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Hanoi Highlights Tour: Explore Historic Hot Spots
4.7
123 Ratings
Hanoi
Just touched down in Hanoi? Need a primer on this vibrant metropolis? Leaving shortly and yet to explore the major attractions? Worry not, embark on this Hanoi tour that encompasses historical landmarks, essential monuments, and unique locales that you’d regret not visiting.
Just touched down in Hanoi? Need a primer on this vibrant metropolis? Leaving shortly and yet to explore the major attractions? Worry not, embark on this Hanoi tour that encompasses historical landmarks, essential monuments, and unique locales that you’d regret not visiting.
Duration:
4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Temple of Literature & National University - Begin the city tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature. Originally constructed in honor of Confucius by King Ly Thai Thong in 1070, a university was added to the site six years later. This university provided education to the royal family and children of the aristocracy, known as “mandarins.” The…
- Temple of Literature & National University - Begin the city tour with a visit to the Temple of Literature. Originally constructed in honor of Confucius by King Ly Thai Thong in 1070, a university was added to the site six years later. This university provided education to the royal family and children of the aristocracy, known as “mandarins.” The university remained here until King Gia Long relocated the country’s administrative capital from Hanoi to Hue at the start of the 19th century.
- Hiên Trà Trường Xuân - Visit a traditional teahouse to sample some of the finest Vietnamese flavored green teas and listen to ancient stories explaining the cultural significance of tea leaves. Tea is even more delightful when accompanied by authentic snacks such as sweetened lotus seeds and green bean cake.
- Hoa Lo Prison - The tour proceeds to the Hoa Lo Prison museum. Initially used by French colonists for political prisoners until 1954, and later by North Vietnam for American POWs, the prison complex was ironically nicknamed the “Hanoi Hilton” by American pilots during the Vietnam War (1954-1975). Notable former prisoners of war include Pete Peterson (the first US ambassador to a unified Vietnam in 1995) and US Senator John McCain.
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral - The next stop is the largest and oldest church in Hanoi. St. Joseph’s Cathedral, built in 1886, features an architectural style often compared to the Notre Dame de Paris. This Gothic Revival church is not only a religious site but also a popular photo backdrop for local teenagers.
- Cầu Thê Húc - The tour continues to the heart of Hanoi - the Hoan Kiem Lake, with its stunning The Huc Bridge and Ngoc Son temple. Experience the spiritual harmony of different religions coexisting in one place.
- Hoan Kiem Lake Walking Street - The tour concludes with a lunch featuring Pho, a must-try dish in Vietnam, before ending the tour.

What's Included
- Stroll along the legendary Sword Lake
- 1-way minivan transport included
- Explore Ngoc Son Temple (Entrance Ticket Included)
- Enjoy local tea and green bean cake at a traditional teahouse
- Guidance by a friendly local English-speaking guide
- Savor a traditional bowl of Pho for lunch
- Receive personalized tips for your stay
- Admire St Joseph’s…
- Stroll along the legendary Sword Lake
- 1-way minivan transport included
- Explore Ngoc Son Temple (Entrance Ticket Included)
- Enjoy local tea and green bean cake at a traditional teahouse
- Guidance by a friendly local English-speaking guide
- Savor a traditional bowl of Pho for lunch
- Receive personalized tips for your stay
- Admire St Joseph’s Cathedral, Hanoi’s largest and oldest church
- Discover the 1,000-year-old Temple of Literature (Entrance Ticket Included)
- Visit the historic Hoa Lo Prison, known as the “Hanoi Hilton” (Entrance Ticket Included)
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Additional food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Additional food and drinks
Additional Information
- Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour
- For this tour, we can cater for the following dietary requirements: vegetarians, lactose intolerance and gluten-free (but not gluten sensitiveness). Please provide this information at least 24-hours prior to your travel date. Unfortunately, we are not able to cater for any other dietary…
- Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour
- For this tour, we can cater for the following dietary requirements: vegetarians, lactose intolerance and gluten-free (but not gluten sensitiveness). Please provide this information at least 24-hours prior to your travel date. Unfortunately, we are not able to cater for any other dietary requirements that are not listed above.
