Hanoi City Jeep Tour: Train Street, Banana Island & West Lake

Train Street runs inches from homes and cafés, and you walk the tracks yourself.

A 4-hour Hanoi city tour by vintage Jeep that covers the Old Quarter, Train Street, government landmarks, Banana Island, Tran Quoc Pagoda, and West Lake, with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and authentic Vietnamese lunch or dinner included. Choose between private or shared Jeeps, and 2-hour or 4-hour options at checkout. The route mixes colonial architecture and wartime history with a peaceful countryside stop where you meet a local family, eat fresh tropical fruit, and drink traditional Vietnamese tea.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hanoi Old Quarter15m · entry included
2. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum20m
3. Tran Quoc Pagoda30m · entry included
4. St Joseph’s Cathedralpassing by

Hanoi city highlights and local culture

• Pickup from hotel in Old Quarter
• Drive through Old Quarter and 36 Streets
• Pass St. Joseph’s Cathedral
• Photo stop at Train Street
• Drive through Government and Historical District
• Visit Banana Island and local family
• Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda and West Lake
• Visit B52 Lake historical site
• Enjoy authentic Vietnamese cuisine and egg coffee

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup in the Old Quarter and a 30-minute drive through Hanoi's oldest neighborhood: narrow streets, colonial buildings, local markets, and the iconic St. Joseph's Cathedral with its striking neo-Gothic facade. You pass through the famous "36 Streets," where history and daily street life happen at the same pace. Then comes the stop everyone photographs: Train Street, where railway tracks run inches from local homes and cafés. You walk the tracks yourself for about 20 minutes, capturing the scene that makes this corner of Hanoi unlike anywhere else.

From there, the Jeep heads into Hanoi's political heart: the government district, Ministry of Defence, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Ba Dinh Square, where Vietnam declared independence in 1945. After 30 minutes of driving through grand French colonial boulevards, the route shifts completely. Banana Island sits hidden beside the Red River, a green pocket most visitors never find. You spend 45 minutes here: riding through banana plantations, visiting a local family home, eating fresh seasonal fruit, and drinking traditional Vietnamese green tea in their living room. It is the kind of stop that changes how you see the city.

The final stretch takes in Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi's oldest pagoda, perched on the edge of West Lake with views across the water. A 15-minute stop at B52 Lake follows: a quiet residential neighborhood hiding the wreckage of an American B-52 bomber shot down in 1972, a piece of wartime history few tourists know about. The tour ends with authentic Vietnamese lunch or dinner (depending on your start time) and traditional egg coffee, the drink Hanoi is known for. The whole day runs four hours. A two-hour option covers the Old Quarter, Train Street, and government district only.

What’s included

• Vietnamese Military Jeep with an English-speaking guide and experienced driver.
• hotel pickup in the Old Quarter.
• authentic Vietnamese lunch or dinner with traditional egg coffee.
• fresh tropical fruit and Vietnamese tea at the local family home on Banana Island.
• stops at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Train Street, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake, and B-52 Lake.

Options for this experience

5 options

Two-hour shared city jeep tourGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Lasts 2 hours, with snacks (fruit, tea), city sightseeing highlights, military jeep with tour guide and driver; meals and cafe are not included; pickup is included

Four-hour shared city jeep tourGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30, 12:30 and 17:00City highlights and hidden gems luxury tour lasting 4 hours, with a local meal and drink, city highlights and countryside, military vintage jeep, English-speaking guide, and pickup included

Two-hour private city jeep tourGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00City highlights and hidden gems lasting 2 hours, with no meals or drinks, vintage jeep, English-speaking guide, and pickup included

See 2 more options

Hanoi sunset and Train Street visitGuide in English · 17:00Lasts 3 hours covering the city, countryside and Train Street; dinner and snacks are included, along with a regular drink at Train Street while watching the trains pass by. Highlights, Train Street and countryside include the Old Quarter, Church, Banana Island, countryside, West Lake, Tran Quoc Pagoda (passing by), Government Quarter and a Train Street visit, by military jeep with an English-speaking guide; pickup is included

Four-hour private jeep tourGuide in English · 08:00, 08:30, 12:30 and 17:00Private tour lasting 4 hours, with a local meal and drink, vintage jeep, English-speaking guide, and pickup included

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day8 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (5 and older) · Child (under 5): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hanoi Vespa and Jeep Tours - Explorer Rides

Is this one for you?Book the 4-hour private option if you want the full route (Old Quarter, Train Street, government landmarks, Banana Island, and the pagoda) without sharing the Jeep or timing. The 2-hour shared version covers the highlights of central Hanoi (Old Quarter, Train Street, government district) and works if you have less time or prefer a smaller cost. The countryside and pagoda stops drop off.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 5): free.

What is Train Street actually like when I get there?

Train Street is a narrow residential lane where railway tracks run just inches from the front doors and ground-floor cafés of local homes. You walk along the tracks for about 20 minutes, and the scene is exactly as photographed: the tracks, the buildings pressed close, locals going about their day. It is one of Hanoi's most unique spots and the reason most people book this tour.

Do I get to spend real time on Banana Island, or is it just a quick drive-through?

Banana Island is a 45-minute stop, the longest single part of the tour. You visit a local family's home, eat fresh seasonal fruit, drink traditional Vietnamese green tea, and ride through banana plantations and quiet countryside paths. It is designed to feel like an escape from the city, not a photo stop.

What is included in the lunch or dinner at the end?

Authentic Vietnamese cuisine is included, and the meal comes with traditional egg coffee, the signature drink of Hanoi. The timing depends on your start time: morning tours end with lunch, afternoon tours with dinner.

Can I choose between a private Jeep and a shared one?

Yes. At checkout you pick between a private Jeep (your group only) or a shared Jeep (small group of other travelers). Both options run 2 hours or 4 hours, so you choose the vehicle type and the length separately.

Does the tour include pickup from my hotel?

Hotel pickup in the Old Quarter is included. If you are staying outside the Old Quarter, confirm your location at checkout so the driver knows where to meet you.

What is the B-52 Lake stop about?

B-52 Lake is a quiet historical site in a residential neighborhood where the wreckage of an American B-52 bomber remains in the water after being shot down during the Vietnam War in 1972. The 15-minute stop offers a glimpse into Hanoi's wartime history and is hidden from most tourist routes.