Hanoi City Half Day Private Tour: Hidden Corners & Train Street

based on 131 reviews

Duration:4 hours to 5 hours (approx.)
Location: Hanoi, Northern Vietnam

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PRODUCT DETAILS
TRAVELER REVIEWS
TRAVELER PHOTOS

1. A good chance to admire Hanoi Old Quarter of long history of 2000 years history.
2. Pass by French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and traditional pagodas and temples that date back hundreds of years.
3. Private Hanoi city sightseeing Half Day tour, led by an experienced tour guide help you see as many things in a half-day tour as full day one.
4. Flexible to choose a morning or afternoon itinerary or any start time you wish during the day.
5. With your limited time, you can explore most of highlights and hidden things; all hidden corners of beautiful Hanoi.
6. See all aspects of Hanoi (modern and old) and a good chance to understand the local life and their history and culture.
7. Experience a unique "train street' - a new "must-see" place of Hanoi City.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
Your tour guide and car from Paradise Indochina Travel pick you up at your hotels then start discovering Hanoi City. The first place is Ho Chi Minh mausoleum (open only in morning time 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and close on Monday & Friday weekly). It is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the most iconic and popular leader of Vietnam, known to his people as ‘Uncle Ho’. His body is preserved here in a glass case at the mausoleum (albeit against his wishes). Started in 1973, the construction of the mausoleum was modeled on Lenin's mausoleum in Russia and was first open to the public in 1975. Security is tight and visitors should dress with respect (no shorts, sleeveless shirts and miniskirts) and everyone has to deposit their bags and cameras before getting in. Uncle Ho’s remains are sent yearly to Russia for maintenance therefore the mausoleum is closed usually from October onwards.
2. One Pillar Pagoda
Legend claims that The One Pillar Pagoda was built following a dream by the fatherless emperor in which the enlightened being Avalokiteshvara gave him a baby son resting on a lotus flower. Emperor Ly Thai Tong commissioned the pagoda to be created in resemblance of this lotus flower which is also the Buddhist symbol of enlightenment. The Emperor remained in gratitude to the bodhisattva and subsequently to to Quan Am, the Goddess of Mercy following the birth of his son. Inside the temple a richly gilded statue of Quan Am takes centre place at the main altar. Today, the concrete pillar that supports the tiny wooden pagoda is a replacement for the original one which was blown up by the departing French, it remains unclear how much of the wooden temple is the original one. Another point of interest is a bo tree that grows behind the pagoda which legend state is an offshoot of the one under which Buddha became enlightened - the tree was given as a gift from India in 1958.
3. Temple of Literature & National University
The Temple of Literature is often cited as one of Hanoi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Originally built as a university in 1070 dedicated to Confucius, scholars and sages, the building is extremely well preserved and is a superb example of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture. This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty. Visiting the Temple of Literature you will discover historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties in a revered place that has seen thousands of doctors’ graduate in what has now become a memorial to education and literature. Originally the university only accepted aristocrats, the elite and royal family members as students before eventually opening its doors to brighter ‘commoners’. Successful graduates had their names engraved on a stone stele which can be found on top of the stone turtles.
4. Dong Xuan Market
Dong Xuan Market, the largest wholesale market in Hanoi was built in 1889. Dong Xuan Market has long been a tourist attraction in Hanoi, thanks to its prime location in the heart of this city as well as the impressive architecture and history. Coming to Dong Xuan Market, you can find a wide range of commodities from fabric, clothing, local handicrafts, souvenirs and street foods. Read on to explore all the specific things about Dong Xuan Market. When the nationwide war broke out in 1946, Dong Xuan Market witnessed the fierce battles of Vietnamese resistance fighters against the French soldiers, especially the combat of deciding-to-die soldiers (Quyết Tử Quân) to prevent the French attack on the Inter-resistance Zone 1 in February 1947. For more than 100 years, Dong Xuan Market has associated with many important milestones throughout the history of Hanoi, contained all the material and sentimental value of Hanoi and become one of the inseparable symbols of Hanoi.
5.
In 1882, after the French army conquered Hanoi, the bridge was constructed in 1899 and completed in 1902. A symbol of the tenacity and resilience of the Hanoian people, the Long Bien Bridge was bombed on several occasions during the American War, and each time quickly repaired by the Vietnamese. The bridge, used by trains, mopeds and pedestrians, is undergoing reconstruction to restore its original appearance. It's colourfully illuminated at night.
6.
Visiting Hanoi Train Street in Hanoi is one of the Best Things To Do to learn and explore Hanoi local life. Rather than being a normal road with car or motorbike traffic, it has actual real railway lines running through it. Nestled in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, this narrow alley attracts travelers hoping to snap a picture on the active train track, and even catch a train whizz by! This alley is actually a residential area - many locals have converted their houses into quaint little cafes where you can sip on traditional egg coffee. It is a very wonderful experience once visting Hanoi city.
7. Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House (French: Opéra de Hanoï) was erected by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911 (you are allowed to visit the outside of the building). It is one of three opera houses that the French built during their time in Indochina, the others are Haiphong Opera House and Municipal Theatre in Ho Chi Minh city. It was modeled on the Palais Garnier, the older of Paris's two opera houses, and is considered to be one of the architectural landmarks of Hanoi. The main architectural style of the Opera House is Neoclassicism. After the departure of the French the opera house became the scene for several political events. as well as the scene of street fighting during the fight for Hanoi. After this place, our car and driver will drop you off same pickup place. End of the service!

