Experience Hanoi like a local and tour the city’s attractions with the kids who live there. Explore Hanoi with 2 famous destination: Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour . See the main city sights, that all provide a great way to get culturally connected.
Tour Options
Afternoon tour
Duration: 3 hours
Morning tour
Duration: 3 hours
Departure time
Itinerary
Admission not included30 min
We can start the tour at 9:00 AM or 2:00 PM depending on your booking.
Our tour guide will welcome you at your hotel and then take you to the Ho Chi Minh complex – the huge construction to express the pride of Vietnamese people to the very first president – Ho Chi Minh (or Uncle Ho), the National Liberation Hero, who founded the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. You can take the chance to visit:
1. Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.
The Mausoleum, which was made of marble and granite, features a three-stored structure. In the second store places the famous President’s body, lying as if he were sleeping in the simple clothes worn when he was alive.
Notes:
Opening time: 5 days per week, except Monday and Friday.
Cold seasons (from November to March) 8:00 a.m – 11:00 a.m
Hot seasons (from April to October): 7:30 a.m – 10:30 a.m
Closed once per year in October/ November/or December for the body maintenance
No camera, cell phone, bare-shoulder T-shirts, or mini skirts are allowed inside
Admission not included10 min
2. Ba Dinh square
This is where Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum lies, is a historical site where President Ho Chi Minh read the Independence Declaration of Vietnam on September 2nd, 1945.
Admission not included10 min
Refusing to live in the Presidential palace, President Ho Chi Minh lived in a normal electrician’s house nearby. The house has two floors and the beloved President lived here from 1958 until he passed away.
Admission not included10 min
4. One Pillar Pagoda
An ancient pagoda built in 1049 under the Ly Dynasty. There’s an interesting legend referring the construction of the pagoda, telling that King Ly Thanh Tong had this pagoda constructed in the shape of a lotus, based upon his fairy dream, thanks to which he was given a baby boy.
Notes:
Opening time: The pagoda is open daily from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.
Entrance is free.
Remember to wear full-length clothes when you visit any pagoda.
Admission not included20 min
5. Ho Chi Minh Museum
The museum was built in the shape of a white lotus flower, which is nearly 20m high, including 3 floors. More than 2,000 documents and show-pieces are displayed, systematically reflecting President Ho Chi Minh’s life and revolution cause since late 19th century. Coming here, tourists can share a part of Ho Chi Minh’s tough life.
Admission not included60 min
After that, you will have time to visit the Temple of Literature – the first University of Vietnam and also the place to worship the Confucius. This is often cited as one of Hanoi’s most picturesque tourist attractions. Originally built as a university in 1070 dedicated to Confucius, scholars and sages, the building is extremely well preserved and is a superb example of traditional-style Vietnamese architecture.
This ancient site offers a lake of literature, the Well of Heavenly Clarity, turtle steles, pavilions, courtyards and passageways that were once used by royalty. Visiting the Temple of Literature you will discover historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties in a revered place that has seen thousands of doctors’ graduate in what has now become a memorial to education and literature.
Tour ends around 12:00 PM (for the morning tour) or 5:00 PM (for the afternoon tour).
Highlights
English speaking local student
What's included
Included
English speaking local student
Not included
Transfer fees (if any)
Entrance fees ( tour guide and customer)
Personal expenses (foods, drinks, tips).
Traveller Ratings
4.9
82 reviews
5
78
4
1
3
1
2
0
1
2
Important Information
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour (half day) take?
Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour (half day) lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
How much does Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour (half day) cost?
Prices start at $5 per person for this Hanoi experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour (half day) for free?
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is We pick-up at entrance of Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour (half day) offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(82)
9
997taslim
August 28, 2026
Friendly and informative tour
It was very fulfilling experience. Tour guide Quynh was very friendly and supportive and explained everything with lots of care. Really enjoyed it.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Reading about your fulfilling experience brings so much joy to our team, Taslim, and we are thrilled that you both really enjoyed the half-day tour. It is wonderful to know that Quynh’s supportive nature and careful explanations helped make your visit to the historical sites both friendly and informative. We deeply appreciate your kind words for our organization, and we wish you and your partner many more happy memories on your future travels.
1
122maliths
August 25, 2026
A Wonderful Hanoi Tour!
Quynh was absolutely amazing! She is genuinely one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. She is incredibly knowledgeable. She taught me so much about Vietnam, its culture and its fascinating history throughout the tour.
We visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature, and she made every stop really fun.
I had such an amazing time exploring Hanoi. If you’re visiting Vietnam, I highly recommend booking this tour 🇻🇳
2 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are so happy to receive your wonderful review, Malith, and we are very glad that Quynh's sweet personality and great knowledge made your solo trip to Hanoi so special. It is fantastic to hear that she helped you learn so much about our culture and history while making your visits to the famous sites truly fun and enjoyable. We highly appreciate your kind recommendation of our organization, and we wish you many more amazing travel experiences in the future.
1
126tammyh
August 22, 2026
Great value for money and very memorable
Hazel was amazing. Highly intelligent and knowledgeable, she is passionate about history and it makes for a great experience
The sites themselves were fascinating, so much rich history and to have a guide like hazel to fill in the contextual gaps in my understanding was excellent. Very memorable experience, the weather did not deter hazel from being committed, curious and enthusiastic!!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We truly appreciate your kind review, Tammy, and we are so happy that Hazel’s intelligence and strong passion for history made your solo tour so memorable. It is wonderful to hear that her clear explanations helped fill the gaps in your understanding of these fascinating sites, showing great enthusiasm despite the weather. Thank you for highly valuing this experience with our volunteer team, and we wish you many more fantastic travel adventures in the future.
