Hanoi Tours: The best way for you to have the most perfect Hanoi visit

Hanoi Overview

Located on the banks Red River in Northern Vietnam, Hanoi is the capital city and the center of the economy, politics, and culture of the country.

For its long rich history of more than 1000 years, Hanoi is among the oldest capitals with ancient and colonial architecture. This site of Hanoi has been intensively maintained parallelly with the comprehensive urbanization, both combined to create an interesting tourist attraction.

As the connection to sites like Halong Bay, Sapa, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, etc., Hanoi is surely a center of Northern Vietnam tourism. In this article, we will recommend the best way for you to have the most perfect Hanoi tours and how to take tours departing from Hanoi.

Hanoi Overview

Famous Tourist Destinations in Hanoi

The Old Quarter

Signature for narrow but bustling streets, the Old Quarter represents the eternal soul of Hanoi as you can actually capture the real life of Hanoi people in the local houses remaining. Initially named “Hanoi 36 Pho Phuong” (Hanoi 36 streets), this area owns trading streets that are named after the original businesses of each (cotton, bamboo, buckets, silver,...).

This quarter is unmissable on your day trip to Hanoi as its fascinating medieval-era architecture of various temples and pagodas, hustling restaurants, bars, and cafes.

Due to the strict historic preservation law, each house has limited space. Nevertheless, locals manage to contain shop-houses on the ground floor and live above for generations, how interesting is that!

To travel here, you can take Hanoi motorbike tours, Hanoi cyclo tours, or wander on foot. Follow us on our day trips in Hanoi to explore the unique Old Quarter and the stories behind the busy and hustle appearance!

Hoan Kiem Lake

Nestled on the southern edge of the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake (Ho Guom) attracts a lot of tourists each year for its picturesque and tranquil beauty. It is considered a historical complex, surely taking you back to the history of this city with legends tagging each construction: Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, and most signature - Turtle Tower (you may wonder why it looks nothing like “turtle”, but the actual meaning can be explained by a legend!).

This area is in our many Hanoi tours, which include nearby attractions such as The Historic St. Joseph’s Cathedral and Hanoi Opera House tickets, and it is undoubtedly a favorite spot for tourists, especially foreigners. You can enjoy sightseeing the panoramic view of various activities and people wandering around Hoan Kiem Lake while enjoying a Trang Tien ice cream.

Hoan Kiem Lake Overview

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

Ho Chi Minh's Vestige Complex, including the Stilt House, Presidential Palace, and Ho Chi Minh Museum, is surely a must-visit in your Hanoi city tours. As a place of pilgrimage for all the Vietnamese, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum reserves the tomb of Ho Chi Minh in a glass case - the greatest President of Vietnam who leads the Vietnamese Revolution. The complex also preserves the President’s personal memorabilia and historical information about the revolution.

Museums

If you want to look even closer at Vietnam’s grand history and treasure other intangible values, check out our Hanoi Jeep Tours, including visits to Hanoi museums that can not be found anywhere else in the country. Hoa Lo Prison Museum, built in the late 19th century, was originally used to harbor Vietnamese revolutions by the French colonial government.

Besides, the Temple of Literature, the National Museum of Vietnamese History, and the Fine Art Museum of Vietnam are also great places to immerse yourself in artistry and historical stories.

Vietnam’s history is a dark and glorious site of a country heavily affected by war for centuries. If you are a history lover or simply want to know more about others pieces of this huge historical picture, major cities such as Ho Chi Minh and Hue also own diverse historical sites to explore.

Artisan Villages: Van Phuc and Bat Trang

Bat Trang Ceramic Village

Stay away from the busy and vibrant city center; these peaceful outskirts of Hanoi are well-known for their traditional handicraft production. If you want to purchase silk products, one of the most precious goods ever since, head to the village of Van Phuc.

Only 10 km from the center area to the southwest, the village provides pretentious silk clothing and accessories in colorful and unique shapes - all produced by Van Phuc’s weavers.

