Hanoi Private Tour: Old Quarter & Train Street from Halong Port

See Hanoi's temples, prisons and train-side streets in one day from the cruise port

A private all-day guided tour of Hanoi departing from Halong Cruise Port with English-speaking guide and air-conditioned car transfer. The itinerary covers Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature (Vietnam's first university), Hoa Lo Prison, a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, and Train Street. Lunch at a local restaurant and all entrance fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hanoi city sightseeing and cultural tour

• Pickup from Halong Cruise Port
• Drive to Hanoi city by highway
• Visit Ho Chi Minh complex and Mausoleum
• Visit Temple of Literature
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Visit Hoa Lo Prison
• Cyclo ride around Old Quarter
• Visit Train Street for photos and coffee
• Drive back to Halong Cruise Port

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Hoa Lo Prison Entry included 30m
2. Hanoi Old Quarter Entry included 30m

What’s included

• Your tour includes high-quality private car or minivan transfer with air conditioning.
• all entrance fees to Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, and Hoa Lo Prison.
• a local English-speaking guide and experienced driver.
• lunch with Vietnamese dishes at a local restaurant.
• and the cyclo ride through the Old Quarter.

Times

• Every day 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:45 08:00 08:30

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 85 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 in Vietnam

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Traveler reviews

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The experience

The day starts with pickup at Halong Cruise Port, then a 2.5-hour drive to Hanoi by highway. Once in the city, your guide takes you to the Ho Chi Minh complex, where Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum stands as the final resting place of the national hero. From there, the Temple of Literature (founded in 1070 and home to Vietnam's first national university from 1076 to 1779) shows the depth of Hanoi's intellectual history. The temple was built to honor Confucius and remains one of the city's most significant cultural sites.

After lunch at a local restaurant with Vietnamese dishes, you visit Hoa Lo Prison, a colonial-era jail notorious for its brutal conditions and later nicknamed the "Hanoi Hilton" by American pilots during the Vietnam War. The prison's history is stark and sobering, preserved as a museum. Next comes a roughly 30-minute cyclo ride through the Old Quarter, where narrow streets and traditional shopfronts give a sense of how Hanoi has looked for centuries. The final stop is Train Street, a unique alleyway just wide enough for a train to pass through. The tracks were laid over a hundred years ago, and the street has become a gathering spot for photos, coffee, and people-watching.

The return journey to Halong Cruise Port takes another 2.5 hours, with drop-off at the port gate between 6:30 and 7:00 pm. Your guide speaks English throughout, and the car is air-conditioned for comfort during the long drive and city stops. Dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) can be accommodated if you note them at booking.

Top questions

Can children come?

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

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

The drive is 2.5 hours each way by highway. You depart from the port gate in the morning and return between 6:30 and 7:00 pm, making the full tour roughly 10 hours from start to finish.

What is the Temple of Literature and why does it matter?

The Temple of Literature, built in 1070, housed Vietnam's first national university from 1076 to 1779 and was dedicated to Confucius. It stands as one of Hanoi's most important cultural landmarks and shows the city's long tradition of learning and scholarship.

What was Hoa Lo Prison used for?

Hoa Lo Prison was a colonial-era jail infamous for overcrowding and brutal conditions. During the Vietnam War, American pilots shot down over the city nicknamed it the "Hanoi Hilton." It is now a museum preserving this difficult chapter of Vietnamese history.

Is there time to explore the Old Quarter on foot, or only by cyclo?

The tour includes a cyclo ride through the Old Quarter lasting about 30 minutes. Train Street, the final stop, is a walking area where you can take photos, have coffee or tea, and experience the street's energy before returning to the port.

What food is included, and can I request dietary changes?

Lunch at a local Hanoi restaurant with Vietnamese dishes is included in the tour price. The operator can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free requests if you note them when booking. Beverages and tips are not included.