Hanoi Private Tour: Hidden Corners, Train Street, Incense Village

After you get picked up, the tour guide and the vehicle will take you here for the first place called Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (open only in morning time 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM and close on Monday & Friday weekly). It is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, the most iconic and popular leader of Vietnam, known to his people as ‘Uncle Ho’. His body is preserved here in a glass case at the mausoleum (albeit against his wishes). Started in 1973, the construction of the mausoleum was modeled on Lenin's mausoleum in Russia and was first open to the public in 1975. Security is tight and visitors should dress with respect (no shorts, sleeveless shirts and miniskirts) and everyone has to deposit their bags and cameras before getting in. PLEASE NOTE that the mausoleum is closed from June 10 to August 12 yearly for maintenance.

On program we will also visit One Pillar Pagoda where people worship the goddess of Mercy. Legend claims that The One Pillar Pagoda was built following a dream by the fatherless emperor in which the enlightened being Avalokiteshvara gave him a baby son resting on a lotus flower. Emperor Ly Thai Tong commissioned the pagoda to be created in resemblance of this lotus flower which is also the Buddhist symbol of enlightenment. The Emperor remained in gratitude to the bodhisattva and subsequently to to Quan Am, the Goddess of Mercy following the birth of his son. Inside the temple a richly gilded statue of Quan Am takes centre place at the main altar. Today, the concrete pillar that supports the tiny wooden pagoda is a replacement for the original one which was blown up by the departing French, it remains unclear how much of the wooden temple is the original one.

Visiting Hanoi Train Street in Hanoi is one of the Best Things To Do to learn and explore Hanoi local life. Rather than being a normal road with car or motorbike traffic, it has actual real railway lines running through it. Nestled in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, this narrow alley attracts travelers hoping to snap a picture on the active train track, and even catch a train whizz by! This alley is actually a residential area - many locals have converted their houses into quaint little cafes where you can sip on traditional egg coffee. It is a very wonderful experience once visting Hanoi city.

tart your first visit at Hanoi’s oldest pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda. Constructed during the 6th century under Emperor Ly Nam Đe, this over 1,500-year-old landmark is steeped in history and spiritual significance, located on the tranquil West Lake

Visitors to Quang Phu Cau incense village will get the chance to learn about the technique of making incense sticks traditionally and snap a ton of original check-in photographs. It is not difficult to find a great angle for a nice picture. If you finish this village without taking photos, then you haven't gone to this destination at all. Additionally, you also get to know the bustling lifestyle of the locals since you first arrived at the incense village: how villagers make incense sticks for a living, the process of production (Tour guide will explain the manufacturing process of the incense sticks in detail). The incense in this Hanoi incense village is particularly lovely and exceptional because it is red and yellow, the auspicious colors of the East. So many local and international photographers have used this town as a location for photo shoots for many years because it naturally has already a perfect background.

Visit Long Bien Station & Long Bien Bridge Step back in time at Long Bien Station, one of Hanoi’s oldest railway stations, before taking a stroll across the historic Long Bien Bridge. Built during the French colonial era, this iconic bridge offers stunning views of the Red River and a glimpse into Hanoi’s past. A perfect spot for photography and local life encounters.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral (JOSEP) The tour contine with a quick look to this striking neo-Gothic church, often compared to Notre-Dame de Paris, nestled in the heart of the Old Quarter. You just have a chance to shot picture and visit the outside of the building.