Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour in Vietnam
Description
Take a walking tour of the Old Quarter, which was formerly known for its "36 guild streets," but there are still mysteries and tales hiding around every corner. When you combine it with the French Quarter, which has completely different architecture, buildings, and ambiance, you get a whole new, intriguing sense of nostalgia for the general beauty and culture of the capital city of Hanoi.
Tour Options
Itinerary
09.00/14.00: Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel and start the walking tour to discover the charm of the Old & French Quarter.
The Kim Ngân communal house is located on Hang Bac street in Hanoi's old quarter. It is one of three structures built for social gatherings and worship of a legendary figure revered as the inventor of all trades. During the Indochina conflict, the structure was used as a training center for nurses and troops, as well as a lecture hall for teaching Vietnamese Romanized script. From 1954 through 2009, a number of families lived there, but by 2009, the remaining 25 households had been relocated in an effort to restore the structure to a close approximation of its original design. The repair work was carried out by Hoan Kiem District specialists with technical support from Toulouse, France.
Visit the wonderfully renovated Heritage House (also known as "Memorial House") to gain a better sense of the layout of tube-houses. A volunteer will generally accompany you through the many rooms and courtyards, pointing you to the magnificent carvings on the doors and balustrades, as well as specimens of traditional fine arts and handicrafts on display, like ceramics and silk paintings. A calligrapher can be practicing his craft in a corner, while a seamstress might be working on an embroidered painting. Some goods are for sale and could make a unique keepsake. (Please note that you have to cover the entrance fee for the guide also $1/p)
The Bach Ma Temple, erected in the 11th century during the reign of Emperor Ly Thai To, is the oldest of its kind and an important structure in Vietnamese religion. It is permissible to visit the temple; however, appropriate clothes are required to show respect to the monks who live there.
President Ho Chi Minh penned the Declaration of Independence that established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in late August 1945, inside the house at No. 48 Hang Ngang Street in Hanoi. Historical artifacts and evidence related with President Ho Chi Minh have been preserved.
Hoan Kiem Lake is one of Vietnam's most recognizable lakes, located right in the heart of the Old Quarter. Turtle Tower is surrounded by its peaceful waters and natural beauty. Ngoc Son Temple, an 18th-century pagoda accessible by Huc bridge, a stunning red and wooden footbridge, is located to the side. The shrine honors military commander Tran Hung Dao, who battled off Mongol invaders in the 13th century. Take a walk around the lake and pick a cafe where you can sit and enjoy the wonderful colors of the lake and street performers. This is best enjoyed on weekends between 7 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Sunday, when vehicles are prohibited, giving walkers a rare opportunity to dominate the streets. Hoan Kiem Lake, often known as the restored sword lake, is well-known among Vietnamese. According to legend, a turtle bestowed a magical sword on Le Loi, an old warlord, who used it to destroy the invading Chinese Ming dynasty before returning it to its true owner, the dragon king.
Ngoc Son Temple, an 18th-century pagoda accessible by Huc bridge, a stunning red and wooden footbridge, is located to the side. The shrine honors military commander Tran Hung Dao, who battled off Mongol invaders in the 13th century. Take a walk around the lake and pick a cafe where you can sit and enjoy the wonderful colors of the lake and street performers.
St. Joseph's Cathedral is a Catholic church on Nhà Chung Street, in the Hoàn Kiếm District of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is a late 19th-century Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic style) church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi. The cathedral is named after Joseph, the patron saint of Vietnam.
Our guide will take you back to your hotel.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Number 23 Ma May street. Our guides will contact you through Whatsapp so please check your message.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(127)
Overall an amazing and very mind opening experience for a first timer in Vietnam especially Hanoï. We got to learn quite a few things that we didn't know about the country. Pamela, our tour guide was super nice, very welcoming and knowledgeable. 10/10 would highly recommend booking for a first time visiting Hanoï.
