36 Hours in…Hanoi

(credit: Hanoi Explore Travel)

For those drawn to the islands of Halong Bay and the country’s mountainous north, Hanoi serves as the entry point to you…

Hanoi Explore Travel

to help plan an authentic, educational and most importantly fun trip. Their guides ensure you see the true heart of the city and experience it like a local.

To start your first half day in Hanoi, book their Hanoi Half Day City Tour by Motorbike and Water Puppet Show. Upon arrival at your hotel, one of their guides will stop by on motorbike, greet you with a smile and a Xin chào (hello in Vietnamese) to start your fun-filled day exploring the Old Quarter. Along with visiting some of the famous sites, more about that shortly, your guide will make sure to stop off at local vendors for you to try some street food delicacies like an egg coffee or a Banh mi sandwich. Each tour is curated to whatever the guest wants to see, but here are some of the top sites to see.

Start at the Temple Of Literature, a temple dedicated to Confucius with origins back to 1070 and stroll through the pavilions and halls and see the areas where the study sessions and exams of the Ð?i Vi?t took place. Fun fact, the temple is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese dong banknote. Your guide will share the historical significance of the temple, take photos next to the Instagram-worthy Thien Quang Well pond before stopping at St Joseph's Cathedral, one of the earliest in the history of the Catholic Church in Vietnam, and the grand Hanoi Opera House. After a quick stop for a snack on the side of the road, next up is riding along the four-mile-long Hanoi Ceramic Mosaic Mural, before crossing many bridges and making your way to the local market and the flower market.