You will enjoy a full-day experience in Hanoi combining recent history, iconic temples, and everyday life in the Old Quarter, ending the day with a walking food tour to discover the capital’s street cuisine. Throughout the journey, you will alternate cultural visits and moments of exploration, gaining a progressive understanding of Hanoi from its great landmarks to its most local corners.
The experience will begin with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a key figure in the country’s history and a symbol of modern Vietnam, noting that it remains closed on Mondays and Fridays between September 20 and December 10. Afterwards, you will head to the nearby complex where you will see an authentic ethnic-style wooden house and admire the One Pillar Pagoda, founded by King Ly around 1049 and considered an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. You will then continue with a visit to Tran Quoc Pagoda to complete this first introduction to the city’s spiritual heritage.
Later, you will discover the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1076, where you will understand the educational and cultural importance of this historic site. In the afternoon, you will visit Hoa Lo Prison, known as the “Hanoi Hilton,” to learn about its role during the French colonial period and later during the Vietnam War. Afterwards, you will enjoy a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, exploring the “36 streets,” and continue towards Hoan Kiem Lake to cross The Huc Bridge and visit Ngoc Son Temple on its small island.
In the evening, you will take part in a walking food tour through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, tasting street food on a guided route that will allow you to understand the city through its flavors. You will sample seasonal fruits, French-inspired sandwiches, and Banh Cuon with live cooking demonstrations, as well as grilled meats, vegetables, and bread from local stalls. To finish, you will enjoy a dessert made of fresh fruit with crushed ice and condensed milk and conclude with specialties such as Banh Mi, Vietnamese rice wine, and the famous egg coffee, with the option of a cold beer if you prefer.