Private Hanoi City Tour – Full Day (8 Hours)

Minimum 2 People | $85 USD per person

HANOI CITY FULL DAY PRIVATE TOUR BY CAR Overview:

Explore Hanoi’s most iconic landmarks, rich history, and vibrant culture with a private, guided full-day tour. Visit ancient temples, colonial relics, and bustling city streets — all curated to give you a deep and personal experience of Vietnam’s capital.

Duration: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (8 Hours)
Price: $85 per person (minimum 2 people)
Tour Type: Private, air-conditioned car and expert guide

HANOI CITY FULL DAY PRIVATE TOUR BY CAR Highlights:

Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Vietnam’s revered revolutionary leader’s final resting place
Explore B52 Lake, home to a famous war relic in a residential neighborhood
Discover the historic Van Mieu (Temple of Literature), Vietnam’s first national university dating back to 1070
Tour the Hoa Lo Prison Museum (“Hanoi Hilton”), a French colonial-era prison with deep history
Experience the charming Hanoi Old Quarter and the Quan Thanh Temple
Enjoy authentic traditional Vietnamese cuisine for lunch

HANOI CITY FULL DAY PRIVATE TOUR BY CAR Itinerary:

Part 1: Hotel Pickup & Cultural Highlights

Your day starts with a punctual pickup from your hotel by your private guide and driver in an air-conditioned vehicle, ensuring a cool, comfortable ride through bustling Hanoi. En route, your guide outlines the day’s schedule and shares background on Vietnam’s dynastic eras. Begin at the serene Temple of Literature—founded in 1070 and often called Vietnam’s first university. Stroll through its stone-stelae courtyards, ancient banyan trees, and turtle statues, learning how royal scholars once studied Confucian classics in this scholarly sanctuary. Next, proceed to the imposing Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where a sense of quiet respect pervades as visitors pay tribute to the nation’s founding father. Your guide will explain the symbolism of Ba Dinh Square and the significance of the simple stilt house where Ho Chi Minh once lived.

Part 2: Historical Sites & War Memories

Delve deeper into modern history with a visit to Huu Tiep (B-52) Lake, where the jagged remains of a downed American bomber still emerge from the water. Your guide will recount the dramatic events of December 1972 and the city’s resilience during the Christmas Bombing campaign, offering a poignant reminder of war and reconciliation. Continue to the Hoa Lo Prison Museum—grimly nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton.” Inside the preserved cells and exhibits, you’ll gain sobering insights into French colonial oppression, the struggle for independence, and later POW experiences during the Vietnam War. This segment provides an unvarnished look at the hardships and endurance etched into Vietnam’s collective memory.

Part 3: Traditional Lunch & Spiritual Interlude

By midday, recharge with a leisurely lunch at a hand-picked local restaurant renowned for its authentic Vietnamese flavors—from aromatic pho or bun cha to fragrant vegetarian specialties. Your guide can suggest house favorites or accommodate special dietary requests. After lunch, head to Quan Thanh Temple, one of Hanoi’s oldest Taoist sanctuaries dating back over a millennium. Dedicated to Tran Vu, the “Guardian of the North,” the temple’s intricate wood carvings, bronze statues, and tranquil courtyard offer a serene counterpoint to the morning’s bustling streets. Light an incense stick if you wish, and listen as your guide explains Taoist symbolism and local legends that keep these traditions alive.

Part 4: Hanoi Old Quarter Walk & Return

No visit to Hanoi is complete without exploring the vibrant Old Quarter. Your guide will lead you through its maze of 36 guild streets—each historically dedicated to a specific craft—where aromas of grilled skewers mingle with the sound of scooter horns and street vendors’ calls. Pause to sample a sweet che dessert or browse lacquerware and silk shops tucked behind narrow façades. Feel free to pick up souvenirs or practice bargaining with your guide’s help. As the tour winds down, step back into your air-conditioned vehicle for a comfortable ride to your hotel, reflecting on a day that seamlessly blended Hanoi’s ancient heritage, wartime stories, sacred sites, and modern street life.