We are so happy to receive your wonderful review, Y-Guerineau, and are very glad that Pamela gave you such a warm welcome for your first visit to Hanoi. It is fantastic to hear that her knowledge helped you learn so many new and interesting things about our beautiful country. Thank you very much for your perfect ten-out-of-ten recommendation, and we truly hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday in Vietnam!
Our Tour guide, Emma, was a wealth of information, as well as cheerful and able to adapt to our needs. She was an absolute delight and made the tour fun and interesting. I would highly recommend Emma and the tour itself
We are exceptionally grateful for your wonderful review, Sue, and are thrilled that Emma’s encyclopedic knowledge and radiant enthusiasm facilitated such a delightful excursion for you. It is immensely rewarding to learn that her flexible accommodation of your specific preferences successfully cultivated a highly captivating and joyous exploratory atmosphere. Your fervent recommendation is profoundly treasured by our volunteering community, and we wholeheartedly wish you a continuation of spectacular discoveries throughout your subsequent global travels.
Honestly it was great our tour guide was truly amazing. We got to see and understand a lot of Vietnamese culture and history.
We are immensely appreciative of your stellar review, Blanca, and are absolutely delighted that our dedicated guide delivered such an extraordinary walking tour for you. It is exceptionally gratifying to learn that their profound expertise successfully provided you with a comprehensive understanding of Vietnam's rich historical tapestry and vibrant cultural heritage. Your gracious commendation is deeply treasured by our entire volunteering community, and we fervently hope your future global excursions are filled with equally enlightening cultural immersions.
Tracey picked us up at another location punctually... She made us visit the White Horse Temple. The Outlet market and bargained the prices. Went to Train Street. Visited the Cathedral. And drank the famous Vietnamese egg coffee. Really a stunning visit. I recommend Tracy. Young intelligent student.
We are exceptionally grateful for your wonderful review, Naga, and are thrilled that Tracy’s strict punctuality and intellectual brilliance facilitated such a stunning exploration of the Old Quarter. It is tremendously rewarding to know that her adept navigation through our iconic heritage sites and skillful negotiation at local markets curated such a comprehensive and culturally immersive itinerary. Your gracious endorsement of our bright volunteering student is profoundly valued, and we wholeheartedly wish you a continuation of spectacular discoveries in all your future travels.
It was not only a pleasure to have Tracy as my guide today, but also to have the chance to meet her. She is a very bright, informed, super friendly and kind person. She took me to all the important points, explained them throughly and answered all my questions. Time flew by! Super recommend
We sincerely appreciate your impeccable ten-out-of-ten review, Reyes, and are absolutely delighted that your personal interaction with Tracy proved to be such a rewarding highlight of your solo expedition. It is immensely gratifying to learn that her meticulous articulation of our quintessential landmarks and insightful responses to your inquiries cultivated an engaging atmosphere where time seemingly effortlessly passed. Your fervent recommendation is profoundly treasured by our volunteering organization, and we wholeheartedly wish you continuous joy and remarkable discoveries in all your future global adventures.
We had such a great morning exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter and French Quarter with Tracy. She was warm, enthusiastic, and incredibly knowledgeable, and she gave us a much deeper understanding of the city, its history, architecture, and everyday life. What we particularly enjoyed was the way Tracy mixed historical facts with local stories and little details we would never have noticed on our own. The tour felt relaxed, personal, and very engaging from start to finish for every member of our family. It was the perfect introduction to Hanoi and definitely made us appreciate the city even more. We would highly recommend Tracy to anyone looking for a friendly, interesting, and authentic way to discover Hanoi.
We are tremendously grateful for your magnificent review, Virgile, and are elated that Tracy’s enthusiastic demeanor and profound erudition facilitated such an exceptional morning exploration for your family. It is exceptionally gratifying to learn that her sophisticated integration of grand historical narratives with nuanced local anecdotes provided you with a comprehensively enriched perspective on our city’s architectural heritage and vibrant daily life. Your gracious endorsement of this personalized introductory experience is deeply treasured, and we fervently hope that the remainder of your international voyages yields equally captivating and culturally authentic discoveries.
