James is an Amazing tour guide. He gets you to where locals are. We had great time knowing the culture of Hanoi.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Professional English-speaking guide
- All entrance fees
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Excludes
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Traveler pick up offered
Itinerary
Located on a small island in the middle of West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, dating back over 1,500 years. Explore the peaceful surroundings and learn about the history and significance of this ancient site.
The tour guide will take you to walk across the front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to take photos and learn about his history. We do not enter the Mausoleum, as the queue can take approximately 1.5 hours. After that, you may visit the One Pillar Pagoda if you wish.
Experience the unique sight of Train Street, where trains pass just inches away from the homes and businesses lining the tracks. Witness the daily life of the locals who live and work here and enjoy a coffee at one of the nearby cafes.
Explore Hanoi's largest indoor market, where you can find everything from fresh produce and local delicacies to clothing and souvenirs. Take your time to shop and soak in the vibrant atmosphere of this bustling market.
Hanoi Opera House – A French Colonial Architectural Gem Built by the French between 1901 and 1911, the Hanoi Opera House is one of the most iconic colonial buildings in Vietnam.
Long Bien Bridge – A Living Symbol of Hanoi Built by the French from 1899–1902, Long Bien Bridge was once among the longest bridges in the world. During the Vietnam War, it was bombed 14 times but rebuilt every time, becoming a powerful symbol of Hanoi’s resilience. Today, walking on the bridge offers stunning views of the Red River and a unique glimpse into local life—just minutes from the Old Quarter.
Start your tour with a visit to the stunning St. Joseph’s Cathedral, a prominent French colonial-era landmark.
Visit the infamous "Hanoi Hilton" (Hoa Lo Prison), a former French colonial prison that later housed American POWs during the Vietnam War.
Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the heart of Hanoi, is an important historical landmark. It is also called Sword Lake or Luc Thuy Lake. The name “Hoan Kiem” comes from the legend of King Le Loi returning the magical sword to the Golden Turtle after defeating the Ming invaders. The lake is famous for its peaceful scenery, green surroundings, and iconic structures such as Turtle Tower, The Huc Bridge, and Ngoc Son Temple.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Peter is an excellent tour guide, very knowledgeable and nice person. He speaks English really well. I highly recommend Peter!
Wonderful Private Tour with Anna – Highly Recommended! We had an absolutely wonderful experience with our guide Anna and our private driver! My husband Bertrand and I truly enjoyed every moment of our tour. Being just the two of us allowed us to explore at our own pace, making the experience even more enjoyable and personal. Anna was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing her culture and history. The tour was both fascinating and informative. We highly recommend Anna to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable experience in Hanoi. Thank you, Anna, for such a lovely day!
Great tour, guide gave lots of information. Train Street was amazing, had some good and drinks waiting for the train to pass.
What a great tour!! Sandy our guide was excellent, great English, very informative, patient and kind. We did a private tour. She set it all up perfectly and we were able to amend (skipped mausoleum) because it was a private tour. Highly recommend. Great way to get oriented to the city.
Our courteous driver and our guide Jennie were excellent. Jennie was an absolute joy to be with. She answered all our questions in detail and provided lots of extra interesting info on all the places we visited. Would highly recommend.
We had a private tour with a driver and a guide, Peter, who gave us a lot of information and a lot to think about. Recommended
Had an amazing time today with our guide Nick, he was very professional, spoke good English and explained everything really well, definitely use him again when we come back next year !
We very much enjoyed our private half day tour of Hanoi with our tour guide, Tom. The tour was well structured. The car was very comfortable and our driver was excellent. Tom was both articulate and knowledgeable and very engaging. We can highly recommend him.
Good English speaking guide who took us to and explained interesting places in Hanoi plus a great driver who drove the 4 of us safely nearly 300 KM , including pickup and return to Ha Long cruise terminal.
It was a great experience overall, learned a lot from Nick who knows everything about their history, also gave me some tips which pho and coffee shop to visit!
Sandy was our guide. She was wonderful and looked after all our needs and answered any questions we had. Our driver was also great and had the car there whenever we finished our stops. Highly recommended. Cheryl
The tour was well worth the cost. Tom was an exceptional and entertaining guide. We learned a lot from the tour. The entire experience from our hotel pickup to the tour and drop off back at our hotel excellent.
A great half day tour of Hanoi, the highlight being Train Street and Hanoi Hilton prison. Our guide Nick was friendly, helpful and knowledgable. Thanks!
Wonderful tour with Peter! Very knowledgeable guide. Highly recommend.
The people of Hanoi are super friendly and the food is amazing
It was a awesome half day tour experience with Nick who knows a lot of the history, it was definitely a great learning experience, eye opener for me about the rich history of Vietnam and how it survived! Chuc was a great driver too! Awesome team, the A team!
