Hanoi Holidays

Vietnam’s dynamic, cultured capital is jam-packed with enthralling discoveries, from lakeside temples to water-puppet shows and egg coffee.

High-octane Hanoi has a sophisticated swagger that comes from having seven more centuries of existence to boast about than its larger rival in the south. Peel back the layers of the capital’s thousand-year history in a succession of charismatic neighbourhoods, such as Ba Dinh, where you’ll find the serene Temple of Literature and One Pillar Pagoda – miraculous survivors from the city’s earliest days – along with grand colonial buildings built on the crumbling ruins of venerable Imperial palaces and 20th-century monuments constructed, in turn, on what were former French-style gardens.

Just to the east, the endlessly entertaining Old Quarter is a warren of narrow streets named after the crafts that were – and often still are – made there. Zoom around it in a cyclo for a rapid introduction, then return to delve into tiny overflowing shops, ancient temples and half-hidden tube houses, before recovering with a typically Hanoiese frothy-sweet egg coffee in a pavement café or a savorous snack from a street cart. Elsewhere, catch a performance at the quirky Water Puppet Theatre, where Vietnamese folklore comes to life. Visit a museum devoted to the cultures of the country’s 54 ethnic groups: the clothing is particularly colourful. Wander the tree-lined boulevards of the French Quarter, then unwind at Hoan Kiem Lake, where a red-painted wooden bridge leads to a leafy island with a scenic temple.

Give us a call today so we can help you plan your perfect Hanoi holiday.

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Hanoi Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Hanoi

Melia Hanoi

Kick back and relax at this comfortable city retreat, close to the Old Quarter.

Hotel De L’Opera Hanoi - MGallery

This French Quarter boutique hotel recreates the glamour of the Belle Epoque era.

Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi

A lovely hotel away from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi but still close enough to easily explore.

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Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi

This scenic four-hour day trip through the limestone majestic peaks of one of the seven natural wonders of the world is just the ticket for those unable to indulge in an overnight cruise. As you weave through the towering karst pillars on a traditional junk boat, relax on the sundeck and admire the serene natural beauty of the islands as you tuck into a delicious Vietnamese feast prepared onboard. You’ll be accompanied by an English-speaking local guide who has a deep understanding of the area and knows all the best grottos and bays to explore for those once in a lifetime photographs.

• Departing daily from Hanoi
• Year Round
• Private tour

Good to know
A perfect trip for both honeymooners and families but please note the cruise will be shared with other passengers and for maximum enjoyment, due to the nature of the trip, we recommend children are six years old or above.

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Halong Bay Cruise & Scenic Flight from Hanoi

Combining a scenic four-hour cruise through the majestic karst islands of Halong Bay with a spectacular flight over the UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a wonderful experience for those celebrating something special. As your seaplane soars through the sky above the towering limestone islands, you’ll have the best viewpoint of the entire bay giving you a real sense of scale of this phenomenal natural wonder. The rest of the day moves at a more gentle pace from the comfort of your traditional junk boat. Cruise between the towering pillars, stop off at pretty lagoons and fascinating grottos and soak up the scenery on the sun deck before enjoying a delicious Vietnamese lunch on board.

• Departing daily from Hanoi
• Year round
• Private tour

Good to know
A perfect trip for both honeymooners and families but please note the cruise and flights will be shared with other passengers and we recommend children are aged six or over.

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Hanoi Your Way (Private Driver & Guide)

Whether you already have a list of famous landmarks you want to tick off your ‘to see’ list or you’re looking for some direction during your stay, there’s no better way of exploring Hanoi than with an expert local guide. Pointing out places of interest as you travel across the city in your own personal car, with their insider knowledge you’re sure to uncover a whole different side to the capital. A fantastic option for those travelling with kids or couples who want to dive deeper into the culture of Hanoi.

• Daily
• Year Round
• Private

Good to know
You’ll benefit from a personal car with driver and local guide for the entire day but please be aware fees to any attractions you decide to visit will be payable locally.