Kokonut (Giang) is our guide. He showed and has given us lovely morning strolling in the old quarter with so many historical details. Eventhough it was raining but he did prepared a plastic rain coat for us. And we did a walk in the rain it was beautiful and very new experience to us.
Reading about your beautifully unique rainy-day stroll with Kokonut brings immense pride to our entire organization, Prell. Knowing that his proactive provision of rain gear not only ensured your comfort but also elevated a sudden downpour into a deeply memorable historical exploration truly exemplifies the high standard of care we strive for. Your enthusiastic feedback regarding this serendipitous experience is highly valued, and we trust that the rest of your international travels will be filled with similarly delightful moments.
I had an absolutely brilliant walking tour in Hanoi, and it was easily one of the highlights of my trip. A huge part of that was down to my guide, Hazel, who was fantastic from start to finish. She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and great company, making the whole experience both informative and genuinely enjoyable. The tour took us around some beautiful temples, historical buildings, and other fascinating spots across the city. Hazel didn’t just explain the history of each place – she brought it all to life by sharing her own personal experiences and local insights, which made everything feel much more authentic. It was clear how passionate she is about Hanoi, and her enthusiasm made the experience even better. One of my favourite parts of the tour was trying an egg chocolate drink for the first time. I’d never heard of it before, but Hazel recommended it, and it was absolutely delicious. It’s those little local touches that made the tour feel so special. As it was a private tour, I had the chance to ask plenty of questions, and Hazel was always happy to chat and share her knowledge. She was kind, fun, engaging, and made the whole experience feel relaxed and personal. It honestly felt less like a guided tour and more like exploring Hanoi with a local friend. If you’re visiting Hanoi and want to learn more about the city’s history and culture while having a great time, I’d highly recommend this walking tour. If you get the chance, make sure you book with Hazel – she was absolutely incredible and made the experience one I’ll always remember.
We are exceptionally grateful for your comprehensive review, Cameron, and are thrilled that Hazel’s profound knowledge and warm companionship made this exploration a definitive highlight of your solo journey. It is incredibly rewarding to hear that her ability to weave personal anecdotes into the rich tapestry of Hanoi's historical landmarks, coupled with her delightful recommendation of the local egg chocolate beverage, cultivated an authentically personalized atmosphere akin to strolling with a close friend. We deeply appreciate your wholehearted endorsement of this immersive cultural experience and sincerely hope the captivating memories forged in Vietnam will profoundly enrich all your future global adventures.
Hanne was a lovely guide who walked us through the old Quarter streets, took us to a Temple and a few museums. She was very knowledgeable, with a keen passion for art. The tour is really flexible, you can ask to be taken wherever you want to suit your interests
We are incredibly grateful for your wonderful review, Etienne, and are delighted that Hann provided you with such an engaging and personalized introduction to the Old Quarter. It is profoundly rewarding to hear that her extensive knowledge, distinct passion for art, and accommodating flexibility allowed you to seamlessly explore the temples and museums that best suited your specific interests. Thank you for choosing our organization to begin your time in Hanoi, and we sincerely wish you a multitude of enriching cultural discoveries throughout your continued travels.
We spend a wonderful half day with our tour guide Albert, who was so kind hearted and knowledgeable. With our two kids we learned a lot about Hanoi, it culture and lots of other things we would not have known about if we would not have been with such a lovely guide. The kids loved her and everything was tailored to our needs. Also the communication before and the pickup were so wonderful and easy. Highly recommend Albert and the whole team- could not have imagined to experience Hanoi old quarters like this! Thank you!
We are absolutely delighted to read about your wholesome experience, Katja, and are incredibly proud that Albert’s kind-hearted nature and extensive knowledge provided your family with such a wonderful exploration of the Old Quarter. It is exceptionally rewarding to hear that her meticulous attention to your needs - from the seamless preliminary communication to the perfectly tailored itinerary - ensured that both you and your children had an unforgettable time. We deeply appreciate your highly generous recommendation of Albert and our entire team, and we warmly wish your family many more beautiful, cross-cultural discoveries in your future adventures.