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : John_H
Excellent city experience. Our guide Ken was a wealth of information and provided flexibility to see other sites not included in the original tour! Certainly made our trip to Hanoi complete! Thank you
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-19 22:21:02

Posted By : zanite58
We were picked up right on time. Nhiet our guide outlined the schedule very well and it was in agreement with the Viator description. Unfortunately the mausoleum was closed but we still visited the park. His knowledge of local history and points of interest was extensive and provided we engaged with him he was more than keen to take time to share and explain.
This is a potentially busy itinerary with little time for idling around but he allowed plenty of time for photos and exploration. Timing was governed by the train schedule for the day and we arrived at train street 10 min before the train, provided with a drink of our choice - a beer each, and watched the train navigate the narrow alleyway.
Our driver was always somewhere close for the next journey.
All said an informative and very worthwhile 4 hours
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-19 21:37:15

Posted By : Karyn_T
Ken was my favourite tour guide of my trip to Vietnam! He was enthusiastic & fun. He was also happy to answer any questions & repeat any information I had already forgot 😎
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-01 08:13:31

Posted By : Bob_R
Tour was excellent (Njet) who showed us great places and explained the history. Unfortunately, we had received a confirmation for a new appointment time, but the tour operator did not inform our guide, so started late! Hanoi is an amazing city!

Bob Rajan (Munich, Germany)
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-29 06:51:25

Posted By : Rasika_K
The tour was well organized. Our tour guide Linh was very informative and gave us a holistic view of the city. He was on time and made sure we could be at the train street when there was a train scheduled to passby. Our driver Lan was a safe driver and was very prompt in picking us up.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-25 04:46:06

Posted By : 710maddiek
Excellent half day tour covering many points of interest. Train Street was amazing and it really helped having the booking at the cafe all ready for us. Our tour guide Linh was amazing and so full of knowledge and great stories.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-21 21:50:32

Posted By : Maddie_K
Excellent half day tour covering many points of interest. Train Street was amazing and it really helped having the booking at the cafe all ready for us. Our tour guide Linh was amazing and so full of knowledge and great stories.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-21 21:47:18

Posted By : John_R
We were met at our hotel by a driver who didn’t speak a word of English. He pulled up over a half hour later at a temple and the guide opened the door, said hello and it was off to the races - literally. The guide walked much too fast, we asked him twice to slow down. The first temple had kindergarten graduations going on and it’s not in my nature to push aside young children in order to keep up with a tour guide. Ho Chi Minh mausoleum was closed due to an event and an alternate attraction was not offered, the tour was simply shortened without compensation. We asked to go in the adjacent museum instead and the guide said, “At your expense!” The guide tried to talk us out of egg coffee at Train Street due to “poor quality.” There was nothing wrong with the quality. We had 5 minute photo stops at the cathedral and opera house. We asked to go inside the cathedral and the guide said it was closed for lunch. He hurried us through a market.

The driver picked us up at 0930 and the drive to central Hanoi took nearly 40 minutes. After the rush through the market at the conclusion of the tour it was only 1230. We asked for an hour of free time in the old quarter being driven back to the hotel. The guide told us that we either went back to the hotel immediately or we could take a taxi back later at our own expense. I asked how much a taxi would cost back to the JW Marriott and his reply was, “I’m not a taxi driver so I don’t know!” He was horribly condescending the entire time and seemed to be in a constant rush to push us along. A private tour should be at our speed. Had we not drunk a beer after the egg coffee at Train Street (at our expense, of course), the tour would have ended shortly after noon for a total touring time of two hours for a tour advertised as a half-day tour. The guide had the nerve to ask us to book a street food tour with him. Not likely.

In short we paid over US$100 for a 2 1/2 private tour, missed one of the highlights without a substitute attraction, received zero background perspective of Hanoi and paid for our own ride back from the old quarter to the JW Marriott ($6.50, but we didn’t know beforehand). Booked through Viator but operated by a company called Paradise Indochina Travel.

Avoid this company at all costs.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-16 20:21:58

Posted By : Karen_Q
Great overview of the city with Ty excellent guide. Skipped the que and had close up piccies especially at the Tain Stations with a great guide.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-03 21:59:30

Posted By : Maureen_F
Our guide, Nhet (spelling?) was very helpful and knowledgeable. We especially enjoyed Hanoi Train Street and the Temple of Literature and University. It is disappointing that the Hanoi Opera House is not open much. No lunch is included, a Viator inaccuracy.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-04-24 04:10:01