A Glimpse into Local Life at Sunset in Hanoi

Time Departures:

Every Afternoon: 15:00 - 19:30

Highlight:

Detailed Itinerary

Before our tour starts, our friendly tour guide will meet you either at the Hanoi Opera House (our designated pick-up spot) or your hotel in the Old Quarter. They will warmly welcome you and briefly introduce you, ensuring you have all the information you need for an enjoyable tour. Once we're ready, we'll begin our exciting journey together.

At 15:00 Our UAZ will pick you up at the Hanoi Opera House or your hotel

Starting from the Hanoi Opera House, we will travel to West Lake. Along the way,  we'll pass by the Old Quarter.

15:15: Arrive at West Lake

Hanoi is famous for Thủy Tạ Ice-cream, Tràng Tiền Ice-cream, and of course, West Lake Ice-cream as well.

Starting the trip with a cool, refreshing cone of ice cream as we explore West Lake.

15:45: Touring around West Lake, visiting some of its famous attractions:

Trấn Quốc Pagoda

On Kim Ngư Island, east of West Lake, close to Thanh Niên Street, there is a well-known picturesque area with a perfect fusion of the natural, lovely, and elegant scenery of West Lake with ancient, dignified Buddhist buildings. That is Trấn Quốc Pagoda.

Trấn Quốc Pagoda is regarded as the oldest pagoda in Hanoi with a history lasting 15 centuries. The pagoda was named one of the world's 16 most beautiful pagodas by the British Daily Mail in 2016, and it was officially recognized as a national historic and cultural monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 1962.

The Abandoned Seaplane base

The abandoned seaplane base is an interesting structure that has been around for more than a century and is located in the opposite direction of Chu Văn An High School. The structure has been tinted with vintage hues of the past with mossy old walls, glass panels covered with graffiti art, and the first light of day shining through, giving the area a dreamy and slightly mysterious feel. 

This place was formerly a seaplane station utilized by the French for military purposes. In the 1930s, the last king of Viet Nam - King Bao Dai purchased this facility to serve his passion for seaplanes and this place had turned into a playground for the elites.

The abandoned seaplane station was more than just a French military installation or a chic playground for the rich; it was also the tragic home of a northern beauty who had committed the crime of peeping on the king's sacred body.

Due to a lack of attention, the Seaplane base is now just an empty and rusty concrete block. Although abandoned for a long time, this place has become a favorite sightseeing spot of the locals because of its large, open space and stunning location on the shores of West Lake. Visitors come here to take pictures, enjoy the cool breeze, or watch the sunset with friends after a long day at work.

This spot  is a popular location for couples because of its romantic and peaceful scenery

The Octagon House

As we pass by the Abandoned Seaplane Base, right on the other side of the road is Chu Van An high school - one of Hanoi's oldest schools and played a role in educating a number of the nation's notable intellectual, cultural, and historical revolutionaries. Right on this campus, there is a famous building famous for its beautiful French architecture: the octagon house. 

The building used to be a private villa of Henry Schneider - a French paper factory owner in the 19th Century. The Villa was later owned by the school principal when the High School of the Protectorate (former name of Chu Văn An School) was founded and after the restoration and remodeling in 1999, the building officially became the school library.

The Octagon House's allure comes not just from its lengthy history but also from the unique architecture infused with European culture. The location next to West Lake also gives the Octagon House a rare romantic and gentle appearance. Many people are drawn to this location by its beauty and come here merely to view the old mansion from behind the fence, snap a few pictures, and then relax and think back fondly on the olden days

At around 16:30: We'll go lakeside cycling from Vệ Hồ Street to the beautiful Lotus Pond.

In the afternoon, the street is lined with delicious stalls of street food from rice paper salad, grilled rice paper, skewers, sugar cane juice, coconut juice,etc. 

As we cycle, we'll pass by:

Vạn Niên Pagoda 

A famous pagoda, known for its unique architecture. The Pagoda's whole structure is composed of wood. The ancient temple's wooden architecture is incredibly delicate and distinctive, with highly skilled wood carving infused with oriental culture. The pagoda is now regarded as one of Hanoi's most historic and sacred pagodas.