P
Passport638974
August 18, 2026
Great highlights tour of Hanoi
Great walking tour with Pamela. She was very knowledgeable and attentive and answered all of our questions easily. We did HCM mausoleum, Madison Central, Train Street (and saw a real train) and some other key neighborhoods. Highly recommend her and the tour!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are profoundly grateful for your excellent review and are absolutely delighted that Pamela facilitated such a captivating highlights tour of our capital city for you. It is exceptionally rewarding to learn that her attentive disposition and extensive knowledge flawlessly addressed your inquiries while enriching your exploration of our iconic landmarks, especially the bustling Train Street. Your enthusiastic recommendation is deeply treasured by our volunteering organization, and we fervently wish you a continuation of spectacular discoveries in all your upcoming journeys.
S
silvialQ3287EJ
August 13, 2026
Ho Chi Minh Complex with Zahra
We took the tour of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature with Hai Phuong (Zahra), who was a very informative and kind guide.
Even though our English was not very fluent, upon arriving she sent us all her explanations in Spanish so that we would not miss any details.
So our guide was great!!!!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are immensely appreciative of your phenomenal review, Silvia, and are absolutely delighted that Hai Phuong’s compassionate guidance facilitated such an enriching exploration of our historical landmarks for your group. It is exceptionally gratifying to learn that her proactive provision of translated Spanish materials successfully bridged the linguistic divide, ensuring you fully comprehended the profound historical intricacies without missing any crucial details. Your enthusiastic endorsement of her dedicated efforts is deeply treasured by our volunteering community, and we fervently hope your subsequent international journeys continue to yield remarkably memorable cultural discoveries.
5
570sofiea
August 9, 2026
A unique insight into Vietnamese history
We did the mausoleum and prison tour. Giang (Kokonut) was such an amazing guide. Super friendly, well-spoken, very knowledgeable. Gave us an insight into Vietnamese history and culture we never could have gotten otherwise. Highly recommend!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are incredibly happy to read your kind review, Sofie, and are glad that Kokonut was such a friendly and knowledgeable guide for you. It is wonderful to hear that his clear stories gave you a truly special understanding of Vietnamese history and culture that you could not find anywhere else. Thank you so much for highly recommending our tour, and we wish you all the best on your future travels!
9
953carmeny
August 7, 2026
Excellent tour, excellent leader, Emma
Emma was a very well experience in introducing the site visit and we had a wonderful time because of her professional to tell us a lot of Vietnam history and the stories and it was exciting to know that. Since of the Emma as our leader , we had a good impression in Hanoi. I am sure we will come back to Hanoi again.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Your glowing feedback regarding Emma's exceptional leadership during your historical excursion is profoundly appreciated by our entire volunteering community, Carmen. It is wonderfully rewarding to discover that her professional articulation of Vietnam's captivating history and compelling narratives instilled such a remarkably positive and lasting impression of our capital city. We are incredibly honored by your firm intent to return to Hanoi and eagerly anticipate the privilege of welcoming you back for another immersive cultural journey in the near future.
R
robertlQ4348TH
August 3, 2026
A wonderful thing!
We had a wonderful time thanks to our charming guide Phuong. Phuong was very open and friendly and not only showed us the sights, but also gave us insights into life in Vietnam. Many thanks for that!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are profoundly grateful for your excellent review, Robert, and are absolutely delighted that Hai Phuong’s charming demeanor facilitated such a wonderful exploration of our historical landmarks. It is exceptionally rewarding to learn that her warm hospitality and profound insights into Vietnamese daily life elevated your experience far beyond a conventional sightseeing excursion. Your heartfelt appreciation is deeply valued by our community, and we wholeheartedly wish you a multitude of culturally enriching discoveries in all your future global travels.
C
C7336FXmaiks
July 25, 2026
Perfekt
★★★★★
We had a wonderful half-day tour of the Ho Chi Minh Complex and the Temple of Literature. Our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. They explained the history and cultural significance of each place in an interesting and easy-to-understand way.
The tour was very well organized and gave us a great insight into Vietnam’s history and culture. The Ho Chi Minh Complex was impressive, and the Temple of Literature was absolutely beautiful and fascinating.
A fantastic experience and highly recommended for anyone visiting Hanoi! Our Trip Guide are Kokonut
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
It is an absolute delight to receive another glowing review from your time in Hanoi, Malik, and we are immensely proud that Kokonut’s professionalism and warmth ensured a flawless exploration of the city's historical heart. Knowing that their engaging storytelling effectively demystified the profound cultural significance of both the majestic Ho Chi Minh Complex and the elegant Temple of Literature brings us immense satisfaction. We deeply appreciate your high recommendation of this fascinating itinerary and warmly wish you an abundance of joy in all your forthcoming global adventures.
P
phoebeo651
July 23, 2026
Amazing guide 10/10 experience
Quỳnh was a fantastic guide, her warmth and knowledge made the experience 10/10. She’s a young university student and went to the next level to ensure our tour was abundant and insightful. I’m so glad I got to meet her and spend time listening to her stories and getting to know her well. I feel lucky to have met her and had a fantastic experience.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
We are profoundly grateful for your glowing review and are delighted that Quỳnh’s exceptional warmth and expansive knowledge provided you with a flawless ten-out-of-ten experience, Phoebe. It brings us immense joy to know that this dedicated university student went above and beyond to deliver an insightful journey, allowing you to connect meaningfully through her captivating personal stories. Thank you for deeply cherishing this authentic cultural exchange, and we sincerely wish you a multitude of remarkable encounters throughout your future global adventures.
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Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour (half day)