It was very interesting with well chosen stops along the way. The ride between stops was very welcome on a hot day. My guide was exceptionally informative, professional and articulate. The driver was prompt and professional. I couldn’t have hoped for a better experience. Thank You!
Such a wonderful experience exploring Hanoi! Our guide, Lucky was knowledgeable, professional, accommodating, and genuinely pleasant to spend the day with. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to explore Hanoi’s rich history, fascinating culture, and local traditions with someone who could provide a deeper understanding of the places we visited. Having a private guide and driver made the experience comfortable, convenient, and enjoyable. It allowed us to appreciate the city at a relaxed pace without worrying about transportation or navigating unfamiliar places. I highly recommend this private tour to anyone visiting Hanoi, especially those who appreciate a personalized and meaningful travel experience. Thank you for helping make our short stay in Vietnam such a lovely and unforgettable adventure! ️
A huge thank you to James for making our time in Vietnam so memorable. He showed us around the city with so much energy, enthusiasm and knowledge. His positive vibes, humour and genuine happiness made the whole experience so much fun. He was informative, welcoming and an absolute pleasure to spend the day with. We’ll remember this experience dearly. Thank you, James
My tour guide was absolutely incredible! He was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and welcoming from the moment I met him. His passion and insights truly made the day a memorable experience. I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for an unforgettable day out
It was a wonderful day! Our guide, Pete, was very attentive and shared so much interesting information about all the places we visited
James was an amazing guise for our 4 hour tour. It was a very pleasant surprise that we also had a private driver to safely get around Hanoi which has the most crazy traffic! James also taught us how to safely cross the streets with is “sticky rice” message (walk slow and stay next to him as he guided us safely across the street)! We went to the Train Street and James got us 2 excellent seats for the passing train. Quite a fun an unique experience! He also treated us to some delicious coffee while we waited for the train. He gave us a very wonderful tour of an important Pagoda and a heartfelt tour of the French constructed prison. Lastly upon our request, he took us to a big market to buy some local goods. We were also impressed and happy that the tour company arranged for us to be picked up at our hotel that was about on their list of available hotels. Overall I highly recommend this tour and you must ask for James to be your tour guide.
We had an amazing experience on our private half-day customised tour of Hanoi! James was an excellent tour guide — friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and very accommodating. He took us to all the main highlights, including Tran Quoc Pagoda, Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area, Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi Train Street, Dong Xuan Market, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. We also enjoyed the photo stops at Hanoi Opera House, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the beautiful French Quarter. James shared interesting stories and insights about Hanoi’s history, culture, and local life, making the experience both enjoyable and informative. Having a private customised tour made everything so much easier and more comfortable, and we really appreciated his patience and attention to detail. We highly recommend James to anyone visiting Hanoi. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, friendly guide who will help you make the most of your time in the city, James is the perfect choice. Thank you, James, for such a memorable experience! We couldn’t have asked for a better guide. 🙏🇻🇳
Peter was the best possible guide and made our first experience in Vietnam unforgettable. We would recommend this 10 out of 10.
Tom was great and very knowledgeable. We asked to adjust the tour because we had been to some of the sites already and he was quick to accommodate. I would highly recommend this tour and we may even meet up with Tom again later in our trip.
Decent way of getting an overview of the city on your first day in Hanoi. However tour felt rushed and superficial. We didn’t go to all places listed on the itinerary and at others we only drove by and were told to take a photo out of the car window. The guide seemed anxious to speed us round the Hanoi Hilton, which was probably the most interesting stop and we could have spent much longer there.
This Tour is personalized. Your choice, your pace, your favourite things. Sandy is so sweet. She’s patient, hospitable and has great communication
The tour with Tom was very good! Tom was funny flexible and knowledgeable. Would recommend if you want a chill lowkey tour of some of Hanoi's gems.
The half day tour with Sandy was fantastic. I would very much recommmend anybody coming to Hanoi to take the time out and do this.
Tom was a really fun and knowledgeable tour guide, he explained the history behind all the locations visited and did it all with a smile on his face. I would happily do a tour with Tom again!
Our Hanoi Customized Private City Tour with Train Street was fabulous. Our guide Sandy and driver An, were both friendly, personable & informative. They customized our tour to fit our likes & helped me to buy the jade bangle I wanted. Definitely recommend this tour for all.
