Activities

07h30-08h30: We will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter or Hanoi Opera House.

In the morning, we will visit:

• Tran Quoc Pagoda: Situated on the eastern side of the West Lake island in the Ty Ho district, this pagoda is regarded as the oldest in Thang Long, Ha Noi, having evolved over 1500 years. The serene West Lake scenery and the majestic, lofty architecture blend harmoniously. It evolved into the Buddhist hub of Thang Long under the Ly and Tran dynasties.

• Visit the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, which includes the Stilt home and Mausoleum. This is where the illustrious leader resided and worked till the end of his life. You can discover more about Uncle Ho's modest life here. You will also visit One Pillar Pagoda to see one of Hanoi's four icons.

Note: with departure days on Monday and Friday, the Mausoleum Management Board will carry out maintenance of the mausoleum, you will visit only outside of Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, stilt house, and One Pillar Pagoda.

• Vietnam Museum of Ethnology: This is the newest museum in Hanoi, Vietnam, and it's also arguably the biggest and most fascinating. The museum is divided into indoor and outdoor portions. Although the inside exhibition is highly educational, the outdoor display and activities set it apart from other museums. Many homes are modeled after the traditional architectural styles of ethnic minorities, particularly those from the Central and Northern Highlands.

Note: On Monday, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is closed, instead of the Vietnamese Women Museum.

Noon: Return to the Old Quarter to have lunch at the restaurant. After lunch, you will see 36 streets from the car and listen to the guide tell stories about the streets of the ancient urban marketplace.

Afternoon, we will visit:

• The Temple of Literature (The first university in Vietnam): Being an ancient school of Thang Long and the first university in Vietnam, the Temple of Literature is acknowledged as an ancient historical-cultural heritage that gives tourists a deeper understanding of Hanoi's years of culture and tradition.

• Hoa Lo prison: Built in 1899. The French held mainly political prisoners here, along with those awaiting sentencing at the nearby Court of Justice, as well as American pilots who had been shot down and captured as prisoners of war. The pilots sarcastically called it the "Hanoi Hilton. John McCain was held here at various times during his five and a half years as a POW.

16h00: End of Hanoi City Tour, the car will take you back to the hotel, or depending on the needs of visitors, the car can take you to the Ham Ca Map area to be free to visit and experience (all costs are not included) at one of the locations below, then return to your hotel at your own expense:

• Free: Go for a walk to visit Sword Lake, also known as Hoan Kiem Lake, and learn about the architecture of Vietnam and France around the lake area. Visit Ngoc Son Temple to worship Saints Van Xuong and Tran Hung Dao—famous generals in Vietnamese and world history—and Huc Bridge.
• Rent a bicycle or tram to explore the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake.
• Buy tickets for the water puppet show.

Included: 

• AC Transportation
• English speaking guide
• Lunch
• Water
• Entrance fees

Excluded: 

• Beverages 
• Personal expenses
• Drinks
• Travel Insurance
• Tips & gratuities, at least $3/person

What to bring:

• A hat & sunscreen
• Appropriate clothing for the season
• Comfortable walking shoes/ clothes
• If you're going to see Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, you should not wear shorts

TIPS BEFORE DEPARTURE:

• Choose comfortable clothes that allow you to move easily.
• Travel safety: Always carry some basic medicines with you. Typically, medicines for headaches, digestion, motion sickness, etc.
• Support information when needed: You should save the contact information of the tour guide while participating in the tour.
• Travel Essentials: Always carry your passport, tickets, and any important travel documents in a secure place.