Melody of Life at Dawn in Hanoi

Time Departures:

Every Morning: 4:15 - 7:45

Tour Type: 

Daily Tour

Highlight:

• Riding on a UAZ
• Watching sunrise
• Explore some of Hanoi's most ancient and sacred pagodas
• Visit one of Hanoi's Biggest wholesale market
• Lakeside Cycling
• Visit Lotus Pond & try Hanoi's famous lotus tea

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 4:15: 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 Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural.

The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural is one of the most significant works of art in Hanoi, it is regarded as the city's tourism icon. 

The Road is divided into 21 parts, displaying the decorative patterns from different periods, from folk images imbued with traditional values ​​of nation-building and preservation to modern details reflecting the innovation and development of the country

The idea of making the Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural came from Nguyen Thu Thuy, a woman with a deep love for the capital city and a journalist of culture and arts in Vietnam. She aimed to mark the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long Citadel (1010-2010) by transforming Hanoi’s dyke system into a cultural work of art, to reinvigorate urban Hanoi and bring local communities together through public art.

The Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural is currently a must-see attraction for tourists visiting Hanoi, particularly those from abroad.

From 4:15 - 4:45:  We'll visit Long Biên Wholesale market

While traveling down the colorful Ceramic Road, we certainly won’t be able to overlook the Long Biên wholesale market. The Long Biên Market in Hanoi is a vibrant representation of the city's hues, capturing the charm of daily life amidst the hustle and bustle to make a living under the streetlights that glimmer through the night. 

Long Bien Market established more than 30 years ago, is a bustling marketplace and a striking example of the capital's distinct culture. 

When you visit the market, you will get the chance to see how things are gathered, loaded, unloaded, purchased, sold, and transported throughout its entirety. This market's distinguishing feature is "sleepless" at night. Even after dusk, the market is still alive and overflowing with activity. If you want to discover a Hanoi after midnight, make sure to visit Long Biên Wholesale Market

At 4:45: Start touring around West Lake, watching the sunrise as we pass by some of its most 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 Van 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 building famous for its beautiful French architecture, which is 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 Van 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

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. 

At around 5:45: We'll go lakeside cycling from Ve Ho Street to the beautiful Lotus Pond, or we could do SUP boarding.

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

We'll have breakfast and tea at the lotus pond before heading back.

At 7:45: We'll Return and drop you off at the Hanoi Opera House or your hotel

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: