Highlights:
- Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
- Explore Tran Quoc Pagoda and learn about the differences between temples and pagodas, gaining insights into Vietnamese culture.
- Visit Vietnam's first university, the Temple of Literature.
- Enjoy a set menu lunch featuring Vietnamese cuisine.
- Discover the Ethnology Museum and learn about the diversity of Vietnam’s 53 ethnic groups.
8:00 – 8:30: Our tour guide and bus will pick you up at your hotel to begin your exploration of Hanoi City.
8:45: Visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, the final resting place of the great Vietnamese leader, Uncle Ho. You will have the opportunity to view his embalmed body and stroll through the gardens, where you can see the two houses in which he lived and worked from 1954 to 1969.
Next, visit the One Pillar Pagoda, a unique architectural wonder dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy.
- Please dress modestly, covering shoulders to knees, when visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, temples, and pagodas.
- The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed on Mondays and Fridays, but you may still take pictures of the mausoleum and explore the surrounding area.
- The mausoleum will be closed for annual maintenance from June 15 to August 15.
10:15: Visit the Vietnam Ethnology Museum to learn about the diverse cultures of the 54 ethnic groups living throughout Vietnam.
Special Note: If you are visiting on a Monday, we will substitute the Ethnology Museum with the Vietnamese Women’s Museum.
12:30 – 12:45: Enjoy lunch at our restaurant, where you will have the chance to savor traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Vegetarian options are available.
13:30: Visit Tran Quoc Pagoda, located on Golden Fish Island in West Lake. This is the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, dating back to the 6th century.
14:30: Continue to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university, founded in 1070. It is one of the most captivating tourist attractions in Northern Vietnam.
15:30: Proceed to Hoa Lo Prison, constructed by the French between 1886 and 1901 when Vietnam was part of French Indochina. Known as "Maison Centrale" by the French, the prison was dubbed “A Hell on Earth.” Today, it serves as a war museum, providing insights into the Vietnamese struggle against French colonialism.
16:30: Our bus will return you to your hotel, concluding the trip.
Optional Add-ons: A cyclo ride or a water puppet show can be arranged upon request for an additional fee.
- Option 1: Cyclo ride for 45 minutes around the Hanoi Old Quarter after visiting Hoa Lo Prison (5 USD/person).
- Option 2: Water Puppet Show lasting 50 minutes (5 USD/person). Recommended times: 16:10 or 17:20.
- Option 3: Combined cyclo ride (45 minutes) and water puppet show (50 minutes) (10 USD/person). Recommended times for the water puppet show: 17:20 or 18:30.
INCLUSION
Shuttle Bus/Limousine during the trip
A bottle of water/person
Entrance tickets
English speaking guide
Vietnamese Lunch
EXCLUSION
Drink for lunch
Cyclo (USD 5/person)
Water Puppet Show (USD 5/person)
Tips for tour guide & driver
Personal expenses or anything not mentioned above
Cancellation Policy:
Cancellations within 24 hours of departure: Non-refundable
Cancellations made more than 24 hours before departure: Fully refundable
SPECIAL NOTES
Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum is closed on Monday and Friday. But still can take picture of the Mausoleum and visit around that area.
We will visit Vietnamese Women’s Museum instead of Vietnam Ethnology Museum closed on Mondays.
Should dress modestly by covering from shoulders to knees in the public places like temples, pagodas, HCM Mausoleum, etc
Should bring the necessary things such as: cash, cellphone or cameras, raincoat/ umbrella, sun block, etc (depending on the weather).
The order of the itinerary can be changed depending on the situation.