In 1996, the pagoda was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The temple is now a center for Buddhist nuns and monks to practice their religious and cultural activities both inside and beyond the city. It is also a popular destination for tourists.

Tảo Sách Pagoda

A 600-year-old pagoda with a history connected to a heroic tale of a prince who wishes to leave the glamorous life full of worldly desires to seek peace and tranquility.

Arriving here, tourists will be able to appreciate the majesty, calm, and unusual stillness of the antique beauty. This location is ideal for those who wish to go sightseeing or search for a tranquil setting to unwind amid a busy life. It also serves as a place to conserve cultural and historical treasures.

The Twin Dragons

Along with the Hanoi Ceramic Mural, the Twin Dragons is also a gift to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long - Hanoi (1010-2010).

They were previously placed at the Hanoi Botanical Garden but were later moved to West Lake in early 2012.

The Twin Dragons were made entirely from ceramic with 4,000 cups and 6,000 dishes. Each dragon is 15.6 meters long and 8.5 meters tall, solidly built with a steel frame and thick concrete, making the dragons weigh up to 60 tons.

The Twin Dragons are significant spiritually in addition to historically. Researchers assert that the dragon must be positioned in a sedate area that carries the marks of history and culture. West Lake has it all and was chosen to be the most ideal place for the sacred dragons. 

Lotus Pond

In the scorching hot summer months, Hanoi still has a poetic and ethereal corner where locals seem to momentarily put their concerns aside to get up early, enjoy the sight of blossoming lotus, immerse in the sweet aroma, and leisurely sip a cup of fragrance lotus tea. When the lotus season arrives, this location resembles a stunning pink painting.

For a long time, Hanoians have been enjoying the ethereal culinary delicacy of drinking lotus tea which is prepared with great care and flavored with lotus grown exclusively in West Lake. Taking a sip of lotus tea, tea connoisseurs seem to enjoy the quintessence of the thousand-year-old capital

After Cycling, we'll drop off the bike at Lotus Pond. Take some rest, enjoy some snack and tea, then we'll continue our trip on a UAZ to our next destination.

Đầm Đông - East Pond

A new attraction, this pond was previously used to grow lotus. In the summer of 2023, the pond was refurbished to release Koi fish, creating a new destination for visitors when visiting West Lake.

More than 12,000 colorful Koi fish of all sizes are released into the pond, making anyone who visits Quảng Bá Street want to stop by and appreciate the scenery. Now, visitors visit Hồ Tây not only for its famous lotus but also for these new exciting activities

Not only can you watch and admire these beautiful, vibrant fishes but you can also feed and play with them as they are very friendly toward humans. At this pond, there’s a unique boat called “thuyền thúng”, a traditional Vietnamese coracle boat where you can take beautiful pictures with the fish while sitting & posing on the boat.

The East Pond is also a beautiful location to admire the sunset over West Lake, making this place a promising tourist destination in the near future

18:30: After a trip around West Lake, we’ll return to Thanh Niên Str. and try Bánh Tôm - one of West Lake’s delicacies.

For many international tourists and local visitors, their visit is seen as incomplete without trying Bánh Tôm Hồ Tây - West Lake Shrimp Fritter

Bánh Tôm is a popular dish that many Hanoians love to snack on the weekend when visiting West Lake. It is not just any food, but an ‘iconic dish’ of Hanoians. It is fair to say that Bánh tôm is one of the first things that come to mind for tourists coming to Hanoi.

It is a delectable treat for seafood lovers and surely satisfies palates with its crunchy exterior and succulent filling. The crispy coating provides a satisfying contrast to the tender shrimp, while the blend of fresh vegetables adds a delightful crunch and a burst of refreshment. Whether dipped into fish sauce or enjoyed as it is, Bánh tôm guarantees a delightful experience that will leave your taste bud craving for more.

19:30 Drop off at HN Opera House/your hotel in the old quarter

OUR POLICIES:

Children policy

Children under 4 years old - free of charge

Children from 5-10 years old - charge a 75% rate as adult

Children from 11 years old and above - fully charged as an adult

Cancellation policy

In case you want to cancel a booking, you must notify us via email. The cancellation fee will be applied based on the following conditions:

*Turning up late to the tour for whatever reasons will be considered a late cancellation and will result in 100% of the payment charged

THE TOUR PRICE: