Hanoi Jeep Tour: Highlights, Hidden Gems & Egg Coffee

Ride narrow backstreets and lakeside temples, then sit down to egg coffee in a hidden Old Quarter café.

A 4.5-hour guided Hanoi Jeep tour in a Vietnam Army vehicle that covers both the city's main attractions (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Tran Quoc Pagoda), and the backstreet cafes, markets and local life most tours skip. Hotel pickup and drop-off, English-speaking guide, water and egg coffee, entrance tickets and rain poncho are included. Choose the morning tour to visit the Mausoleum (open 7:30–10:30 AM only, closed Mondays and Fridays) or the afternoon tour to watch trains pass through the famous Train Street.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum1h 10m · entry included
2. Temple of Literature40m · entry included

Explore Hanoi highlights and hidden gems

• Meet guide and driver at hotel
• Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ba Dinh Square
• See Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Residence
• Visit One Pillar Pagoda
• Visit Temple of Literature
• Watch train pass Hanoi Train Street
• Ride through backstreets and alleys
• Explore local markets and street life
• Drive along Truc Bach and West Lake
• Stop at Tran Quoc Pagoda
• Enjoy egg coffee at hidden coffee shop
• Return to hotel

The experience

The tour splits into two parts. The first two hours take you through the Ho Chi Minh Complex: the Mausoleum (if your chosen time slot allows), Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential Palace grounds and the One Pillar Pagoda, then to the Temple of Literature, a 1,000-year-old landmark where you learn about Vietnamese history and culture. If the Mausoleum is closed or the queue is too long, Train Street becomes the stop instead, and afternoon tours always include watching the train pass through the narrow residential street.

The second half is where the tour diverges from standard sightseeing. You ride through the maze of backstreets and narrow alleyways that make up the real Hanoi: zigzagging through markets, diving into the river of motorbikes and street life. The route takes you along Truc Bach Lake and West Lake, the most scenic areas in the city, with a stop at Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, where you can photograph the lakeside and the view back toward the Old Quarter and modern skyline.

The tour ends at a small coffee shop in the heart of the Old Quarter where all the furniture is made from recycled materials. This is where you sit down to egg coffee, a Hanoi specialty, before the driver takes you back to your hotel. The whole experience is in a Vietnam Army Jeep with an experienced driver and an English-speaking guide who can explain what you're seeing as you move through the city.

What’s included

• Vietnam Army Jeep with experienced driver.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• English-speaking guide.
• entrance tickets to all attractions.
• water and egg coffee.
• helmet and rain poncho.

Options for this experience

2 options

Train Street Afternoon TourGuide in English · 12:30Join-group tour, duration 4 hours 30 minutes, in a Vietnam Army Legend Jeep. Starting point: 3 P. Hàng Tre, Phố cổ Hà Nội, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam. Pickup is included.

Mausoleum Morning TourGuide in English · Available from 26 Oct 2027Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Monday and FridayDeparts at 12:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (19 to 69 years) · Senior (70 to 85 years) · Youth (8 to 11 years) · Child (5 to 7 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hanoi Backstreet Tours - REAL

Is this one for you?Book the morning tour if you want to see the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Temple of Literature in the cooler part of the day. Choose the afternoon tour if you prefer to watch trains on Train Street and explore the backstreets when the city's street life is most active. The Jeep's size means you'll navigate narrow alleys and markets that larger group tours cannot access, so this suits anyone who wants to move beyond the main sights and see how Hanoians actually live and work.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 11 years); Child (5 to 7 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Temple of Literature and why is it on this tour?

The Temple of Literature is a 1,000-year-old architectural landmark in Hanoi that served as the country's first university. The tour includes a stop here to learn about Vietnamese long-standing culture and history.

Can I visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on any day?

The Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, and annually from mid-June to mid-August. It opens only from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. If you book the morning tour on a day it's closed, Train Street replaces it as your main stop.

What is Train Street and when do I see it?

Train Street is a famous narrow residential street in Hanoi where a train passes through regularly. It's included in all afternoon tours and in Monday and Friday morning tours (when the Mausoleum is closed). You watch the train pass by from the street.

What happens at Tran Quoc Pagoda?

Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest Buddhist temple in Hanoi, located on the lakeside near Truc Bach Lake and West Lake. The tour stops here so you can admire the temple, take photos and enjoy panoramic views of both the historic Old Quarter and Hanoi's modern skyline.

What is egg coffee and where do I drink it?

Egg coffee is a Hanoi specialty made with egg and coffee. The tour ends at a small, hidden coffee shop in the Old Quarter where all the furniture is made from recycled materials. You sit down here to taste it before heading back to your hotel.

How does the Jeep tour differ from a regular bus tour?

The tour uses a Vietnam Army Jeep, which is smaller and more maneuverable than a bus, allowing it to navigate the narrow backstreets, alleyways and markets that are central to the "hidden gems" part of the experience. This vehicle access is what makes it possible to ride through the maze of streets and experience the everyday life of Hanoi that larger tours cannot reach.