Hanoi tours and excursions
Hanoi tours
Bus/private car tours
A bus tour, or hiring the services of an English-speaking guide with car and driver, is the best way to explore Hanoi as many areas of interest are rather spread out. A typical tour takes in Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Temple of Literature and Tran Quoc Pagoda. You can book tours through Exotissimo Travel.
Tel: +84 4 3828 2150.Website: http://www.exotissimo.com
Walking tours
Hidden Hanoi offers two-hour walking tours with themes such as the 'Old Quarter', 'Street Food' and the 'French Quarter'. Delve into the labyrinth of streets that make up the Old Quarter, discover the heritage of the immaculate French colonial architecture or head into Cho Hom market to sample street food.
Tel: +84 91 225 4045.Website: http://www.hiddenhanoi.com.vn
Hanoi excursions
Halong Bay
In the Gulf of Tonkin, the iconic Halong Bay is made up of over 1,600 lush, precipitous islands and islets that form a seascape of limestone pillars jutting out of the sea. As well as the floating islands and diverse vegetation, there are many caves, which visitors typically explore by a one or two-day cruise.
Tel: +84 33 382 4867.Website: http://halong.org.vn
Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong is the oldest national park in Vietnam, located 120km (75 miles) southwest of Hanoi. Its stunning limestone mountains emerge from the rice paddies and are covered in dense forests which are home to clouded leopards, Delacour's langurs and Asian black bears. It is also the location of the Endangered Primate Rescue Center.
Tel: +84 30 384 8006.Website: http://www.cucphuongtourism.com