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Hanoi Street Food

It has been said that one of the best ways to immerse yourself into a new culture is through the local food and this evening street food tour through Hanoi won’t disappoint. As you weave through the narrow streets of the Old Quarter packed with locals perched on plastic stools amongst sizzling woks and bubbling pots, you’re sure to leave with a greater understanding of local life and a firm grasp of Hanoi’s favourite dishes. Enjoy a refreshing glass of local ale – you’ll soon discover Vietnam has a thriving craft beer scene – as you people watch at Bia Hoi corner before diving into Ly Quoc Su, the city’s famed food street with your personal guide. Tuck into freshly made Banh Goi, crescent-shaped fried pastries filled with pork, mushrooms, onions and spices with sticky rice and mouth-watering Pho before finishing with dessert from Hanoi’s most famous ice cream parlour.

• Daily
• Year Round
• Private

Good to know
While every effort will be made to cater for any specific dietary requirements, please talk to your guide when booking to ensure the tour can be shaped around your needs. Suitable for children six years and over.

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Vietnamese Cooking Class in Hanoi supported by the Der Touristik Foundation

What better souvenir than the knowledge of how to recreate your favourite Vietnamese dish. Not only that, when taking this class at KOTO restaurant you’ll be contributing to the fantastic community work they do, helping to provide hospitality training to local street kids. Supported by our own Der Touristik Foundation, founder Jimmy Pham set up KOTO (Know One, Teach One) when he realised all these children needed were the skills to get a stable job – you’ll learn all about their mission in the morning as you sip Vietnamese tea and get acquainted with the team. Having collected all your fresh ingredients from the local market you’ll get to work beside a current trainee learning more about their lives and a recipe that’s sure to stay with you forever before tucking into your culinary creations!

• £10 of each excursion sale goes towards the foundation
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Although the class can cater for children over six, this experience is more suited for adults looking to give something back to the local community.

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Vietnamese Pottery Making Class in Hanoi

Located on the banks of the Red River, just outside Hanoi, the ancient Bat Trang Ceramic Village is a must-see for history enthusiasts and those interested in local crafts. Dating back seven centuries, this traditional trades village is also home to some of the best craftsmen in the country, making it the perfect place to learn the art of pottery and create a memorable souvenir. Step inside one of the hundreds of private workshops that line the narrow streets in the village and immerse yourself in the daily life of a local. Equipped with your own rotary table and clay you’ll get to work creating your own masterpiece under the watchful eye of the experts who will be on hand to guide you step by step through the process. After all that hard work, cool down with a refreshing glass of sugar-cane juice and sample a Bánh tẻ - a speciality of Bat Trang made with rice, ground meat and black mushrooms.

• Daily
• Year Round
• Group experience

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Hanoi's Highlights in a Day

This is a fantastic introduction to Vietnam’s capital, packing many of Hanoi’s sights into a day. You’ll begin in the city’s Ho Chi Minh Quarter, the site of the mausoleum of the former revolutionary statesman. Other attractions in this corner of central Hanoi include the Presidential Palace, the lotus blossom influenced One Pillar Pagoda and the Temple of Literature. The tour then proceeds to the most well-known neighbourhood: the Old Quarter. With the guide, you’ll wander through the wonderfully busy streets that are lined with a jumble of French colonial buildings. Stop for a traditional egg coffee at the well-thought-of Café Giang, before ending the day at a visit to the Water Puppet Theatre to learn about an entertainment form that’s over 1000 years old.

• Daily departures from Hanoi
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed every afternoon and on Mondays and Fridays so a stop to take a picture will be included in the tour on these occasions. The mausoleum is also closed 15 June to the 15 August for the annual renovation.

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Hanoi Street Art & Old Quarter Tour

A great way to get to know what life in a city is – or was – like is through street art. On this half day tour of Hanoi’s glorious Old Quarter there’s a focus on murals and mosaics, starting at the famous Phung Hung Street. A handful of local and South Korean artists have created beautiful depictions of urban memories in each of railway arches. The next stop is the Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural, a 4-mile-long artwork that was produced in 2021 to celebrate 1000 year since the foundation of Hanoi. The intricate mosaics portray various aspects of Vietnamese history, culture and tradition. The tour will end with a visit to Café Giang for an egg coffee, a Hanoi delicacy.

