1-Day Hanoi Highlights

In the morning, be picked up at your hotel and start your Hanoi trip. You’ll visit the splendid Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, a historical attraction known for honoring the Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh who led the country to independence; the Ho Chi Minh's Stilt House, a traditional rural dwelling which served as the residence for president Ho Chi Minh; the French-style Presidential Palace; the iconic Buddhist One Pillar Pagoda; the dubiously named ‘Hanoi Hilton’ - actually the former Hoa Lo Prison and the Confucius Temple of Literature which holds Vietnam's first national university.

In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Museum of Ethnology, which archives Vietnam's some 54 different ethnic groups through videos, recording, artifacts and other features. This will be followed by a rickshaw ride through the bustling Old Quarter as the historic commercial center of Hanoi for generations. A pleasant conclusion to the day is the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, where you will be enchanted by a traditional Water Puppet Show, now well established as an important part of Vietnamese culture. You will then be escorted back to your hotel in the late afternoon.

Note: Please note that the HCM Mausoleum is closed on Fridays and Mondays and most museums are closed on Mondays.

Meal: Lunch