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Our most recommended Hanoi Culture & history

From Hanoi: Tam Coc, Hoa Lu & Mua Caves Full-Day Trip

1. From Hanoi: Tam Coc, Hoa Lu & Mua Caves Full-Day Trip

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Hanoi to Tam Coc and ride a Sampan boat to impressive caves. Experience local life as you cycle through picturesque villages, explore ancient temples, and enjoy a Vietnamese lunch. Start your tour early with pickup at your hotel in Ha Noi Old Quarter. Hop into the luxury van to visit Hoa Lu, an ancient capital of Vietnam. Visit Dinh king Temple and Le king Temple from the 10th century, and hear about the heroic histories of the two Kings during the Chinese Wars. At midday, sit down for lunch with Vietnamese cuisine at a local restaurant. Continue to Tam Coc and take the sampan go (traditional river boat) along the Ngo Dong river to visit Tam Coc's three caves. Head back to Tam Coc wharf, take your bicycle, and cycle around traditional villages and Tam Coc town. Visit Mua cave, which attracts visitors with its many interesting stories. Climb 500 stone steps to see all the way to Tam Coc, and enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the countryside and Ngo Dong river. In the evening, return Ha Noi.

From Hanoi: Ninh Binh, Trang An, Bai Dinh, and Mua Cave Trip

2. From Hanoi: Ninh Binh, Trang An, Bai Dinh, and Mua Cave Trip

Uncover the cultural and natural heritage of the Ninh Binh province on a guided day trip from Hanoi. Pay a visit to the Bai Dinh Temple Complex, float through the tranquil rivers of Trang An, and climb to the top of Mua Caves for striking panoramic views of rocky hills. Get picked up from your hotel in Hanoi and depart toward Ninh Binh. Stop at Bai Dinh, the biggest complex of Buddhist temples in Vietnam, to gaze at the imposing pagoda. See 500 Arhat Statues made out of blue stones, a 36-ton bronze bell, and a 100-ton Buddha statue, rising up to 10 meters. Take a lunch break in a local restaurant, with a Vietnamese buffet of goat meat, fish, chicken, and fried rice, as well as vegetarian food options. Continue to the Trang An Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featured in the 2017 movie Kong: Skull Island. Hop on a wooden boat to navigate through its quiet rivers, discover mysterious caves, and admire towering limestone karsts covered with tropical plants. Finally, climb up 500 steps to the viewpoint of Mua Caves to marvel at panoramic views of Tam Coc before returning to Hanoi.

Hanoi Food Tour with Train Street Visit

3. Hanoi Food Tour with Train Street Visit

Start your tour at the meeting point on No.47 Hàng Bông street, and head to a traditional restaurant specializing in entrees such as pillow cake, shrimp cake, Pho rolls, and spring rolls. Have a taste of some popular and classic Vietnamese dishes. Then head over to the nearby St. Joseph’s and stop for some pictures of the late colonial French architecture. Along the way make sure to stop at a local restaurant to try banh cuon (filled rice noodles) and watch as skilled chefs demonstrate how this tasty dish is created. Next, enjoy pho (noodle soup), which is Vietnam’s most famous dish. Try both the beef and chicken versions. Definitely don't miss out on a Vietnamese traditional dessert called chè. There are both hot and cold versions for each season. After several dishes, you will be full and satisfied. Catch a taxi and go straight to the train street. Although train schedules show them to come daily, sometimes they do and sometimes not, so if you're lucky, you may catch one and experience the huge train passing right in front of your face. While here, enjoy egg coffees at a nice shop trackside and experience the unique ambiance. When you’re done with the drinks, hop in a taxi again to go back to the meeting point where the tour ends. For the disabled and those who simply have sore feet, select the cyclo option where you can sit back and enjoy the tour in quiet comfort.

From Hanoi: Ha Giang Loop 3-Day Self-Driving Motorbike Tour

4. From Hanoi: Ha Giang Loop 3-Day Self-Driving Motorbike Tour

Night 1: Hanoi - Ha Giang 19:30: Pick-up from your hotel/hostel or Chestnut Travel. 20:30: Depart from Hanoi to Ha Giang on a sleeper bus. Overnight: Travel on the sleeper bus. Day 1: Ha Giang - Yen Minh Town - Dong Van 03:30: Arrive in Ha Giang city, check-in to your hostel, and rest for a few hours. 08:30: Meet your guide and begin the Ha Giang Loop adventure. 09:00: Start your journey with a ride along Bac Sum Pass. 10:00: Reach Heaven Gate, enjoy the twin mountains' scenery, and see Tam Son town. 12:00: Have lunch in Yen Minh Town. 13:00: Drive towards Dong Van, passing through Chin Khoanh Pass. 15:00: Experience the stunning landscape of Dong Van Karst Plateau. 16:00: Visit Hmong King’s Palace in Sa Phin. 18:00: Arrive in Dong Van, enjoy a local Vietnamese dinner and live music. Overnight: Stay in Dong Van. Day 2: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Du Gia Village 08:00: Have breakfast and depart from Dong Van Town. 09:00: Explore the breathtaking Ma Pi Leng Pass, trek the Sky Path for panoramic views. 11:00: Descend to Nho Que river for a boat ride. 12:30: Lunch break in Meo Vac, Mau Due, or Lung Ho village. 14:00: Drive through the mountainous area of Ha Giang to Du Gia town. 16:00: Relax at Du Gia Waterfall or take a peaceful walk. Overnight: Stay in a homestay surrounded by green rice fields in Du Gia Village. Day 3: Du Gia Village - Ha Giang - Hanoi 08:00: After breakfast, depart from Du Gia Village. 10:00: Visit Lung Tam village known for skillful textile products by Hmong ethnic minorities. 12:00: Cross Quan Ba town and observe Nui Doi Mountain. 13:00: Pass through Sky Gate and head back to Ha Giang. 16:00: Arrive in Ha Giang, prepare for the return journey. 17:00: Dinner by your own 19:30 or 21:00: Board the sleeper bus for the return to Hanoi. Overnight: Travel on the sleeper bus. End of the tour.

From Hanoi: 3-Day Motorbike Ha Giang Loop with Easy Rider

5. From Hanoi: 3-Day Motorbike Ha Giang Loop with Easy Rider

Night 1: Hanoi - Ha Giang 19:30: Pick-up from your hotel/hostel or Chestnut Travel. 20:30: Depart from Hanoi to Ha Giang on a sleeper bus. Overnight: Travel on the sleeper bus. Day 1: Ha Giang - Yen Minh Town - Dong Van 03:30: Arrive in Ha Giang city, check-in to your hostel, and rest for a few hours. 08:30: Meet your guide and begin the Ha Giang Loop adventure. 09:00: Start your journey with a ride along Bac Sum Pass. 10:00: Reach Heaven Gate, enjoy the twin mountains' scenery, and see Tam Son town. 12:00: Have lunch in Yen Minh Town. 13:00: Drive towards Dong Van, passing through Chin Khoanh Pass. 15:00: Experience the stunning landscape of Dong Van Karst Plateau. 16:00: Visit Hmong King’s Palace in Sa Phin. 18:00: Arrive in Dong Van, enjoy a local Vietnamese dinner and live music. Overnight: Stay in Dong Van. Day 2: Dong Van - Ma Pi Leng Pass - Du Gia Village 08:00: Have breakfast and depart from Dong Van Town. 09:00: Explore the breathtaking Ma Pi Leng Pass, trek the Sky Path for panoramic views. 11:00: Descend to Nho Que river for a boat ride. 12:30: Lunch break in Meo Vac, Mau Due, or Lung Ho village. 14:00: Drive through the mountainous area of Ha Giang to Du Gia town. 16:00: Relax at Du Gia Waterfall or take a peaceful walk. Overnight: Stay in a homestay surrounded by green rice fields in Du Gia Village. Day 3: Du Gia Village - Ha Giang - Hanoi 08:00: After breakfast, depart from Du Gia Village. 10:00: Visit Lung Tam village known for skillful textile products by Hmong ethnic minorities. 12:00: Cross Quan Ba town and observe Nui Doi Mountain. 13:00: Pass through Sky Gate and head back to Ha Giang. 16:00: Arrive in Ha Giang, prepare for the return journey. 17:00: Dinner by your own 19:30 or 21:00: Board the sleeper bus for the return to Hanoi. Overnight: Travel on the sleeper bus. End of the tour.