- Please note that this tour covers 1.5 km (1 mile) of walking.
Location
Temple of Literature & National University
Quoc Tu Giam Street, Dong Da District
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(123 Ratings)
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T7820cxrobynw
Dec 6, 2025
Well spent morning - Was a beautiful tour and An was a lovely guide, gave us lots of facts and was happy to assist. Loved that she is so proud of her country and how far it has come.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roz1807
Oct 23, 2025
Exactly what we wanted - An was an amiable and knowledgeable guide who tailored the tour to our family beautifully. We enjoyed getting a grounding in Hanoi and being taken to spots we'd otherwise not have experienced. The Tea house was lovely and quiet and Pho for lunch was a perfect finish to our half day out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mandybw4160la
Oct 22, 2025
Hanoi Morning with An - We had a great morning exploring some of the quieter side of Hanoi with An. Loved the tea house (with cats!) and the temple of Literature. An was able to present the information in a fun and engaging way so that even our teen enjoyed herself.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Frank
Oct 13, 2025
100% worth doing as a first timer in Hanoi - Today I went on a tour with Hanoi Urban Adventures. I did the "Private Hanoi: Crowd-free Morning Highlights of the City" tour, booked via the Intrepid website.
An was my tour guide for the day. An introduced herself and spoke English, which was great for me who only knows very little Vietnamese. The tour started with a car pickup from my hotel which was very convenient.
We started off at the University Temple of Literature, then to traditional tea house "Hien Minh" where I was able to try local red leaf and lotus tea. It was very delicious and the tea house was very calming in contrast to the busy and hectic Hanoi streets just outside.
Afterwards, we went to Hỏa Lò prison (Hanoi Hilton) that was used by both the French during their time in power and later the North Vietnamese to imprison captured US soldiers during the Vietnam war.
Later, An took me to see Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Sword Lake) and the Đền Ngọc Sơn temple in the centre.
Finally, we finished at Phở Thìn Bờ Hồ with a bowl of traditional beef Phở.
It was a great tour and An was very informative, with a great wealth of knowledge to share about Hanoi. Thank you, An!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennap551
Oct 6, 2025
Hanoi food tour and city tour - Tommy did a wonderful job as a guide for the food tour and the Hanoi city tour. I was very happy to have him as my guide for both activities. He is knowledgeable, friendly and didn’t mind when I stopped to take photos or go into a shop. He is a terrific guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
437daphnev
Aug 1, 2025
Amazing tour! - The trip was amazing and a great start for our Hanoi visit. Our tourguide An was very good. She knew alot about the places that we visited and was well-versed in English!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davematt00
Jun 30, 2025
Great tour! - Tommy was a great tour guide. He picked us up exactly on time from our hotel. He was very good at explaining the history of all of the places on the tour. I’d highly recommend doing this tour if you have a free morning in Hanoi.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lohnetm
Jun 24, 2025
Location and history experience - An was a fantastic guide. She was passionate and very knowledgeable about the significance of the places she took us too. She catered for our extra needs as well. Highly recommended if you are interested in history
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F5205vzchrisj
Apr 13, 2025
Hanoi experience - Our tour guide An was great. She gave us a really good insight into Vietnam’s history over the past century and it was great to hear from the point of view of a qualified person of a younger generation. We thoroughly enjoyed An’s tour and the whole experience in Hanoi. The lunch experience was something we won’t forget, not going through the Hanoi “Hilton”. Sad, but we wanted to understand. Thanks An and Urban Adventures
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kayeo319
Aug 19, 2025
It was a good window into the history of Hanoi and Vietbam - An was very informative and knowledgeable and explained what was the meaning or history behind certain items or artefacts. She was always pleasant and engaging
Review provided by Tripadvisor