Excellent tour of the key places. Guide was great and very knowledgeable. Everything went smoothly. Great experience
Our Hanoi tour was an absolute highlight of our trip, and that's entirely thanks to Peter. He was an incredible guide: warm, funny, and genuinely passionate about his city. Somehow we got to see what felt like the whole of Hanoi in a single tour, from the bustling Old Quarter streets to quiet temples and lakeside corners we never would have found on our own, and it never felt rushed. Peter was a wealth of knowledge. Every stop came with stories about Hanoi's history, culture, food, and daily life, and he answered every question we threw at him with real insight. We came away understanding the city, and country. It was the best possible way to be introduced to the country, and it set the tone for the rest of our trip. Thank you, Peter!
Very knowledgeable helpful guide, and the driver was amazing in the busy Hanoi traffic. The both made sure the tour was a comfortable and enjoyable.
I booked the halfday city tour in Hanoi. Our guide, James, was wonderful. He’s very knowledgeable about the country’s history and culture. He knows where to go to for real tasting local coffee that you can bring back home. He has a lot of tips for fabulous restaurants. Having egg coffee in Train Street is one of a kind experience you shouldn’t miss out.
Honestly was the best way to experience the real Hanoi, we got to visit the iconic train street with a coffee up close and personal. Our guide didn’t make it feel like a boring tour but a friend showing off his city and culture. He knew details about every place we went and taught us the good and bad sides to Hanoi. The price was well worth it especially in comparison to the big groups. We did a half day which was great and with a driver it made the trip so seamless. Would recommend if you want to experience Hanoi and see the real culture.
James our tour guide was fantastic. He was very knowledgeable, courteous and had a great sense of humor as well as spoke excellent English. We would not have been able to cover all of the great locations on our own. I highly recommend taking this tour with James.
Our tour guide was James. He knows the local history, culture, geography, and hidden spots well. He spoke clearly and funny. He answered questions well. He was friendly and we crossed the busy streets safely together like "sticky rice". We learned a lot about Hanoi from him.
Had the most awesome tour guide and he made the experience memorable We just clicked and he managed to read me and adapt the tour to my preferences
I thoroughly enjoyed my tour today with Tom, who was engaging and fun to be with. Of course we covered the main sights, which were fascinating, but it was his commentary that brought it all to life. I thoroughly recommend!
Pete our guide was great. Our driver was also fantastic. No way I could have drove to all the spots we went to in that traffic. Pete was very knowledgeable and flexible. Due to construction causing some traffics delays in the area, he adjusted our schedule quickly so we still made it everything we wanted to see and still had enough time at every stop. We really wanted to experience train at and he had us at a very good cafe with time to enjoy a coffee before the train passed.
Wonderful day with Nick. He was great at explaining the history of Vietnam. Thanks very much. I would highly recommend this tour.
A great tour. Sandy the guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.
We did a private tour of Hanoi with our guide, Nick. He met us at our hotel and as per our preferences suggested a few spots to go visit in the city. The train Street was nice. I would suggest only getting drinks and not any food from the Cafe they take us to. Other than that, Nick took us to place near the Cathedral to have Bahn mi. It was the freshest I ever had. Our tour with Nick was very memorable. He kept giving interesting facts about the city and different spots, which we should visit. He explained everything very well and was chill to hang out with. I feel family and young adults will enjoy a tour with him.
This was a private tour just for us. The car was very clean and Lucky the guide was great! He spoke great English and had a good sense of humor. He recommneded places to eat and actually brought us to a roastery to buy coffee for gifts the escorted us back to our hotel
We had Lucky as a tour guide and he was awesome. Very knowledgable and patient. I asked him about 1000 questions and he answered each and every question in detail. The tour is amazing because you can customize it to your liking. We removed a couple of photo stops with Temple of Literature and it did not disappoint. Dont hesitate to book this tour.
Sandy was knowledgeable and helpful. We enjoyed the sites. A highlight was Train Street. The tea was nice as the train went by.
A definite must! Hanoi is a large city with a rich history, this tour is a must do. My guide, James, and our driver safely got me everywhere. In fact the navigation was an attraction all in itself and I don’t think I would’ve seen a fraction of the sights on my own. James was so knowledgeable, answering all my questions and filling me in on history and folklore alike. He’s even a foodie stopping at a couple of places that I had an amazing breakfast and of course a cream coffee I’m dreaming about even as I write this. Do yourself a favor and spend part of your day on this tour, you won’t regret it!
From start to finish, Peter was an exceptional guide. Even after our tour ended he shared his local food knowledge with us and offered to answer any questions we had so that we could experience the best Hanoi had to offer. We decided to do this tour on our first morning and so glad we did! He showed us places we could explore in our own time and areas we may not have ventured into. He adapted the tour to suit where we wanted to go but also let us experience some touristy areas in the less busy times so that we could take it all in without swarms of people. We thoroughly enjoyed every part of the tour and would highly recommend Peter and the tour to be your first experience of Hanoi.
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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