Hanoi day trip from Halong city: Private guide, food tour & sites

One-Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Hoan Kiem Lake, and the Old Quarter's street food in a single day

A full-day guided tour from Halong city to Hanoi with private transport, a professional English-speaking guide, and entry to seven major sites including Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and One-Pillar Pagoda. You choose between a two-hour walking food tour through the Old Quarter sampling local dishes at family-run shops, or a restaurant lunch with a rickshaw ride. Pickup is included at your cruise ship or Halong hotel, and the driver returns you by your requested time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Hanoi Opera House3m
2. Temple of Literature55m · entry included
3. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum25m · entry included
4. One-Pillar Pagoda20m · entry included
5. Hoa Lo Prison50m · entry included
6. Hanoi Old Quarter2h · entry included
7. Hoan Kiem Lake30m · entry included

Full day Hanoi city tour from Halong

• Pick up in Halong city
• Drive 2 hours to Hanoi
• Meet guide at Hanoi Opera House
• Stop at Hanoi train street
• Visit Temple of Literature
• Visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
• See Ho Chi Minh Declaration place
• Visit One-Pillar Pagoda
• Visit Hoa Lo Prison
• Lunch and rickshaw or food tour in Old Quarter
• Enjoy egg coffee in Old Quarter
• Visit Hoan Kiem Lake
• Drive back to Halong city port

The experience

The day starts with pickup at Halong (either at your cruise ship's foot with the driver holding a name card, or at your hotel reception), then a two-hour drive to Hanoi. Your guide meets you at Hanoi Opera House, the starting point for a route that moves through the city's layers: a quick stop at the train street where rails still run between buildings, then the Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university from a thousand years ago. You visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where you queue to see the founder who declared independence in 1945, and stand at the spot where he read that declaration. The One-Pillar Pagoda, built in the 11th century and shaped like a lotus flower rising from the lake, sits next. Before the drive back, you pass Hoa Lo Prison, where American pilots were held during the war.

The midday break is yours to choose. Either join a two-hour walking tour through the Old Quarter's narrowest streets (the ones you wouldn't find on your own) stopping at family-run shops that have served the same one or two dishes for years, tasting real Hanoi food as locals eat it daily, and learning about Vietnamese cooking at the local markets. Or sit down for lunch at a top-tier restaurant in the city center, then take a one-hour rickshaw ride through the same neighborhoods. Both options end with egg coffee or local Vietnamese coffee at a café overlooking the Old Quarter. After your guide's goodbye, the driver takes you back to Halong city or your port, timed to your preference.

The guide speaks English by default. Spanish, French, German and four other languages are available with a surcharge. All entry tickets, local taxes, and the air-conditioned vehicle are included. The itinerary can be adjusted to suit what you want to see, and the tour operates on a no-one-left-behind policy. If something runs late, the schedule shifts to keep the day intact.

What’s included

• Private pickup at your cruise ship or Halong hotel.
• two-hour drive in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional guide.
• entry to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One-Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, and four other landmarks.
• either a two-hour walking food tour through the Old Quarter tasting local dishes at family-run shops, or a restaurant lunch with a one-hour rickshaw ride.
• egg coffee or local Vietnamese coffee.
• return transport to Halong by your requested time.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in 7 languages21 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 18:30

Guide in 7 languages11 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 11:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day22 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 18:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese

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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Vietnam Tour Tailor Company

Is this one for you?Pick this if your ship docks at Halong and you speak a language beyond English (guides offer French, Spanish, Mandarin and others), or if you want to customize the day around either a walking food tour through the Old Quarter or a seated restaurant lunch with rickshaw ride.

Traveler reviews

4.93★★★★★★★★★★

90 verified traveler reviews

5 ★84

4 ★6

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Chinese.

Can children come?

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

What is the One-Pillar Pagoda and why is it on this tour?

The One-Pillar Pagoda is a unique temple built in the 11th century in the middle of a lake, shaped like a lotus flower. It's one of Hanoi's most recognizable landmarks and a key stop on this tour because it represents centuries of Vietnamese architecture and spiritual life in the city center.

Can I choose what I eat during the food part of the day?

Yes. You pick either the two-hour walking food tour through the Old Quarter, where you stop at family-run shops serving traditional single-dish specialties and taste what Hanoians eat daily, or a restaurant lunch with a rickshaw ride. Both include coffee at the end.

How long is the drive from Halong city to Hanoi?

The drive takes two hours each way. Your guide meets you at Hanoi Opera House after you arrive, and the driver returns you to Halong by your requested time at the end of the day.

What happens if my cruise ship is delayed or I'm running late?

The tour operates on a no-one-left-behind policy, so the schedule adjusts if you're delayed. The driver has your name and meets you at the cruise ship's foot or your hotel, and timing is flexible to fit your needs.

Is the guide fluent in English?

Yes, the guide speaks English by default and is a local expert familiar with Hanoi's history and culture. Other languages (Spanish, French, German and four more) are available with a surcharge starting at $20 per group.

What's included in the price?

Entry tickets to all seven sites, local taxes, the private air-conditioned vehicle from Halong to Hanoi and back, the professional guide, and either the food walking tour or restaurant lunch with rickshaw ride are included. Drinks, tips and personal expenses are not.