Hanoi City Tour from Halong Cruise Port: 5 Landmarks

Five centuries of Hanoi history in one day, from the Mausoleum to the century-old train tracks

A full-day guided tour of Hanoi departing from Halong Cruise Port, visiting five major landmarks spanning Vietnam's political, spiritual and academic heritage. You travel by private car from the port (2.5 hours each way), stop at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the One Pillar Pagoda, walk through Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake, explore the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, and Hoa Lo Prison, then end at Train Street before returning to the port. Lunch and entrance fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Hanoi city landmarks

• Meet driver at Halong Cruise Port
• Drive to Hanoi city by expressway
• Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex
• Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake
• Visit Temple of Literature
• Lunch with Vietnamese cuisine
• Visit Hoa Lo Prison
• Visit Train Street for photos and coffee
• Drive back to Halong Cruise Port

Stops and time spent at each 4 stops

1. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Entry included 1h
2. Tran Quoc Pagoda Entry included 1h
3. Temple of Literature Entry included 1h
4. Hoa Lo Prison Entry included 2h

What’s included

• Private car transport between Halong Cruise Port and Hanoi.
• Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant.
• entrance fees to all five sites.
• English-speaking tour guide for the full day.

Times

• Every day 07:30 08:00

Before you book

Group Private

Live guide English

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (9 to 89 years) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

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

Good to know

Low physical effort Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Authentic Travel VIETNAM

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The day starts early: pickup at Halong Cruise Port at 7am, then a 2.5-hour drive to Hanoi on the expressway. By 10am you're at the Ho Chi Minh complex, where you see the Mausoleum itself (the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh) and the One Pillar Pagoda, the most distinctive pagoda in the world. An hour later, you reach Tran Quoc Pagoda, which sits on an island in West Lake and dates back centuries as one of Hanoi's oldest Buddhist temples.

Midday brings you to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, built to honor Confucius. The grounds hold the weight of the country's academic history. This is where scholars studied for centuries. After lunch at a local restaurant serving Vietnamese cuisine, you visit Hoa Lo Prison, a colonial-era jail that held American POWs during the Vietnam War and was known to prisoners as the "Hanoi Hilton." The final stop is Train Street, a narrow alley in the city center where century-old train tracks still run through the middle. You can stop for coffee or tea and photograph the unique setting.

The return journey to Halong Cruise Port takes another 2.5 hours, with the tour ending around 6:30–6:45pm at the port gate. An English-speaking guide leads the entire day, and all entrance fees are covered.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and why is it on this tour?

The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is the final resting place of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's founding leader and national hero. It sits at the heart of the Ho Chi Minh complex in Hanoi and is one of the country's most significant political landmarks. The tour includes it as a key stop in understanding modern Vietnamese history, though it closes on certain days.

How old is Tran Quoc Pagoda and what makes it different from other temples?

Tran Quoc Pagoda is one of the oldest pagodas in Hanoi, standing on a serene island in West Lake. Its island location and intricate Buddhist architecture set it apart, offering a quiet spiritual atmosphere within the city.

What was the Temple of Literature used for?

The Temple of Literature was Vietnam's first university, built to honor Confucius and serve as a center of learning. Scholars studied there for centuries, making it a key site for understanding Vietnam's educational and cultural heritage.

Is Train Street actually used by trains today?

Yes, Train Street is a real narrow alley in central Hanoi where century-old train tracks still run through the middle. Trains pass through several times a day, making it a unique and popular spot for photos. The street is only wide enough for the train to pass, with buildings and cafes on either side.

How long is the drive from Halong Cruise Port to Hanoi?

The drive is 2.5 hours each way on the expressway. You depart the port at 7am and arrive in Hanoi by 10am, then return to the port around 6:30–6:45pm after the final stop at Train Street.