Morning
Start your day by enjoying the early morning in Hanoi and having a full breakfast. Your tour guide will collect you at around 08:00 and accompany you for a half-day city tour of Hanoi. The itinerary includes the top must-see attractions in the city.
Our first stop is the historical Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam, which is considered a symbol of Vietnamese education and culture
Next, we will move to explore the One Pillar Pagoda, a unique and iconic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, where you can explore its architecture, history, and religious significance.
Continue to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a solemn and impressive monument that houses the embalmed body of the late Vietnamese leader, Ho Chi Minh, pay your respects to the beloved leader and learn about his life and legacy.
Ending with West Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Hanoi, with Tran Quoc Pagoda located on a small island. This temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Vietnam, known for its beautiful architecture and peaceful atmosphere.

Before saying goodbye, we will stop for an authentic traditional lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant.
NOTE:
- The tour departs in the morning or afternoon, depending on availability.
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is viewed from outside; closed on Mon and Fri and from Jun to Aug.
Afternoon
Take the day at leisure, or choose from a range of optional excursions designed to complement your journey.
Option 1: I Am a Farmer - Half Day Experience
Your journey begins at Buffalo Cave, where you’ll meet the group and prepare for a day of hands-on experiences. Start with a truly local activity—caring for the buffalo. You’ll have the chance to feed them, help with their shower, and even try riding one, a unique way to connect with rural Vietnamese life.
Next, join local people in their daily work. Learn the traditional way of catching fish, then step into the rice fields to try planting Vietnamese rice, gaining insight into the rhythms of farming life.
From there, the adventure continues with a refreshing waterfall bath and a visit to the scenic Buffalo Cave. To round out the experience, join a cooking class led by Buffalo Cave’s cook, where you’ll prepare and enjoy a delicious meal together.
Option 2: Insight Hanoi by Scooter
Your evening adventure begins as our guide and drivers meet you at your hotel for a quick safety briefing before hopping on classic Vespas. After going over the itinerary and checking for any dietary needs, the journey into Hanoi’s nightlife begins.
The first stop is at a family-run eatery famous for its delicate steam-rolled cakes, Banh Cuon, a local favorite. From there, you’ll weave through the Old Quarter, where glowing lanterns light the way to a long-standing restaurant that has been serving traditional dishes like Banh Goi and Bun Cha for decades.
As the tour continues, you’ll ride along the banks of the Red River for stunning nighttime views before heading to Ngu Xa village. Here, you’ll taste a variety of regional dishes, including different styles of Pho, while soaking in the lively atmosphere of this food hub.
The evening also brings cultural highlights, such as a stop at West Lake for breathtaking night photography, followed by witnessing the solemn flag-lowering ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. To wrap up the culinary journey, you’ll enjoy the iconic Hanoi specialty, Egg Coffee, at a café that has been serving it since 1946.
For those who prefer music and drinks, the night can end at a cozy acoustic bar, where local musicians perform while you sip cocktails. The tour concludes with a return transfer to your hotel, leaving you with a taste of Hanoi’s flavors, culture, and nightlife.
Option 3: Bat Trang by Jeep Half-Day Tour
Your Jeep will take you along picturesque paths by the Red River, where you can see lush farmlands, water buffalos, and village homes - scenes that capture the soul of rural Vietnam.
The highlight of the trip is Bat Trang Ceramic Village, an ancient pottery settlement with roots stretching back a millennium. The village is a living museum, where narrow alleys echo with the sound of spinning wheels and clay being shaped by hand.
You’ll explore the artisan workshops, interact with locals, and step into a ceramic studio to create your own pottery masterpiece. It’s a perfect opportunity to craft a keepsake and connect personally with Vietnamese traditions.
Once your pottery has taken shape, it’s time to enjoy a hearty Vietnamese meal.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Hanoi
We had the best day today and looking forward to the rest of the adventures. We had a great time on our city tour this morning our guide was amazing. We had THE best time on the Halong Bay Boat. Just sitting at the airport looking through all my photos, thank you so much for an absolutely amazing, very organized holiday.
We had a great trip through Vietnam, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. It was well-organised by Janet Tran, who handled all the details smoothly. We liked it so much that we asked her to arrange our Cambodia tour too, which went just as well. I’ve been recommending her to friends who are planning to travel.
I had a fantastic time on this tour! I was initially concerned it might be a large, impersonal bus tour—but that wasn’t the case at all. It was a small group (in my case, I was solo), and the experience felt personal and well-organized.
All the major highlights were included, and everything—from… MoreI had a fantastic time on this tour! I was initially concerned it might be a large, impersonal bus tour—but that wasn’t the case at all. It was a small group (in my case, I was solo), and the experience felt personal and well-organized.
All the major highlights were included, and everything—from transportation to hotel accommodations—was seamlessly arranged. Special thanks to Anna, who provided outstanding service. She made sure each tour was confirmed and on time, which they always were.
This was so much easier than planning everything myself, like I had done previously in Thailand and Cambodia. The convenience, quality, and value for the price were excellent. Highly recommended! Less
Thank you for a great vacation! Thanks for dealing with apprehensions
and…
Here are some comments and suggestions:
Pui is a passionate guide who really knows his stuff, yet it was hard to
understand him often. Suggest he work on his English a bit.
If another couple is to travel with us, please consider… MoreThank you for a great vacation! Thanks for dealing with apprehensions
and…
Here are some comments and suggestions:
Pui is a passionate guide who really knows his stuff, yet it was hard to
understand him often. Suggest he work on his English a bit.
If another couple is to travel with us, please consider talking to us or them
about changing hotels so there is not a 45 minute ride for pu and drop off.
When your guides advise of a pu time and the driver is more than 15
minutes late it made us concerned.
Dead time: often we would walk around the areas ourselves not realizing
we would be seeing some of these same areas on our half day tours.
Suggest providing a more detailed description of half day tours???
Very much appreciate your being accessible each da y! Less
(+) Positive reviews: …………very on time, well located hotels, very polite, we saw the most relevant spots………………….
(- ) Negative reviews: …english of guides not always understandable……………………………
1. Itinerary: …………………..9/10
2. Food/ Drink: …………………….8/10… More(+) Positive reviews: …………very on time, well located hotels, very polite, we saw the most relevant spots………………….
(- ) Negative reviews: …english of guides not always understandable……………………………
1. Itinerary: …………………..9/10
2. Food/ Drink: …………………….8/10
3. Tour Guide
Guide in Hanoi
more or less, because we manly say pagodas and not so much the city as itself. Would have been better to see alsonthe city and less pagodas. But besides that all good
Guide in Hoi An this guide was very good
Guide in Ho Chi Minh – Can Tho – Chau Doc hochi minh very good, can tho and Chau doc it was ok
Guide in Phnom Penh this guide took only 2 hours and left us at the restaurant at 10am to have lunch. So 10am to have lunch too early, other tourists finishes their tour at 12 Less