Hanoi Highlights

General Info | Photo Gallery | Traveller Feedback

Dive into the sights, sounds and smells of Hanoi on this full-day adventure through Vietnam's modern capital. From the legendary Ho Chi Minh complex to the opulence of the Temple of Literature, discover the city's vivid, turbulent history and learn about Uncle Ho's legacy, which lives on in this enchanting city.

Highlights:

See where 'Uncle Ho' lived, worked and declared national independence.
Wander ancient pagodas and French colonial buildings.
Explore the country's first university at the Temple of Literature,
Lunch at a local restaurant
Gain insight into cultural diversity at the Museum of Ethnology.
Experience traditional street life in Hanoi's old quarter

Tour style:Local Life & Culture, Heritage & History
Inclusion:

English speaking guide, Transport & Entrance fees as indicated, Meals: 1 lunch.

Exclusion:

Items of a personal nature, Tips or gratuities for drivers or guides.

Group size:Maximum 12
Schedule details:

Duration: 9-10 hours
Meeting point:
Pick up at centrally located hotels in Hanoi.
Start time: 8.30 AM-9.30 AM
Finish point:
At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.

Additional information :

Voucher exchange details:
Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the tour.
Confirmation of booking:
Please contact Hanoi Urban Adventures to confirm your tour 24 hours prior to departure.
Dress standard:
Dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.
Child policy:
Children must be between 6 and 11 years of age inclusive.
Language: English

Also runs from:1 Apr 2012 to 31 Mar 2013

Itinerary:

Dive in to the sights, sounds and smells of our bustling city on our Hanoi sightseeing tour. With our local guide we start our trip with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh complex on the site where he declared Vietnam's independence in 1945, and see the reverence with which Vietnamese people treat their "Uncle Ho". Other sites that we will visit with our local guide include:

- House 54 - Ho Chi Minh lived and worked here between 1954 and 1958
- Stilt House - Ho Chi Minh moved from House 54 to the Stilt House in 1958, and worked and lived there until his death in 1969.
- Presidential Palace - originally built by the French at the start of the 20th Century to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. Following his "Declaration of Independence" Ho Chi Minh refused to move into the building due to it's connection with the countries colonial past.
- One Pillar Pagoda - a unique wooden structure originally built in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thai Thong of the Ly Dynasty. The current structure is a replica of the original.

Continuing on our Hanoi tour through the city we drive to the Temple of Literature. Originally built in honour of Confucious by Emperor Ly Thanh Thong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later. The university provided educations to the royal family and children of the aristocracy or "mandarins".

The University remained here until Emperor Gia Long moved the countries administrative capital from Hanoi to Hue around the end of the 18th century and start of the 19th century.

After our visit to the Temple of Literature, we head to a local restaurant for a local lunch - "Pho" or Noodle Soup is a popular choice amongst locals.

After lunch visit the Museum of Ethnology, to learn more about the cultural diversity of Vietnams ethnic minorities. Established by the Vietnamese government in 1997, the museum provides us with a fascinating insight into the diverse cultures, customs and lifestyles of the 54 ethnic groups that inhabit Vietnam.

We finish our ultimate Hanoi travel experience with a walking tour of Hanoi's hectic old quarter. See how Hanoians live out their lives on the streets, sitting & eating together on the sidewalks and bartering for wares. Visit the local Hang Be or Dong Xuan local markets, before finishing with refreshments at a bia hoi where you have the opportunity to swap stories with local people eager to practise their language skills.

At the end of our Hanoi sightseeing tour, you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.

Your trip:

This tour is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.

Tipping:

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid Urban Adventures destinations. Please consider this when budgeting for your extra expenses on this tour.

Cancellations made more than 2 days prior to travel receive a full refund
Cancellations made 2 days or less prior to travel attract a 100% cancellation fee.

Hanoi Urban Adventures

The Hanoi Urban Adventure team are passionate about their city. Each of our Hanoi tours will show you different aspects of our country, different corners of its streets, unique insight into our home communities and much more! Come see the best of Hanoi and its surrounds with us.

more...

18°C
Feels like: 18°C
Drizzle. Fog. Mild.

Responsible Travel with Urban Adventures

Wherever we go in the world, we take a responsible attitude with us. That means travelling in a way which both respects and benefits local people, their culture, their economy, and their environment. Please read on for more information on our Responsible Travel policy and how you can be a responsible traveller for your entire journey.

Top 12 Responsible Travel Tips

The following tips are for your overall travel plans, not just for your time spent on an Urban Adventures tour.

Before leaving home, learn as much as possible about the countries you are visiting - the religion and culture, the local rules and values.
Learn some of the local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple pleasantries will help break the ice. Keep practicing.
Learn what's appropriate behaviour and body language. Like the concept of "saving face" in Asia or giving the thumbs up in western or central Europe.
Support locally owned businesses, hotels, restaurants, and other services. Eat local food and drink local brands and brews. Use public transport, hire a bike or walk where convenient - you'll meet local people and get to know the place. Use our local travel practices as a guideline.
Think first. It's best not to eat in restaurants, shop in stores or visit local shows, markets or zoos that promote cruelty or exploitation of endangered species.
Shop from traditional artisans and for locally made products, helping keep traditional crafts alive and favour local products over imported items. Bargain if that is a local practice, but bear in mind that a small amount to you could be extremely important to the seller.
Dress respectfully with an awareness of local standards. Dress modestly at religious sites and check what swim wear is suitable for pools and the beach.
Always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Send them back copies of photos to help make it a two-way exchange.
Be wary of giving gifts or money to beggars, children and people you have just met. Supporting the community through a local school, clinic, or development project may be more constructive.
Leave only footprints...take care of the environment as you would your own home. Take out all you take in, to areas away from the cities. Use alternatives to plastic and say 'no' to plastic bags. For cigarette butts, an empty film container makes a perfect portable container.
After returning home think how you can support programmes and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment of where you've been lucky to visit.
Smile - The traveller who wishes to have a happy and successful trip should keep as calm, cheerful and friendly as humanly possible. And have fun!

Responsible Travel Code of Conduct

The following are Urban Adventures's key principles for operating responsible tours.

We aim to:

Use locally owned infrastructure on our tours where possible.
Spread the financial benefits amongst local people and operators.
Provide employment and leadership opportunities for local people.
Respect local customs and culture.
Provide safe tours for Urban Adventure partners, staff, and travellers.
Educate travellers and our partners about how and why we choose to travel this way.
Limit the negative impacts to daily lifestyles of local people not involved with Urban Adventures groups.
Limit the physical impact of trips in all destination communities-particularly sensitive natural and cultural environments.
Provide support to organisations and local communities visited by Urban Adventures groups.
Provide fun enjoyable trips to Urban Adventures travellers.
Provide opportunities for travellers to interact with local people.
Actively ban partners, staff and passenger participation in or endorsement of commercial sexual activities or illegal drug use on Urban Adventures tours.
Actively discourage the participation of Urban Adventures groups in activities which exploit animals - wild or domestic.
Use local partners that adhere to Urban Adventures' Responsible Travel and Local Travel principles and provide the best possible service to Urban Adventures travellers and staff.
Work to prevent the exploitation of children in tourism.
Support and encourage fair employment practices.
Give our travellers the best possible value.

For more information on how to be a responsible traveller, region-specific guidelines, and voluntourism, check out what our friends at Intrepid have to say.

more...