Private Hanoi City Tour: Full Day with Guide & Hotel Pickup

Hanoi oldest sites tour: 6-8 hours visiting pagoda to largest market, no transport or ticket hassle

A private full-day tour of Hanoi with a live English-speaking guide covers Tran Quoc Pagoda (built in the 6th century on West Lake), Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and Dong Xuan Market. Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, lunch and a bottle of water are included. You choose from three options: the urban area tour, the same route plus Bat Trang Ceramic Village, or the city tour with Train Street.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Tran Quoc Pagoda45m · entry included
2. West Lake15m
3. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum1h 30m · entry included
4. Vietnam Museum of Ethnology1h · entry included
5. Temple of Literature1h · entry included
6. Dong Xuan Market1h · entry included

Explore Hanoi's cultural landmarks

• Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake
• See Truc Bach lake (B52 lake)
• View West Lake and hear its stories
• Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and nearby sites
• Explore One Pillar Pagoda
• Tour Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
• Visit Temple of Literature
• Experience Dong Xuan Market
• Visit Bat Trang Ceramic Village

The experience

The day starts at your hotel. Your guide picks you up and drives you to Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, built in the 6th century on an island in West Lake: the city's largest lake. From there you move to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where you'll see his final resting place, the One Pillar Pagoda (built in 1049), and French colonial architecture including the President's Palace. The mausoleum opens only in the morning and closes Mondays and Fridays, so timing is built into the itinerary for you.

The afternoon takes you to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which displays the cultures of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities, then to the Temple of Literature: Vietnam's first national university, founded in 1070. This is where the country's first national examinations took place and where young people still come to pray for luck in studying. You finish at Dong Xuan Market, the largest local market in Hanoi, a French-era building where you can watch daily life unfold among vendors and shoppers. Lunch is a Vietnamese set menu served during the tour.

Three options let you shape the day. The urban area tour covers all six main stops. Add Bat Trang Ceramic Village (13 kilometers from central Hanoi, a 500-year-old pottery village) if you want to see traditional craftspeople at work. Or swap one stop for Train Street, a narrow colonial-era street where trains still pass through. Your guide speaks English. Other languages are available. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and a bottle of water is provided. Tips for the guide and driver are your choice at checkout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• entrance fees to all attractions mentioned in your chosen option.
• a live English-speaking guide (other languages available).
• lunch as a Vietnamese set menu.
• a bottle of water.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.

Options for this experience

3 options

Hanoi city tour with Train StreetGuide in English or Vietnamese · 7 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:00Private tour, open to groups of 2 adults or more; solo travelers should contact us to arrange a suitable booking. Covers 5-6 destinations: Ho Chi Minh complex, Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake, lunch, Museum of Ethnology, Train Street and Dong Xuan wholesale market. Includes a modern car or van with a professional driver, a licensed tour guide, lunch, entrance fees and one bottle of mineral water in the vehicle. Runs for 8 hours, starting around 7:00 am and finishing around 10:00 am; you choose your start time when booking and tell us after booking. Total 7-8 hours. Lunch is a set Vietnamese menu, with vegetarian meals available on request. Hotel pickup is included in Hanoi; if you are staying in another city, let us know. Note: the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is open in the morning only and closed Mondays and Fridays; dress code applies. The Museum of Ethnology is closed Mondays, and on those days we switch to another site such as the Women's Museum or Hoa Lo Prison. Pickup is included.

Private tour of urban HanoiGuide in English or Vietnamese · 8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00Private tour, open to groups of 2 adults or more; solo travelers should contact us to arrange a suitable booking. Covers 5-6 destinations: Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake, Ho Chi Minh complex, lunch, Temple of Literature, Museum of Ethnology and Dong Xuan Market. Includes a modern car or van with a professional driver, a licensed tour guide, lunch, entrance fees and one bottle of mineral water in the vehicle. Runs for 8 hours, starting around 7:00 am and finishing around 11:00 am; you choose your start time when booking and tell us after booking. Total 7-8 hours. Lunch is a set Vietnamese menu, with vegetarian meals available on request. Hotel pickup is included in Hanoi; if you are staying in another city, let us know. Note: the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is open in the morning only and closed Mondays and Fridays. The Museum of Ethnology is closed Mondays, and on those days we switch to another site such as the Women's Museum or Bat Trang ceramic village.

City tour including Ceramic VillageGuide in English or Vietnamese · 6 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 10:00Private tour for groups of 2 adults or more; if you are traveling alone, please contact us to arrange something suitable. Covers 5-6 destinations: Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake, Ho Chi Minh complex, Ethnology Museum, Dong Xuan Market and Ceramic Village. What sets it apart: you visit Bat Trang ceramic village on the bank of the Red River, and on Mondays you visit the Women's Museum. Runs for 8 hours, starting around 7:00 am and finishing around 11:00 am; you choose your start time when booking and tell us after booking. Total 7-8 hours. Lunch is included as a set Vietnamese menu, with vegetarian, halal and Indian meals available on request. Note: the Women's Museum is visited on Mondays instead of the Ethnic Museum; the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum is open in the morning only and closed Mondays and Fridays. Included: modern car or van with professional driver, licensed tour guide, lunch, entrance fees and one bottle of mineral water in the vehicle. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 07:00, the last at 11:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (9 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by VIETNAM TOP TRAVEL

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want Hanoi's main historical and cultural sites in one day without managing tickets, transport or a route yourself. The guide handles the sequence and timing, including the morning-only window for Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Choose the ceramic village option if you're interested in traditional crafts, or Train Street if you prefer a different neighborhood experience.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Vietnamese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What is Tran Quoc Pagoda and why is it on this tour?

Tran Quoc Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, built in the 6th century by King Ly Nam De on an island in West Lake, the city's largest lake. It's the opening stop on the tour and gives you a sense of Hanoi's oldest religious architecture.

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

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed Mondays and Fridays, so the tour is scheduled around those days. The mausoleum opens only in the morning, which is why it's the first major stop after the pagoda.

What will I see at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology?

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology displays the cultures and traditions of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minorities. It's one of Hanoi's largest museums and gives you insight into the country's ethnic diversity and cultural heritage.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?

Lunch is included as a Vietnamese set menu served during the tour. Drinks and beverages beyond the bottle of water provided are not included.

What's the difference between the three tour options?

All three options cover the same six main Hanoi stops. The urban area tour is the base. Adding Bat Trang Ceramic Village extends the day to see a 500-year-old pottery village 13 kilometers from the city center. Choosing Train Street swaps one stop for a narrow colonial street where trains still pass through.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to and from the tour?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so your guide collects you from your accommodation and returns you at the end of the day. The vehicle is air-conditioned.