Hanoi Jeep Tour: Street Food Tasting Backstreets Westlake
A jeep tour of Hanoi means seeing the wet markets and train street most visitors miss.
A half-day jeep tour of Hanoi on an open-air Russian military vehicle with a live English-speaking guide, covering backstreet alleyways, French colonial landmarks, Westlake and over seven authentic street food tastings. Pickup is included. The tour runs four hours and suits all fitness levels, though it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or cardiovascular concerns.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Hanoi by open-air jeep
- Visit black market and wet market
- Walk through train street and alleys
- Drive past Opera House and mausoleum
- Stop for photos at Long Bien bridge
- Explore French quarters by jeep
- Tour around Westlake and spiritual sites
- Try over seven authentic street foods
What’s included
- Pickup from your hotel.
- a live English-speaking guide.
- four hours on an open-air Russian jeep.
- access to backstreet alleyways, the train street, French colonial landmarks and Westlake.
- over seven authentic street food tastings throughout the route.
Times
- Every day 08:00 12:30 17:00
Before you book
Operated by Vietnam Backstreet Tours
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
How do you see the real Hanoi instead of the postcard version? You ride an open-air Russian jeep through the parts of the city locals navigate every day. The guide takes you into the backstreet alleyways first (the black market, the wet market, the train street, and the small lanes that only residents know) stopping for a short walk so you can stand inside the rhythm of a working neighborhood instead of passing it at speed. From there the route shifts to the French quarters, where you ride past the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh mausoleum and Long Bien bridge, with stops for pictures if the light is right.
The second half swings toward Westlake, Hanoi's largest lake and the city's natural air conditioner. Your guide explains the spiritual sites scattered around it (dozens of temples and shrines built on the lake's unique feng shui location), and shows you how the newer parts of the city have grown around the water. Along the entire route, you stop to taste over seven different street foods, each one a dish Hanoians eat regularly: the kind of food that does not make it onto restaurant menus because it lives on the pavement and in the alleys. The jeep itself is the point: open-air, no windows, the city moving past you without a barrier.
Is this one for you?Four hours is long enough to move through four distinct parts of the city (backstreets, French quarters, Westlake and the food stops) without rushing any of them, but short enough to leave the rest of your day open. If you want to see the neighborhoods where Hanoians actually live and eat, rather than the monuments, this jeep route is built for that.
Compare the 12 alternatives
Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 2).
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 train street in Hanoi?
The train street is a narrow alley in the old quarter where railroad tracks run between buildings and vendors set up stalls on the rails between train arrivals. Your guide will walk you through it so you can see how the neighborhood has adapted to living alongside the trains.
How many street foods will I taste on this tour?
You'll taste over seven different authentic Hanoian street foods as you move through the city. Each stop is a working food stall or vendor, not a restaurant, so the food is what locals eat daily.
Does the jeep tour include a meal?
The street food tastings throughout the tour serve as your meal. The tour includes breakfast, lunch and dinner across the four hours, woven into the stops rather than served at a single restaurant.
What is Westlake and why does the tour go there?
Westlake is Hanoi's largest lake, known locally as the city's air conditioner because of its size and location. The tour takes you there to see the spiritual sites built around it and to show you how the newer parts of Hanoi have developed, balancing the old backstreet neighborhoods with the modern city.
Is pickup from my hotel included?
Yes, pickup is included in the tour price. Your guide will arrange the meeting point when you book.
Can I do this tour if I have a back injury?
The open-air jeep involves sitting on a bench seat without suspension for four hours, so it is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health. If you have concerns, contact the operator before booking.
Hanoi Jeep Tour: Street Food Tasting Backstreets Westlake
4h · EN
from US$ 70 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.