Ha Noi - Ban Gioc Waterfall 2days/1night by Car

6. Ha Noi - Ban Gioc Waterfall 2days/1night by Car

Have you heard about Ban Gioc Waterfall, the breathtaking view of the waterfall make you scream out Woa Woa, it is so amazing and beautiful. Day 1: Hanoi – Cao Bang City – Angel Mountain – Ban Gioc’s Fairy Land 5:50am – 6:00am : Pick up customers by Limousine Van at your hotel in Old Quarter of Hanoi 13:00pm – 14:00pm: Arriving Cao Bang City. Welcome by Vietnam Northern Travel Team, then having lunch at the restaurant in Cao Bang City, after lunch taking rest for a while 14:00pm – 15:00pm: our tour carry out with a Car/Van, make sure you feel comfortable. Travel on a picturesque road in Global Geopark, from Cao Bang city to Ma Phuc Pass, then follow the village road of ethnic people, you can see old stilt houses, children's laughter on the way to admire the beautiful scenery like a fairyland 15:00pm – 16:00pm: Arrive Angel Mountain, Looking at the green glass valley there is a stream flow by, surrounded with trees and mountains, it looks like a paradise place that you never seen before 16:00pm – 17:30pm: Continue on the most unique and beautiful route along the border belt, feel the wonderful scenery that nature has bestowed on this place. 17:30pm – 18:00pm: Check in a wonderful homestay/hotel along the Quay Son river, it is a nice and cozy homestay/hotel that you can feel peace and ease at mind, 18:00pm – 19:00pm: Swimming in the Quay Son river, you jump into the crystal of water and it will comfort and massage your body after a long day traveling from Hanoi, it indeed a relax time ever 19:00pm – 20:00pm: Having dinner with our local specialtiy food in Cao Bang, 20:00pm – 22:00pm: Enjoy your free time or you can go to bed early after a long day trip. Day 2: Ban Gioc Waterfall – Ngao Cave – Truc Lam Pagoda – Ha Noi 7:00am – 7:30am: Having Breakfast in the homestay/hotel 7:30am – 9:00am: Visiting Ngao Cave (Tiger Cave), Ngao Cave can be said to be one of the caves that still retains its pristine beauty, stalactites showing off created and sculpted by mother nature with thousands of different beautiful shapes such as tiger statue, lotus flower image, boat image..... 9:00am – 10:30am: Visit Ban Gioc Waterfall with water flowing down from above to whitewash a river, next to a fragrant rice field with a cool breeze, Take a boat closer to the waterfall 10:30am – 11:00am: Visit Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Cao Bang, climb up to the pagoda and have a panoramic view of Ban Gioc Waterfall with the scenery of mountainous and interleaving water 11: 00am – 13:00pm: Return to Cao Bang with another route so that you do not feel the overlap in the tour schedule, the route with mountains and hills looming in the distance, below is the green field that the farmer has diligently take care of fertilizer 13:00pm – 14:00pm: Get back Cao Bang city and having lunch at a famous local food store to try specialties of duck noodle soup or sour noodle of Cao Bang 14:00pm – 14:30am: Limousine Van pick you up and bring you back Hanoi about 21:00pm – 10:00pm

From Hanoi: Ha Giang Loop 3-Night 3-Day Motorcycle Tour

7. From Hanoi: Ha Giang Loop 3-Night 3-Day Motorcycle Tour

Explore the Ha Giang Loop with a private 3-day trip from Hanoi. Visit the Hmong King Palace, enjoy traditional Vietnamese food, and ride through winding mountain passes on a motorcycle. Begin with a night ride from Hanoi to Ha Giang in a comfortable sleeper bus, unless you choose the private car option. Ride until about 3:00 A.M. before checking into a homestay in Ha Giang for a nap. In the morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast before starting your adventure. Day 1: After breakfast, meet your easy rider tour guide and get kitted out with knee and elbow pads. Hop on the motorbike, and head towards Bac Sum Pass and Heaven Gate. Stop to take in the beautiful scenery of the mountains and Tam Son town. Hop off your bike for a traditional lunch in Yen Minh Town and then continue to Dong Van, passing through the picturesque Chin Khoanh Pass. As you ride, admire the stunning geo-heritage site, Dong Van Karst, and the surrounding landscape of endless rice terraces and limestone rocks. Keep an eye out for a glimpse into the life of the local hill tribe people as they work on the surrounding land as you ride to Hmong King’s Palace. Explore the palace before spending the night at a family-owned hotel in Dong Van. Day 2: After breakfast, leave Dong Van Town and make your way to the “King” of mountain passes in Vietnam, the 2,000-meter-high Ma Pi Leng Pass. Visit the Sky Path, which offers a 360° panorama of Ma Pi Leng Pass, and enjoy stunning views of the Nho Que River from the mountain pass. Drive down to reach the river and paddle along the turquoise waters. Then, continue to drive through the rustic villages of Meo Vac, Mau Due, and Lung Ho, where lunch is served. In the afternoon, pass through the epic mountains to Du Gia rural homestay in the middle of green rice fields. Enjoy a home-cooked dinner with your host family and new friends. Don’t forget to try the “Happy Water,” what the Vietnamese affectionately call rice wine. Day 3: Head out with your swimsuit ready and drive to a nearby waterfall for a refreshing swim. Next, learn about the art of H’mong textile making in Lung Tam, a H’mong village where local women work tirelessly to produce pieces of textile art. Continue to Quan Ba town and admire the massive Nui Doi mountain. Head back through Bac Sum Pass to return to the Ha Giang hostel in the early afternoon. Around 4:30 P.M., hop into a comfort limousine van to return to Hanoi Old Quarter by late evening.

Hanoi: 3-Day Ninh Binh, Ha long, & Lan Ha Bay 5 Star Cruise

8. Hanoi: 3-Day Ninh Binh, Ha long, & Lan Ha Bay 5 Star Cruise

Discover some of Vietnam's most picturesque locations on this multiday trip with a luxury cruise. Visit Ninh Binh, Lan Ha, and more with roundtrip transportation from Hanoi included. You'll also get to swim, kayak, make traditional cuisine, and learn about local culture. Day 1: Hanoi - Ninh Binh 7:20-7:40 am Tour guide and bus will pick-up all traveler from the Hanoi Old Quarter and head to Ninh Binh Province. Pay a visit to the Bai Dinh Temple Complex, the largest complex of Buddhist temples in Vietnam, and check out the impressive pagoda. Have lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the Trang An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Float through the tranquil rivers of Trang An on a wooden boat and climb to the top of Mua Caves for striking panoramic views of Tam Coc before heading to the homestay for an overnight stay. 16:30 check in Ninh Binh Bungalow and free cycling around Village 19:00 Dinner at Bungalow restaurant and free time relaxing and stay overnight at Ninh Binh Bungalow Day 2: Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay - Lan Ha Bay 6:30 am Have breakfast at Ninh Binh Bungalow and bus will come to pick-up to Halong Bay 7:10-7:30am The Limousine bus pickup from Ninh Binh, transfer to Ha Long Bay. Check in for the cruise and have lunch. Cruise through Con Vit Islet, Thumb Islet, Gia Luan Harbor, and Lan Ha Bay. Drop anchor for some kayaking or swimming at Ba Trai Dao Beach or, depending on the weather, visit Dark Cave and Bright Cave. As the sun sinks below the horizon, gather on the deck to enjoy the brilliant colors in the sky and relax with tea and coffee or learn how to make traditional Vietnamese spring rolls during a cooking demonstration. Make new friends at the sunset party or relax in the onboard jacuzzi. After dinner, enjoy a large selection of cocktails at the panoramic bar or play board games, watch a movie, or go squid fishing Day 3 Lan Ha Bay - Ha Long Bay - Hanoi Start your day with an early morning Tai Chi session on the deck to focus the mind and condition the body. Enjoy a light breakfast while taking in stunning views of the bay and its dramatic limestone islets. Sail through the calm emerald waters to Ao Ech for a kayaking trip at the caves. After exploring the caves, enjoy some Vietnamese cuisine for lunch. Disembark from the cruise and take a speedboat back to Tuan Chau Marina before heading back to your accommodation in Hanoi. 11:30 Check out the cruise and bus come to pick-up and transfer back to Hanoi 14:30-15:00 The bus will drop off at Hanoi Old Quarter, the end trip at Hanoi Old Quarter

Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu, Mua Cave, Tam Coc & Bich Dong Pagoda Tour

9. Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu, Mua Cave, Tam Coc & Bich Dong Pagoda Tour

You will be picked up from your hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter. Drive to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu and then continue on to visit the King Dinh Temple. Next up, discover Mua Cave Cave and enjoy a mountainous overview from the top. Savor a set lunch with Vietnamese cuisine at a bungalow beside Tam Coc river. After lunch, enjoy a Sampan boat trip through the three emerald water caves on the beautiful river and admire the countryside landscape. Cycle through the peaceful country roads to Bich Dong Pagoda and spend some time here before you return to Hanoi.

Full-Day Perfume Pagoda Private or Small-Group Tour

10. Full-Day Perfume Pagoda Private or Small-Group Tour

Embark on a full-day tour to visit Perfume Pagoda – a vast complex of Buddhist temples and shrines built into the limestone Huong Tich mountains. Glide along scenic waterways and walk up steep mountain paths as you encounter the area's centuries-old pagodas and temples. Around 8:30 AM, the guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Hanoi Old Quarter. After pickup, enjoy a scenic 2-hour drive to Perfume Pagoda. Upon arrival, hop aboard your 1-hour row boat trip on the Yen stream to Thien Tru harbor. Once you have arrived in Thien Tru, you will enjoy time for some trekking, visit the main cave where you’ll arrive at Huong Tich Cave on the top of the mountain. Then enjoy a 1-hour trekking back down or take optional cable car instead of trekking (optional). Next, enjoy lunch at the local restaurant at the bottom of the mountain. After lunchtime, you will see the Heaven Kitchen pagoda and learn about Buddhism ancient architectural at Le Dynasty. Re-board your boat and sit back and relax as you head back to the pier, enjoy 2-hour road trip back to Hanoi. Your tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel around 6:00 PM.

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Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 2,246 reviews

We loved this trip- it’s in our top three trips so far. Our tour guide, Thang, was very nice, informative and prepped us for each leg of the trip. I will say that it a rather active trip with a beautiful but long bike ride and a 500 stair climb at the end but I think for both you can always sit and grab a drink. Both the bike riding and the climb are totally worth it though. Thang is also a great photographer and will take many pictures of you on your camera and then large group photos as well. The boat ride through the caves is stunning and roughly an hour and 40 minutes. The only downfall was the heavy rain but we were provided a poncho and an umbrella on the boat ride. Buffet lunch was okay but Thang warned us of that and paid special detail to the vegetarians and ppl with allergies. Highly recommend!

Our trip was in January, so the weather was cold and windy, that’s why I thought a day trip should be enough, and it was, but you can easily spend more time there, because the place is beautiful. We were there at the time of Tet, so there was a huge crowd everywhere. Our tour guide was excellent, lunch was plenty and okay. The cycling was amazing, I would definitely would have continued for like another 30 minutes. Overall a good experience, maybe with a little luck there won’t be such a big crowd when you decide to go there.

I forgot our guide's name, but he was very knowledgeable. He's the kind of guide that beyond just the tour, if you have extra questions related to the tour or Hanoi in general, will be able to answer.

so very friendly. Great value for money. friendly tour guide. so many wonderful stops. very well organised. I would highly reccomend this company and this tour. March 2023

Brilliant day, great tour guide and an added bonus was the use of cycles through the rice fields