HANOI: THE SOUL OF VIETNAM

  • 3 Days / 2 Nights
  • NOR03-EL
  • Ha Noi

Overview

Heritage, Stories, Flavours & Everyday Life

3 Days / 2 Nights

Hanoi is far more than the political capital of Vietnam — it is the thousand-year-old soul of the nation, where imperial grandeur seamlessly intertwines with timeless elegance, ancient craft guilds, world-renowned gastronomy, and a deeply rooted coffee culture.

This 3-day journey invites you to explore the soul of Hanoi—the political and historical heart of the nation—tracing its story through dynastic power, struggles for independence, architectural eras, local street traditions, legendary culinary heritage, and the rich cultural mosaic of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups

Detailed Itinerary

Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Hanoi

Morning / Early Midday: Arrival & Historical Greeting

  • Pick up at Noi Bai Airport by private driver and guide.

  • Drive past Ba Dinh Square, the political heart of Vietnam, featuring Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, Parliament House exterior, and the historic square where the Declaration of Independence was read in 1945.

  • Drive along West Lake (Hồ Tây), Hanoi’s largest natural freshwater lake, fringed with leafy boulevards and French colonial villas.

Noon: Lakeside Lunch

  • Relaxed welcome lunch at a scenic restaurant on the shores of West Lake.

Hotel Check-In & Rest

  • Transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up.

Afternoon: Old Quarter Cyclo Tour & 87 Ma May Heritage House

  • Board a private cyclo for a slow, front-row ride through the vibrant Ancient Streets.

  • 87 Ma May Heritage House: Step inside one of the Old Quarter’s best-preserved 19th-century traditional “tube houses” (Nhà Ống). Marvel at its narrow facade, open inner courtyards, wooden balconies, and traditional modular layout designed for merchant living.

Thang Long Water Puppet Show

  • A 50-minute classic performance showcasing northern Vietnamese folk tales, agricultural life, and royal legends performed on water accompanied by a live traditional orchestra (Đàn Bầu, drums, and bamboo flutes).

Evening: Dinner in the Old Quarter

  • Enjoy authentic northern Vietnamese home-style dishes (Cơm Việt).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Overnight: Hanoi

Morning: Imperial Citadel & Confucian Heritage

  • Imperial Citadel of Thang Long (Hoàng Thành Thăng Long): UNESCO World Heritage Site reflecting 1,300 years of continuous political power. Explore the ancient Đoàn Môn Gate, stone steps of the Kính Thiên Palace, and Bunker D67—the secret underground military headquarters used during the Vietnam War.

  • Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám): Founded in 1070 by King Lý Thánh Tông, this is Vietnam’s premier Confucian sanctuary and first national university. Walk through its five courtyards, past the Constellation of Literature Pavilion (Khuê Văn Các) and the 82 ancient stone turtle stelae inscribed with royal doctorates.

Noon: Lunch

  • Try a local culinary staple like Bún Chả (charcoal-grilled pork patties in warm sweet-savory broth with rice vermicelli) or classic Phở.

Afternoon: History, Colonial Landmarks & Trackside Coffee

  • Hỏa Lò Prison Relic (“The Hanoi Hilton”): Originally built by French colonists in 1896 as Maison Centrale to incarcerate Vietnamese political revolutionaries, and later used to house American POWs during the war. Features preserved cell blocks, the original guillotine, and escape tunnels.

  • Hoan Kiem Lake Stroll & French Quarter Promenade: Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, admiring the iconic Thê Húc Bridge exterior and the surrounding French colonial architecture, including the Hanoi Opera House and St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

  • Train Street Experience: Sip an authentic Egg Coffee (Cà Phê Trứng) or Coconut Coffee at a trackside café nestled inside the narrow residential alley where active train tracks pass just inches from doorway thresholds.

Dinner

  • Enjoy Chả Cá (fresh fish fillets sautéed at your table with turmeric, green onions, and fresh dill).

Evening: Free & Easy

  • Free and easy to stroll around the Old Quarter or relax at a local café.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch | Overnight: N/A

Morning: Cultural Exploration & Local Shopping

  • Vietnam Museum of Ethnology: Consistently rated the finest museum in Hanoi. Features comprehensive indoor galleries detailing the textiles, crafts, and heritage of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, plus an open-air garden showcasing full-scale, authentic tribal architecture (such as the tall Bahnar communal house and the longhouse of the Ede people).

  • Local Market Shopping & Hotel Check-Out: Return to the Old Quarter for last-minute shopping at Đồng Xuân Market or boutique shops along Hàng Gai Street (silk, lacquerware, coffee beans, and crafts). Check out from your hotel before 12:00 PM.

Noon: Farewell Lunch

  • Enjoy a relaxed light lunch before departure.

Afternoon: Airport Transfer

  • Private car pick-up from your hotel for transfer to Noi Bai Airport for your onward departure flight.

Highlights

  • UNESCO Heritage & Imperial Legacy:Journey into the nation’s royal past at the UNESCO-listed Thang Long Imperial Citadel and walk the peaceful scholarly courtyards of the 11th-century Temple of Literature.
  • French Colonial & Resistance Era (Late 19th–20th Century):Hoa Lo Prison and the surroundings of Ba Dinh Square
  • Living Culture & Heritage Immersion:Uncover Vietnam’s diverse human tapestry at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, explore 19th-century merchant life at the 87 Ma May Ancient House, and witness a classic Water Puppet Performance born from northern rice paddies.
  • Iconic Landmarks & Historic Memory:Trace the city’s poignant history across distinct eras—from the Gothic arches of Joseph’s Cathedral to the solemn halls of Hoa Lo Prison Relic.
  • Classic Cyclo Old Quarter Experience:Float gently through the leafy avenues and ancient craft streets of the 36 Guilds Old Quarter aboard a traditional cyclo (cyclopousse, a front-seated, human-powered rickshaw).
  • Authentic Culinary Traditions:Savor the vibrant food culture of the capital with authentic tastings of signature Hanoi delights.

The Eli Tour Experience

Hanoi is not a city to be rushed through.

It is a city to walk, taste, listen and observe.

Its soul is found not only in its ancient monuments, but in the morning bowl of phở, the first coffee of the day, the sound of bicycles in the Old Quarter, the stories hidden behind old façades, the conversations on small plastic stools and the warmth of people going about their everyday lives.

Come to Hanoi for the landmarks.
Stay for the stories.
Leave with a deeper sense of Vietnam.

Transportation:

  • Private air-conditioned vehicle throughout the 3-day itinerary.
  • Airport / Hotel transfers

Accommodation:

  • 02 nights’ stay at a selected 3-star or 4-star hotel in central Hanoi (including daily breakfast).

Meals:

  • Meals as specified in the program (02 Breakfasts, 03 Lunches, 02 Dinners), featuring authentic regional dishes and curated local culinary experiences.

Guiding Services:

  • Professional, licensed English-speaking local tour guide dedicated to your group throughout the journey.

Entrance Fees & Activities:

  • All admission tickets to sites listed in the itinerary (Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison Relic, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology).
  • Special egg coffee tasting session in the Old Quarter.

Refreshment and gift

  • Complimentary daily bottled water. A gift from ELI TOUR

Standard travel insurance(subject to policy terms)

Flights & Visas:

  • International and domestic airfares
  • Vietnam entry visa

Personal Expenses:

Gratuities:

  • Tipping for local guide and driver (optional but appreciated).

Optional Activities:

  • Water Puppet show admission tickets (available as an add-on).

Other Services:

  • Early check-in or late check-out charges outside standard hotel policies.
  • Single-room supplement

A Journey to Remember

Your Vietnam journey can be tailored to you.
Tell us your travel dates, interests and preferred style of travel, and our team will craft the experience around you.

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