Want to experience the traditional way of creating ceramic work? You should really visit Bat Trang, a ceramic village located 16 kilometers southwest of the city center. Plenty of huge ceramic stores here provide most products for the Northern region so you might see some in Hanoi’s boutiques, but surely at a much more affordable price.

We offer daily tours to Bat Trang Ceramic Village that include all transport, meals, and tour guide. You can even make your own ceramic work with the instruction of skillful handicraftsmen!

Weather in Hanoi

Owning a tropical humid monsoon climate, Hanoi has two distinct types of weather and is divided into 4 separate seasons. The summer here is covered with heavy rains and strong sunshine, while dry and cold weather characterizes the winter in Hanoi.

Meanwhile, many tourists agree that spring and autumn are the best time to visit the city, as the weather is quite gentle and dry, ideal to explore all the attractions and diverse culinary choices.

Northern spring in general features drizzles, blooming plants, and flowers on every corner. Visiting at this time of the year, you will see a dreamy Hanoi covered in a veil of mist, a little cold but not too harsh a temperature to make hot specialties even tastier.

If you like breezy weather and roads with falling leaves, autumn in Hanoi might be the best time to pay a visit here. The fall in the old capital has such a unique vibe that it is considered the best season.

Take a Hanoi day trip and you will enjoy the gentle sunshine and appealing scenery of the streets in Hanoi and explore the delicate dishes only available in autumn.

Transportations in Hanoi

Plane

As the head of the country, Hanoi is the focal point connected to all transport systems in surrounding provinces and the other parts of the country, which make it quite convenient to reach this destination.

Vietnam has a fine network of domestic flights throughout the country, so you can transit by plane from any region to Hanoi with popular airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airlines, Jetstar Airlines, and Vietjet airlines. As one of the biggest airports in Vietnam, Hanoi International Airport also connects with many global airlines such as AirAsia, Asiana airline, Qatar airline, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines,...

Therefore, you only need to arrive at the airport and then travel from Hanoi Airport to the city center.

Vietnam Airport Car offers private cars with various seat options and car models and guarantees professional service, check out to pre-book a ride to central Hanoi.

Plane in Hanoi Airport

Train

If you travel domestically from other parts of Vietnam, there are trains from North to South and vice versa as most big cities in Vietnam have train station systems. Hanoi has two train stations: Le Duan Street train station serves trains from North to South and vice versa, and the other Tran Quy Cap train station for travel to Lao Cai.

This transportation is an interesting experience when you can enjoy the picturesque scenery through the window in a rustic carriage, altogether bringing a vintage and tranquil vibe at a really affordable price.

Train in Hanoi Station

Open Bus

The open bus is a popular transport favored by many Vietnamese. These buses provide sleep boxes with basic services (water, WI-FI, and stops for dining). Another plus point is that the price is reasonable for a fast trip, as drivers are often quite skillful and travel safely even during dark nights.

Getting around the city

With so many things to do and places to see in Hanoi, it is essential to make some ahead research for easy getting in and around the city.

One convenient way to move from place to place if you travel alone is Grab Bike. You can wave a traditional driver on the street or download apps to book technology Grab. Besides, the city’s bus system is distributed in most areas of the city, so it is a convenient way to travel around Hanoi, both center and outskirts.

Explore Hanoi with the double-decker Bus

The bus ticket is cheap so it is undoubtedly crowded, especially in rush hours. Taxi is another choice if you prefer privacy and quick traveling time. However, you had better choose a reliable brand and check the meter box in the front seat for an evident price.

Apart from those, travel by tour is a great choice if you want a comfortable experience while not having to worry about catching a taxi or which bus to get in. We provide many tours with various transportation (Vespa, scooter, cyclo, private car,...) depending on your personal schedule and preferred way to explore Hanoi.

Accommodations in Hanoi

Hanoi is the organizing location for many huge conferences and seminars, also a base for multi-day tours to surrounding attractions like Halong Bay and Ninh Binh, … Therefore, it is no surprise that the city offers plenty of choices when it comes to accommodations.

