration: the entire Hanoi sightseeing bus tour lasts about 90 minutes.
• Means of transport: Tourist bus.
• Advantages of this option: You will take a panoramic tour of the city with the option to hop on and off as many times as you wish at a series of designated stops.
• Disadvantages of this option: Buses may be slightly delayed due to traffic conditions in the city.

The French Quarter is known as the modern district of the city, whose streets combine years of architecture, culture and history. Embark on a free tour of this neighbourhood, established by the French who inhabited the Vietnamese capital during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

You will walk with a local guide who will tell you the history of the streets of this neighbourhood, which connects to the historic centre via Ho Chi Minh Boulevard. During the tour, you will see the predominant French colonial architecture of the area and discover a number of iconic destinations.

Places you could see on this type of free tour of the French Quarter include the following:

• The Hanoi Opera House, with its unique neoclassical and eclectic style.
• Hoa Lo Prison, now a museum, gives a clear picture of what life was like for political prisoners during the Vietnam War.
• The Railway Street, a railway track surrounded entirely by traditional houses and a few shops.
• A local coffee shop, where you will have the opportunity to try Vietnamese coffee with custard and egg yolks.

Interesting details

• Price: as this is a free tour, there is no fixed cost. You can pay the guide whatever you feel is appropriate for your experience.
• Duration: the tour of the French Quarter lasts about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will learn about the interesting history of the French Quarter and some of Hanoi's French colonial architectural heritage.
• Disadvantages of this option: as this is a free tour, the cost of coffee or snacks consumed during the tour will be at your own expense.

The city of Hanoi at night takes on a particular charm that you can discover by taking a guided walk through the streets. You will see how the facades of the main buildings and monuments are illuminated offering a completely different perspective.

The activity usually starts in the city centre, where you will connect with your guide. You will then walk through the streets of the old town and the surrounding area, taking in the night-time charm of Hanoi. In addition, you will learn about the history of the places visited, thanks to the guide's commentary.

Although the itinerary of this type of experience usually varies, some of the must-see places are:

• St. Joseph's Cathedral, with its neo-Gothic architectural style.
• Hoan Kiem Lake, reached via Ho Hoan Kiem Street (considered the shortest street in the city at only 52 metres).
• Ngoc Son Buddhist Temple, which stands out in the centre of Hoan Kiem Lake for its stunning 18th and 19th century architecture.
• The Thang Long Theatre, where **Hanoi'**s water puppet show is performed.

Details of interest

• Price: the cost of this tour starts from 22€ per person.
• Duration: the tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will discover a different perspective of the city as the sun goes down.
• Disadvantages of this option: it does not usually include hotel pick-up and drop-off.

Another of the best self-paced tours you can undertake during your stay of at least 2 days in Hanoi is usually a tour of the local markets. You will discover a different perspective of the Vietnamese capital, where the colours, aromas and flavours of dozens of fresh products are the protagonists. You will get a first-hand insight into the daily life of the locals.

For this fun experience you will find many markets in the city, some of the most popular being the following:

• Quang Ba Flower Night Market. Here you will find a wide range of greenery, roses, garberas, sunflowers, hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, lilies and more.
• Dong Xuan Market is an old market built in 1889, where you will find stalls selling street food, vegetables, spices, seafood, flowers, meats and much more.
• Chau Long or Ben Thanh Market, with more than 1,500 stalls. Enjoy a variety of seafood, meats, vegetables and fresh fruits. In addition, you will find ready-to-prepare frogs, plucked ducks, groceries such as sauces, rice noodles, oils and more.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission to any of the markets is free.
• Duration: The tour of each of the markets can take a couple of hours or more. However, this is entirely up to you, as there is no time limit on how long you can stay in the market.
• Means of transport: on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will get to know the daily life of the people of Hanoi in a place as traditional as its markets. You will also find local and exotic products.
• Disadvantages of this option: markets tend to be very congested places, so it can be a bit of a hassle to walk through the aisles.

Tours of the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, will allow you to immerse yourself in the culture and history of this ancient city. You will be able to see the amazing ancient architecture: the One Pillar Pagoda, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, among others. Also, the picturesque Vietnamese houses, which line the narrow streets of the old town.

You will also have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the local markets, with their fresh produce, harvested from the fields of Vietnam. In the city's neighbourhoods you will find restaurants with Vietnamese street food to satisfy the most demanding palates. You will also enjoy small natural areas such as Hoan Kiem Lake.

Hanoi has a wide range of tours that you can take during your stay in the city. If you want to make the most of these experiences by discovering the history, culture, architecture and cuisine of the Vietnamese capital, there are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Book your tour in advance, as they tend to sell out very quickly. This is in case you plan to do a guided activity.
• Protect yourself from the sun. Remember that Hanoi is a hot and humid city, so always carry sunscreen and mosquito repellent. Also, wear light, breathable clothing.
• Don't forget to carry cash, as there are a number of businesses that don't accept bank cards. You may also need to tip a little.
• Learn some basic Vietnamese words; this may help you communicate with the locals. For example, xin chào: hello; cám ơn: thank you; làm ơn: please; bao nhiêu?: how much does it cost?