Why visit Hanoi?
Custom made tours to Hanoi designed by locals are the only way to explore this sprawling metropolis.
Where else in the world can you remove your shoes and enter a thousand-year-old temple adorned with gold dragons and statues of Buddha, then stroll around the corner and step into world-class art galleries, museums and high-class bars? Book a tour to Hanoi, the cultural capital of Asia, and see it all in a day.
Nga, a Ha Noi local and Wide Eyed Tours team member, put it best when she described Hanoi as: Everywhere you look, the old and new worlds of Vietnam collide. From the food, some Vietnamese, some French, many a modern combination of both, to the buildings, Parisian style terraces among busy stalls, shops, and street food vendors showcasing their best products and local delicacies. Ha Noi has so much heart, you just need to know where to look.”
Hanoi and your itinerary?
Many travellers begin their Vietnam adventure in Hanoi, before making their way southward to Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi is a great destination to start or end your trip to Vietnam, mainly because it has an international airport offering flights to all major cities in the world. Hanoi is also a gateway to many of Vietnam’s most popular domestic destinations.
Our custom made tours to Hanoi include a wide range of activities. Hanoi to Ha Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay is a popular route among tourists, as it is only a two-hour transfer from the capital to the emerald green bay, where giant limestone structures burst through the water to kiss the morning sun. Cruises to Ha Long Bay run all year round and the experience can be tailored to your personal needs.
Hanoi is also within comfortable travelling distance from the shimmering green rice terraces of Sapa and the mountain cycling tours in Mai Chau.
Where to stay in Hanoi?
The team at Wide Eyed Tours have stayed in almost every boutique homestay and five star hotel in Hanoi. After getting to know you personally, we will recommend the right place to stay based on your tastes and budget. This is all part of booking custom made tours to Hanoi with our business. From the sophisticated luxury of the Sofitel Metropole, to the homely feel of the Apricot Boutique hotel, we will ensure your stay in Hanoi is one to remember.
Book your tailor made holiday to Hanoi
Hanoi is where the majority of the Wide Eyed Tours team call home. With our head office centrally located in the capital, our dedicated staff can greet you on your arrival, meet you for a stopover, and wave you goodbye at the departure gate. The travel packages to Vietnam’s capital are curated with love, care, and supreme attention to detail by our team of travel experts who know every winding back alley, every delectable Vietnamese restaurant, and every authentic cultural experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
No Bai International Airport in Ha Noi is Vietnam’s largest airport. The airport offers direct flights to major international cities including Sydney, Tokyo, and Seoul. Flying from the United Kingdom or the United States to Hanoi involves a stopover.
Domestic flights to Hanoi are available from all major cities including Saigon, Da Nang, and Hue.
Travellers can also make their way to Hanoi by train, bus, or private car. Our team is happy to organise any mode of travel you decide on.
The late great Anthony Bourdain was so enamoured by Vietnam’s culinary delights he embarked on a countrywide tour, diving tongue-first into every tantalising dish offered in the unique towns and cities across Vietnam.
He relished in the innovative use of local produce and centuries-old cooking techniques employed by every cook, from the top chefs running five-star restaurants, to the humble street food merchants constructing their Banh Mi, Banh Xeo, and perhaps Hanoi’s most renowned dish of Bun Cha, all by the roadside.
When you visit Hanoi you must try Bun Cha. This flavour-packed bowl of seasoned grilled pork and marinated pork belly served in a fish sauce broth with a basket of herbs and rice noodles is a food experience you can not afford to miss. Our tour guides will take you to all of the best Bun Cha spots in Ha Noi.
At 6 am and 7 pm from Monday to Friday, a speeding train barrels through a neighbourhood street in Hanoi just centimeters from people’s homes. Welcome to Hanoi’s Train Street. Few experiences like this exist in the world, where children play hopscotch on the train tracks, men tinker with their motorbikes, families are hanging out the washing, before suddenly vanishing indoors as a wicked rumbling starts to build in the distance. Then, as the rumbling builds to a roar, a silver dragon comes thundering down the street, rattling the windows of the apartments blocks, cafes and bars. Our tour guides have the inside word on the best places to enjoy this wild and wonderful experience.
What To Do In Hanoi
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There is so much to do and see in Hanoi, it is difficult to know where to start. Our personal travel assistants will spend time getting to know you before creating a custom made tour of Hanoi to suit your travel aspirations. Tours in Hanoi include:
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EXPLORE THE CHAOTIC OLD QUARTER
When worlds collide. The Old Quarter of Hanoi embodies Vietnam’s rapid transition from traditional dynasties, to French colonialism, and finally to modern Vietnam – free, independent and truly making itself heard. Join us on a tour through the winding back alleys jammed with ramshackle apartments, historic homes, sizzling street food stalls and vibrant markets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Our local guides will show you every magical sight this part of Hanoi has to offer from the comfort of an electric cart, so get those cameras ready!
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VESPA TOURS FOR ALL
We receive fantastic feedback from customers every year who say the best way to see Hanoi is on the back of a vintage Vespa. It gives you access to destinations impossible via other modes of transport. Book a Vespa tour of Hanoi with an expert guide at the helm and explore the ramshackle, maze-like streets of the Old Quarter, where we know all of the best street foods to sample and local markets to visit.
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CRAFT BEER CULTURE
The craft beer scene in Hanoi has exploded over the past decade. Beer was first introduced to the Vietnamese by the French, but has since been adapted for local tastes. Our craft beer tour of Hanoi showcases all of the exclusive breweries and will provide you with an in depth history of the evolution of the world’s most popular drink.
