Hanoi City Tour by Vintage Jeep: Hidden Gems & Train Street

A B-52 bomber sits half-submerged in a lake in the middle of residential Hanoi.

A 4-hour Hanoi city tour by open-air vintage Jeep with a local English-speaking guide, visiting the Old Quarter, French Quarter, Banana Island, West Lake, and B-52 Lake, ending with local food tastings. The Jeep holds a maximum of 6 guests, available as a small group or private tour, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. Children welcome from age 5.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hanoi city tour by vintage Jeep

• Begin tour in Old Quarter
• Pass St. Joseph’s Cathedral
• See Hanoi Opera House
• View Hanoi Train Street safely
• Explore local neighborhoods
• Drive through French Quarter
• See Presidential Palace
• Pass Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
• Observe National Assembly building
• Visit Banana Island countryside
• Meet local farmers
• Enjoy tropical fruits and tea
• Drive to West Lake
• Stop at McCain Monument
• Visit Tao Sach Pagoda
• See Two Dragon Statues
• Visit B-52 Lake historical site
• Taste egg coffee
• Savor lotus tea
• Enjoy Bún Chả dish

The experience

The Jeep leaves your hotel and heads straight into the Old Quarter, where narrow streets and nonstop street activity reveal how Hanoi actually moves. You pass St. Joseph's Cathedral, built in 1886 with striking neo-Gothic architecture, then the Hanoi Opera House: a French colonial landmark that still anchors the city center. The real draw is Hanoi Train Street, where you stop at a safe viewing area to watch local life unfold alongside the railway, a scene most visitors never see because they're walking or on a bus.

From there the tour shifts into the French Quarter, where wide boulevards and leafy avenues replace the maze. You drive past the Presidential Palace (the iconic yellow colonial building that once housed French governors), and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where your guide shares the history while respecting local customs. The National Assembly building marks the contrast between French-era architecture and modern Vietnam's political center. Then the Jeep leaves the city entirely, crossing into Banana Island along the Red River, a quiet landscape of banana fields and dirt paths where farmers still work the land the way the Red River's seasonal rhythms have shaped it for generations. You stop for fresh tropical fruits and Vietnamese green tea with local residents, a genuine break from the streets.

West Lake comes next: Hanoi's largest lake, ringed with temples and gardens. The McCain Monument sits lakeside, honoring U.S. Senator John McCain and marking the reconciliation between Vietnam and the United States. The 15th-century Tao Sach Pagoda is tucked nearby, calm and spiritual, and the Two Dragon Statues at the water's edge represent prosperity and protection in Vietnamese tradition. Before heading back, you stop at B-52 Lake, where a downed B-52 bomber remains half-visible in the water: a striking historical marker in an ordinary neighborhood where daily life continues around it.

The tour ends with food: Hanoi's famous egg coffee, a rich and creamy specialty invented in the 1940s; lotus tea, delicately infused and symbolizing elegance in Vietnamese culture; and bún chả, the city's signature grilled pork and rice noodles. One coffee and the meal are included. The guide handles the stops and the timing so the day holds together without you arranging anything.

What’s included

• Open-air vintage Jeep with professional driver.
• English-speaking local guide.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• one coffee and a meal (lunch or dinner).
• all entrance fees to attractions.
• cold drinks during the tour.
• rain poncho if needed.
• travel insurance and VAT tax.

Options for this experience

3 options

2-hour city sightseeingGuide in English · 7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:15Lasts 2 hours in a vintage Jeep; pickup is included

Small group tour lasting 4 hoursGuide in English · 08:00, 12:30 and 17:00Lasts 4 hours, with lunch of Bun Cha served from a Jeep and egg coffee to drink; pickup is included

Private tour (minimum of 2 people)Guide in English · 08:00, 12:30 and 17:00Lasts 4 hours, including lunch of Bun Cha in the Jeep, with egg coffee as the drink; includes pickup

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:15

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (5 to 8 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 15

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Eco Trip Asia

Is this one for you?Choose the small group tour to share costs with other travelers. Pick the private tour if your group wants the guide to focus only on you and adjust the route on the fly.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 8 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between the small group and private Jeep tour options?

The small group tour runs with up to 6 guests in one Jeep. The private tour is for your group alone, with a minimum of 2 people. Both follow the same route and include the same stops, guide, pickup and meal.

Is there a shorter Hanoi Jeep tour if I don't have 4 hours?

Yes, a 2-hour city sightseeing option covers the highlights of the Old Quarter and French Quarter without the countryside stops at Banana Island, West Lake, or B-52 Lake.

What exactly is Hanoi Train Street, and why is it on the tour?

Hanoi Train Street is a narrow railway line running through a residential neighborhood where local life unfolds alongside the tracks: homes, cafés, and daily activity exist right next to the rails. The tour stops at a safe viewing area so you can see this unique urban scene without disrupting the neighborhood.

Does the tour include food, or do I pay separately for the egg coffee and bún chả?

One coffee and a meal (lunch or dinner depending on your tour time) are included in the price. Lotus tea and other beverages are not included, but the guide will take you to places where you can order them.

What happens if my travel date falls on a public holiday like Lunar New Year?

A surcharge applies to bookings on public holidays, including Lunar New Year. This will be shown at checkout when you select your date.