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(121)
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.
What an amazing tour this was with Albert. Albert greeted us at the hotel we were staying at in the Old Quarter. She is very knowledgeable & was able to answer every question we had! Albert was also very accommodating when we asked if she could change things up and add another stop for us, without any hesitation she was happy to do it. Albert is passionate about her country & town & I love the story behind her name Albert (not her real name) She is friendly, well spoken & definitely knows her history. She took photos for us throughout the tour with her own phone & was kind enough to capture these moments & send them to us. I would 1000% do another tour with her and highly, highly recommend her & if I could give more than 5stars I would. It was actually a real pleasure to have her & deserving of a tip!! When you book ask for Albert! Thank-you Albert you were amazing!
We are absolutely thrilled to read your phenomenal feedback, Missy, and are immensely proud that Albert’s profound historical knowledge and accommodating flexibility provided you with such a brilliantly customized exploration of the Old Quarter. It brings us immense joy to know that her genuine passion for our country, engaging storytelling regarding her chosen moniker, and thoughtful dedication to capturing your beautiful moments elevated this journey into a truly unforgettable experience. Your exceptionally generous endorsement means the world to our organization, and we would be absolutely honored to cross paths with you again whenever your adventures bring you back to Vietnam.
Verh good english and very informative
We greatly appreciate your fantastic review and are thrilled that Kokonut’s proactive communication in sharing the meeting point photo ensured a seamless start to your solo adventure, Kathy. It is wonderful to hear that his excellent English and deeply informative narrative provided you with a relaxed, unhurried pace to absorb the rich history, while that memorable bike ride added such a special touch to your exploration. Thank you for so highly recommending this comprehensive tour, and we warmly wish you many more delightful and educational discoveries in your future travels.
Hazel was a wonderful guide! She explained some of the historical events of Vietnam that happened in Hanoi and offered us a great insight of the local Vietnamese culture and life. She was really close and friendly, and we recommend her a lot
Your wonderful feedback highlighting your amazing experience with Hazel is deeply appreciated, Andrea. We are delighted that her detailed explanations of Hanoi's pivotal historical events and her profound insights into local culture provided you with such an authentic glimpse into everyday Vietnamese life. Thank you for so highly recommending her remarkably warm and approachable companionship, and we sincerely wish you both a beautiful continuation of your travels filled with many more cultural discoveries.
This was a really good tour in old Hanoi with a lot of good insights. And also with a lot of personal experience and fun. We all really liked our guide Sienna. She made me into more historie and stuff she was really sweet!!!
We deeply appreciate your fantastic review and are thrilled that Sienna provided your group with such a memorable and insightful exploration of the Old Quarter, Kristian. It is incredibly rewarding to know that her personal anecdotes and sweet demeanor not only made the experience fun but also successfully sparked a deeper interest in Hanoi's rich history for you. Thank you for choosing our walking tours to discover the charm of Vietnam, and we warmly wish you many more captivating adventures in your future travels.
Hann was an absolutely amazing tour guide! It was a great introduction to Hanoi and she showed me lots of things I was interested in. I can’t thank her enough!
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words, Olivia! It brings us immense joy to hear that Hann was an amazing guide who gave you a perfect introduction to Vietnam by focusing on the sights and culture you wanted to see. Wishing you many more wonderful adventures ahead, and we hope to host you again if you ever return to Hanoi!
Great walking tour with Hazel ! We explored the old quarter, the French quarter, and even visited train street
Thank you for taking the time to share your fantastic feedback! It is wonderful to know that you had such a great time with Hazel discovering the highlights of the city, from the charming Old and French Quarters to the famous Train Street. Have a safe and joyful trip ahead, and we would love to host you again if your travels bring you back to Vietnam!
