Have breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed for Hanoi city tour.
Commence the tour with a visit to Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state (closed on every Monday & Friday and October & November) and see the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. You’ll continue to visit the One Pillar Pagoda and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century.
Later, we will drive to visit the serene Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest in Hanoi, on the banks of Hanoi’s West Lake. You’ll also call at the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and the dedicated to Confucius; it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside and later become Vietnam’s first university.
The lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch, visit the Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups and enjoy an orientation of the tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture, including the recently restored Opera House. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Lake of Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city’s fascinating museums.
You’ll then be visiting to watch the Water Puppet show an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture.
Later you’ll take to the streets by walking tour of the Ancient Quarter of 36 streets District. This densely populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce where goods were sold under the street name of a particular guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you’ll see streets name such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter’s paradise.
In the evening enjoy the performance of CHEO (traditional music typical from Northern Vietnam).
Overnight will be in Hanoi.