After breakfast, your exploration of Hanoi begins! Between 8:00 am and 8:30 am, our guide will pick you up for a day filled with history and culture. First, let's head to Tran Quoc Pagoda, the oldest pagoda in Hanoi, which is beautifully nestled on Golden Fish Island amidst West Lake. As you stroll through its peaceful gardens, you'll feel a sense of serenity and spirituality.
Tran Quoc Pagoda. Source: Upsplash and Instagram.
Next, you'll head to the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you can visit the revered leader's Mausoleum and see his simple stilt houses. Nearby, explore the iconic One Pillar Pagoda, a unique temple perched on a single stone pillar.
Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum is closed to the public on Mondays and Fridays. Additionally, it undergoes annual maintenance from June 15 to August 15, during which the Mausoleum remains closed to visitors. However, you can still take photos of the Mausoleum and explore the surrounding area during this time.
By 11:15 am, it's time to visit the Vietnam Ethnology Museum, where you'll learn about Vietnam's diverse ethnic groups. (On Mondays, you'll visit the Women's Museum instead, which showcases the role of women throughout Vietnam's history.)
After a delicious Vietnamese lunch at a local restaurant, continue your journey with a visit to the Temple of Literature, the country's first university, established in 1070. Walking through the ancient courtyards and pagodas, you'll feel the scholarly history of this remarkable site.
Your final stop of the day is Hoa Lo Prison, known as the "Hanoi Hilton" by American POWs. The French used it to imprison Vietnamese revolutionaries during the Vietnam War. This historic prison now serves as a museum, offering a sobering look at Vietnam's past.
By 4:30 pm, you'll return to your hotel, enriched with the history and culture of this incredible city, and spend a night here.
*Note: When visiting sacred sites like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and pagodas, please dress modestly, covering your shoulders and knees.
