Hanoi: Jeep City & Countryside Tour with Train Street Coffee

Summary

Jeep ride through hanoi’s old quarter train street and red river farms

You’ll ride through Hanoi’s buzzing Old Quarter in an open-air jeep, stop for egg coffee along Train Street, wander banana farms on Red River Island, and share tea with a local family before lunch. Expect unexpected moments—like incense drifting by West Lake or stories at B52 Lake—that linger long after you’ve left.

What’s the experience like?

The second we climbed into that army-green jeep outside our hotel in Hanoi, I felt like a little kid again. Our guide, Minh, grinned at us from the front seat and cranked up some Vietnamese pop on the radio. The city was already humming — scooters darting everywhere, a woman balancing baskets of lychees on her shoulder. We rattled through the Old Quarter’s narrow streets so close you could almost touch the noodle stalls. Minh pointed out tiny altars tucked into doorways. I tried to say “xin chào” to a vendor and totally butchered it; she just laughed and waved her hand like she’d heard worse.

We swung past the French Quarter — those yellow colonial buildings always surprise me — then stopped at West Lake for a breather. The air smelled faintly of incense from a nearby pagoda and something sweet I couldn’t place (maybe lotus?). After that, the jeep headed out toward Red River Island. Suddenly everything got quieter; banana trees everywhere, leaves bigger than my arms. Minh led us down a dirt path to meet a local family who lived right by the riverbank. Their kitchen smelled like woodsmoke and fresh herbs. We drank tea together while their little boy shyly peeked around the corner at us.

Back in the city, we zigzagged through alleys I’d never find on my own. At B52 Lake, Minh told us how an American plane crashed here decades ago — you can still see part of it poking out of the water if you look closely. Then came Train Street: honestly, it’s surreal seeing people live so close to the tracks. We sat at this tiny café with chipped mugs and tried egg coffee while waiting for the train (it didn’t come that day but somehow that made it better — less staged). Lunch was just around the corner: rice noodles with pork and piles of fresh greens I barely recognized but happily ate anyway.

I keep thinking about those moments when Hanoi felt both wild and gentle all at once — noisy streets giving way to quiet gardens or sudden laughter over tea. If you want to see more than just postcard sights on your Hanoi jeep tour, this is probably it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hanoi city and countryside tour

• Pick up from hotel by open air jeep
• Drive through Old Quarter streets
• Drive through French Quarter
• Pass and stop at West Lake viewpoint
• Drive through Red River island banana and vegetable farms
• Visit local family on the island
• Visit local market
• Drive around West Lake road
• Visit 1000 year old Van Nien Pagoda
• Visit B52 lake
• Drive past Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
• Drive along Phan Dinh Phung road
• Visit main gate of Thang Long Citadel
• Drive through Hoang Hoa Tham bonsai street
• Drive through back streets and small alleys
• See B52 American aircraft site
• View Hanoi skyscrapers in new city area
• Walk along Train Street
• Stop for egg coffee at Train Street coffee shop
• Head to restaurant for lunch
• Drive back to hotel or drop off point

Top questions

How long does this Hanoi jeep tour last?

The tour typically lasts half a day, covering both city highlights and countryside stops.

Is pickup from my hotel included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included in your booking.

Do we get to visit Train Street?

Yes, there’s a stop at Train Street where you can walk along the tracks and have egg coffee at a local café.

What kind of vehicle is used for this tour?

An open-air army jeep is used throughout the tour for both city and countryside routes.

Is lunch provided during the trip?

Yes, lunch at a local restaurant is included as part of your experience.

Will we meet any local families?

You’ll visit a local family living on Red River Island to learn about daily life there.

Are entrance fees covered?

All entrance fees are included in your tour price.

Is this suitable for children or infants?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels; infants must sit on an adult’s lap or use specialized seats available upon request.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by open-air army jeep with an experienced driver, all entrance fees covered along the route, visits to key sites like West Lake and B52 Lake plus time with a local family on Red River Island, an authentic lunch at a neighborhood restaurant (with plenty of fresh herbs), bottled water during your journey, English-speaking guide throughout—and yes, egg coffee by Train Street before heading back to your hotel.