• Departs daily from Hanoi
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Hanoi Old Quarter Cyclo Tour

Spend a few hours being whisked through the streets of Hanoi’s beautiful Old Quarter on a cyclo. The first port of call is Ngoc Son temple, the most visited temple in the city which is located on an island in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. To reach the island, a tiny land of legends, you’ll cross the pretty, scarlet hued Huc Bridge. Then head to Hanoi’s beautiful Opera House before weaving your way through the historic streets of the Old Quarter.

• Daily departures from Hanoi
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Cruise & Cycle Through Tam Coc

Set off southwards out of Hanoi and head to the Ninh Binh province, a wonderous world of riverside rice fields punctuated with limestone casts that’s known as Halong Bay on land. You’ll board a small boat and be transported slowly along the Ngo Dong River to the Tam Coc cave system. After entering one of the caves in your rowboat, you can enjoy the unhurried trip back to the pier and take in life on the riverside. It’ll then be time for a delicious local lunch and a 3-mile bike ride to Hung Mua, another of the three Tam Coc caves. You’ll then ascend nearly 500 steps to the top of Hang Mua Peak for some unforgettable view across the surrounding landscapes.

• Daily departures from Hanoi
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

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Get to know Hanoi and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +7 hours

CURRENCY

Vietnamese Dong

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

16 hours (excluding stopover time)

RELIGION

Vietnam is a multi-religion state with Buddhism as the leading religion.

LANGUAGE

Vietnamese

Where is Hanoi?
The capital of Vietnam since 1976, and at various times before that in the past millennium, Hanoi is in the north of the country on the banks of the Red River. To the east lie the South China Sea and Halong Bay; to the north, in the mountains and valleys that stretch towards the Chinese border, are remote areas that are home to hill tribes such as the Hmong, Tay and Red Dao people. If you’re heading south, internal flights and trains are both excellent options. It’s two hours by plane to Ho Chi Minh City, while the air-conditioned overnight sleeper train to Hué is a fascinating experience in its own right.

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Getting around
Hanoi’s compact centre is best explored on foot, though on hotter days a ride in a classic cyclo – essentially a large tricycle with a seat for two at the front and the driver pedalling away behind – is a refreshingly breezy alternative. For further-flung and speedier explorations, you could book a private car with a driver for the day. Otherwise, there’s the usual network of buses, along with a plentiful supply of (mostly) metered taxis.

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Halong Bay
By far the most popular out-of-town destination is breathtaking Halong Bay, a World Heritage Site, where you can explore the rainforest-topped limestone islets on a day trip or by overnight cruise. Add in a flight on a seaplane for the ultimate panorama of this spectacular natural phenomenon. If you’re travelling in January and February, be prepared for occasional misty days when the visibility is less than ideal – though it can also be hauntingly beautiful.

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Shopping
While Hanoi’s markets provide colour, quirky souvenirs and aromatic street food, there are better places to find handmade pieces you’ll treasure for years. The lanes and alleyways of the Old Quarter are lined with tiny shops showcasing a range of beautifully made crafts. Snap up everything from exquisite silk fabrics and colourful quilts to embroideries, ceramics and wood carvings. Elsewhere, look out for the stores of not-for-profit organisations that support artisans in some of the country’s remotest regions.

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Multi-centres
Hanoi is served by Noi Bai airport, located just under 30 miles from the city centre, which has both an international and domestic terminal. This, along with the rail network – the main Reunification Express line and its various branches – means you can easily explore the whole country from north to south (or vice versa) or add other South East Asian countries to your dream itinerary. If you prefer to dig deeper in one area, you can focus on the north, teaming a spell in Hanoi with memorable side trips to Halong Bay and the hills around Sapa where various ethnic minority groups still live, perhaps with an add-on to a beach resort further south to round things off.

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