Hanoi City Tour of Tran Quoc Pagoda Ho Chi Minh Complex Temple of Literature & Hoa Lo Prison

Depart from your Old Quarter hotel
and explore Hanoi's top historic sights

After pickup from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter, you travel by air-conditioned vehicle to the city's temples, heritage sites and museums with a guide. Choose a half-day or full-day tour, each available as a private or group tour. The full-day tour starts with hotel pickup between 8:00 and 8:30 AM and returns to your hotel around 4:15 to 4:30 PM.

Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda and the Ho Chi Minh Complex

Your first stop is Tran Quoc Pagoda on a small island in West Lake. It is Hanoi's oldest Buddhist temple, with over 1,500 years of history, and you can enjoy its architecture, gardens and lakeside views.

Next, head to the Ho Chi Minh Complex to stroll through the presidential gardens and around President Ho Chi Minh's simple stilt house while learning about his life. You will also see the lotus-shaped One Pillar Pagoda.

Meet Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups at the Museum of Ethnology

At the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, browse exhibits on the costumes, rituals and lifestyles of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups and explore the traditional houses in the outdoor area. On Mondays, the tour visits the Vietnamese Women's Museum instead.

On the full-day tour, you then enjoy a lunch of traditional Vietnamese dishes made with fresh local ingredients at a local restaurant.

Look back on history at the Temple of Literature and Hoa Lo Prison

In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first national university founded in the 11th century, and walk through its courtyards, gardens and buildings honoring Confucius and generations of scholars.

Finally, explore the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, built during French colonial rule and later associated with American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. The tour ends with a drive back to your hotel, or you can get off near Train Street to explore the city on your own.

※ The itinerary above is based on the full-day tour.
※ The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed every Monday and Friday and from June 15 to August 15 each year for maintenance. You can still visit the surrounding complex during these times.