For exquisite and attentive service and fully furnished rooms, you can choose big hotels located on busy streets. For a more economical option, guest houses and homestays in Hanoi also have good quality and sprinkles throughout all the areas of the city. You will be welcomed by friendly hosts and some even support you with bikes or motorbikes to travel around.

Whatever accommodation you choose to enjoy your time in Hanoi, there are Hanoi tours that will pick you up exactly at your hotel/homestay or just a few miles away from those. Check out our most chosen Hanoi tours and explore Hanoi in the best way.

Sofitel Metropole Hanoi

Hanoi City Tour

With the diverse number of attractions in Hanoi and its heavy traffic in bustling streets, it can be difficult for visitors to plan their journey in Hanoi. No worry because we are offering day tours for you to experience Hanoi in many different ways, whether it is visiting the most popular attractions or discovering the unseen Hanoi and its local lifestyle.

Hanoi motorbike tours

For an insight feeling of the Hanoi lifestyle, you can choose among Hanoi motorbike tours to actually see Hanoi by joining the traffic. Many interesting locations in Hanoi are inaccessible by car and hard to find on walking, so a motorbike is the best way to thread through narrow alleyways. The motorbike is the most common vehicle in Vietnam for a reason!

Hanoi tours by Vespa are the most common transportation according to many tourists coming to this city. What makes this Italian scooter popular is the brakes which provide extra safety. The step-through frame also fits all the drivers as women could ride it in skirts.

Hanoi motorbike tours

During Hanoi Vespa tours, it is guaranteed in terms of safety and easy stops for trying different dishes and desserts. Moreover, you can observe and learn how people live their lives in Hanoi as the scooter move gently across the busy streets. Instead of cramming into a crowded minivan, join Hanoi motorbike tours to zip through the Hanoi streets on the back of a scooter, seeing sights like the West Lake and the Dong Xuan Market to appreciate the backstreets and hidden alleys to vibrant organized chaotic streets.

Hanoi Jeep Tour

Jeep is a one-in-a-lifetime way to sightsee through Hanoi. As you explore Hanoi in a jeep from the Soviet era, you will get a unique chance to experience the city's sights, sounds, and scents.

Discover a combination of the city's top attractions and undiscovered wonders in Vietnam's capital while learning about the history of the nation from your tour guide on Hanoi Jeep Tour through stops such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Fine Art Museum of Vietnam,...

You can select between morning, afternoon, or evening tours and your package will also include a great street food, dinner and a drink.

Hanoi Jeep Tour

Hanoi Cyclo Tour

Have you traveled by cyclo before? This is a totally interesting experience as you can enjoy the panoramic view of streets and attractions because your driver pedals behind you. However, it could sometimes be a bit hair-raising at first when coming to large junctions, and traffic appeared to come from every direction, so hold on to your hats!

Our cyclo tours will lead you to watch the national flag raised at Ba Dinh Square and admire city highlights like Dong Xuan Market, Opera House, Josepth Cathedral Church, the Old Quarter, and so much more. Hassle-free and gently traveling from place to place, you can snap photos from the comfortable seat.

Hanoi Cyclo Tour

Contact us now to have the best day trip cyclo tour in Hanoi!

Hanoi Food Tours

Our selection of Hanoi Food tours offers visitors a culinary itinerary through Hanoi 36 streets, which is famous for not only mouth-watering but nutritious dishes. Besides, with the distinct 4 seasons, Hanoi gives visitors diverse choices of food and beverages depending on the weather and the time of the year.

Wandering around central Hanoi, sample street food like locals: Hanoi Pho, Cha Ca La Vong, Buncha, and Banh tom (shrimp pancake),... this is promised to be an interesting trip that you can learn about cuisine culture during your holiday in Hanoi.

To find the best Hanoi food tours for you, check out our available Hanoi Street food tours for fast and easy booking!

Hanoi Food Tours

Tours Depart From Hanoi

As the center of many surrounding attractions in Northern Vietnam, there are many tours that depart from Hanoi daily at various time frames, one day or multi-day.

Halong bay Tours from Hanoi

Halong Bay is a scenic UNESCO Heritage Site living up to the hype, located in Quang Ninh province. Taking about 3 hours to drive from Hanoi to Halong Bay, this is one of the most attractive lands for tourists to have a day trip from Hanoi. “Halong” - the bay’s name means descending dragons, named after the shapes of the limestone outcrops that poke out from the water’s surface.

Indeed, the scenery here is mainly described by spectacular limestone mountains on the water. Some of the must-see natural attractions in Halong Bay are Cat Ba Island, Ti Top Island, Tuan Chau Island,... Cat Ba Island might be the most famous, favorably called the wonderland of nature.

This place is truly an amazing natural wonder created by rock and water. You can enjoy swimming, cave-seeing, and exploring remote uninhabited islands.

Halong bay Tours from Hanoi

Halong Bay can be traveled from Hanoi Airport in 3 ways: bus, taxi, or private car. We offer Halong Bay tours from Hanoi including cruise routes, boat trips, visiting fishing villages and so much more.

The trip can also be tailor-made as your requirement and budget, so contact us to have further information and enjoy your best journey in Halong Bay.

Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi

Not too far from Hanoi city center, only more than 90 km is what it takes to reach Trang An, Ninh Binh - a breathtaking landscape complex for nature lovers. Proudly to be a dual World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Trang An complex is known for its pagodas, grottoes, rivers, and magnificent limestone mountains.

Sitting on a small boat and floating slowly along the river, you can immerse yourself in the panorama of the marvelous natural landscape. Besides, the Tam Coc - Bich Dong complex is also a must to explore when you come to Ninh Binh.

The most popular stop on Tam Coc tours is Mua Cave (Cave of Dance or Dancing Cave) its unique appearance and stunning stalactites make it one of the best instagrammable destinations.

Ninh Binh Day Trip from Hanoi

Mai Chau tours from Hanoi

Lying in Hoa Binh province, Mai Chau is 110 km away from Hanoi. This mountainous region has become one of the most desirable attractions in northern Vietnam thanks to its pristine beauty, lush greenery, and hustle-free atmosphere. Traveling to Mai Chau, visitors can’t miss ethnic villages and one of them is Lac Village, the charming land of Mai Chau. Here you can understand more about the daily life of the ethnic groups, so as their unique cultures.

On the way to Mai Chau to start the tour, you will visit the Thung Khe Pass - a perfect spot to observe the breathtaking scenery of Mai Chau. Our tours also provide various local specialties of Mai Chau such as grilled fish, free-run chicken, or five-color sticky rice,... tasty and unique due to the local ingredients and secret recipes of the Mai Chau people.

Relax in Mai Chau

Sapa tours from Hanoi

Sapa is surely a tourist center in Northern Vietnam with stunning nature and irresistible specialties. With a distance of more than 300 km from Hanoi, the route to Sapa is quite abrupt, but the scenery on both sides of the road is totally worth it.

Our tour guide on Sapa Tours will lead you from landscape to cuisines such as Thit Trau Gac Bep (Dried buffalo meat), Ga Nuong Tieu Xanh (grilled chicken with green pepper), and bamboo-tube sticky rice.

Ha Giang Province from Hanoi

Ha Giang travel experience

Located in the pole of Northern Vietnam, Ha Giang is one of the most remote provinces in the country. With green forests and granite mountains, colorful flowers, and beautiful terrace fields, Ha Giang is considered a spectacular mountain kingdom of Vietnam.

Visiting the land, you can explore stunningly breathtaking mountains, conquer the natural landscape and learn about ethnic diversity. Some of the common attractions in Ha Giang that can be named are Ma Pi Leng Pass, Dong Van Market, and Lung Cu Flagpole.

We designed optimal Ha Giang loop tours from Hanoi to ensure the best experience depending on your preference and time & money budget.