ONE-DAY TOUR AROUND HANOI
This page features some of the most popular one-day tours from Hanoi, mainly traveling by car, private van, or bus. These classic day tours are ideal for travelers who want to explore the highlights around Hanoi without committing to a longer trip. We can also tailor-make any one-day tour from Hanoi to suit your budget, interests, available time, and expectations.
HANOI CITY DAY TOUR
(Day tour)
Booking code: OV27
- 08:00. Pick-up from your hotel by cyclo. Our guide and cyclo drivers will take you through some of the most interesting parts of Hanoi, including the historic Old Quarter, charming French colonial villa areas, and other atmospheric streets of the capital. Then join the queue to visit the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you can learn more about Vietnam’s history by visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Presidential Palace, and his former residence.
- Continue by private van to the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university and an important historical and cultural landmark dedicated to Confucius.
- In the afternoon, enjoy a leisurely walk through Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Walking through the narrow streets can be tiring for some travelers, but it is also a fun way to experience the lively atmosphere, discover local shops, and shop in Hanoi.
- 17:00. Finish the day with a fascinating Hanoi Water Puppet Show, one of Vietnam’s most distinctive traditional performing arts. The show offers an entertaining introduction to Vietnamese customs, folklore, music, and culture. Tour ends here.
PERFUME PAGODA
(Day tour)
Booking code: OV28
Perfume Pagoda is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destinations in northern Vietnam. The complex is located among spectacular limestone mountains and forests southwest of Hanoi and is famous for its peaceful scenery, temples, caves, and traditional religious atmosphere.
Throughout the year, visitors can experience the distinctive atmosphere of the area, particularly around the temples and caves where the fragrance of incense fills the air. The journey combines a scenic boat ride, trekking, Buddhist sites, and beautiful countryside, making it an enjoyable day trip from Hanoi.
At 07:30, we pick you up from your hotel. It takes approximately two hours to drive from Hanoi to Duc Boat Station. From there, take a traditional boat along the Yen Stream for about one and a half hours. The scenery on both sides includes high limestone mountains, green rice fields, and peaceful rural landscapes. If you are feeling adventurous, you may even have the opportunity to help row the boat yourself.
Reach the inner boat station and trek uphill toward the main cave and pagoda. Enjoy lunch before continuing to Thien Tru Pagoda. Climb approximately 150 stone steps to explore its traditional architecture and enjoy the landscape where Buddhist culture blends naturally with the surrounding mountains and forests.
For a more comfortable option, you can take the cable car from Thien Tru Pagoda toward the upper area. This option costs extra, with the ticket payable directly if you prefer to avoid the climb.
On the way back to Hanoi, stop to visit Van Phuc Silk Village, a traditional handicraft village where you can see local artisans producing and weaving silk cloth. Continue by road to Hanoi and arrive at approximately 19:00.
CUC PHUONG NATIONAL PARK
(Day tour)
Booking code: OV29
This one-day Cuc Phuong National Park tour from Hanoi is designed for travelers who prefer nature, wildlife, and peaceful countryside to crowded tourist attractions. It is a great opportunity to escape the noise of the city and discover one of northern Vietnam’s most important protected natural areas.
Located in Ninh Binh Province, south of Hanoi, the region is famous for attractions such as Tam Coc, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, and Cuc Phuong National Park. Beyond these well-known destinations, there are also many quieter and less-explored places waiting to be discovered.
Cuc Phuong is one of Vietnam’s largest and most important national parks. Established in 1962, the park was created to protect its endangered wildlife, valuable plant species, and ancient tropical rainforest. Ideally, visitors could spend several days exploring the park, but this Cuc Phuong day tour focuses on several of its most interesting highlights, including the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre, Botanical Garden, Thousand-Year-Old Tree, and Cave of Prehistoric Man.
- 07:00. Depart from your hotel by car or bus and drive for approximately two hours to Cuc Phuong National Park.
- Visit the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre and learn from the biologists about Vietnam’s endangered and rare primate species. Allow approximately one hour for the visit.
- Continue driving into the central area of the park before beginning a hike to the Thousand-Year-Old Tree, considered one of the largest and oldest trees in Cuc Phuong. Stop here to enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the ancient rainforest.
- After lunch, continue along a circular trekking trail toward the other side of the park. Visit the Cave of Prehistoric Man and the Botanical Garden before leaving the park and beginning the journey back to Hanoi.
MAI CHAU
(Day tour)
Booking code: OV30
Located approximately 150 km northwest of Hanoi, Mai Chau Valley is one of the most attractive countryside destinations in northern Vietnam. Surrounded by green mountains, rice fields, farms, and traditional villages, Mai Chau offers a peaceful escape from the busy streets of Hanoi.
Mai Chau is home to the White Thai ethnic minority, whose communities live in traditional stilt houses spread throughout the beautiful valley. The Thai people share cultural connections with communities in Thailand, Laos, and southern China, and their traditional lifestyle, weaving, architecture, and hospitality make Mai Chau a fascinating destination for a day trip from Hanoi.
Walking through the rice fields and trekking between ethnic minority villages is an enjoyable way to experience the natural beauty and local culture of the valley.
- 06:30. Pick-up at your hotel and begin the journey by road toward Hoa Binh Province.
- Travel through green fields of cassava and sugar cane before reaching the rice paddies around Lac Village, one of the main villages of the White Thai community.
- Enjoy approximately three hours of walking and trekking across the beautiful Mai Chau Valley, passing through rice fields and visiting Van Village and Pom Coong Village, two important White Thai communities. Stop at local families along the way to learn about their daily lives, traditional culture, and customs. There are also opportunities to photograph the traditional Thai stilt houses and purchase locally made handicrafts and traditional clothing.
- Trek along a circular route back toward Lac Village for lunch. After lunch, enjoy free time to stroll through the pleasant village lanes. You may see local women weaving on traditional looms beneath or inside their houses, and there is time to browse for traditional Mai Chau handicrafts and souvenirs.
- 15:30. Depart Mai Chau by road and arrive back in Hanoi at approximately 18:30, marking the end of the trip.
NINH BINH (HOA LU, TAM COC, BICH DONG)
(Day tour)
Booking code: OV31
Ninh Binh, located south of Hanoi, is one of northern Vietnam’s most spectacular destinations, famous for its limestone mountains, rice fields, caves, rivers, and historic sites. The region is home to popular attractions including Tam Coc, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, and Cuc Phuong National Park, as well as many quieter places that remain away from the main tourist routes.
This Ninh Binh day tour from Hanoi combines cycling, boating, trekking, countryside scenery, and cultural attractions, providing an active and varied way to explore the region.
Morning
- 07:00. Depart from your hotel and travel to Tam Coc by car or van via Nam Ha Province. Arrive in Tam Coc at approximately 09:00 and take a short rest while preparing your bicycle.
- Cycle along quiet rural roads and countryside paths toward Bich Dong Pagoda, also known as Jade Cave. After approximately 20 minutes, leave the bicycle and board a traditional bamboo boat to explore the quieter waterways. Cruise along meandering channels surrounded by rice fields and towering green limestone mountains in the Ninh Binh landscape.
- Visit Thung Nang Grotto and then trek up Thung Nang Mountain for panoramic views across the spectacular landscape often described as the “Dry Halong Bay”. Stop here to rest and enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the impressive scenery.
- Row the boat back and continue by bicycle toward Bich Dong Pagoda. Visit the three ancient pagodas built into the limestone mountainside: the Lower, Middle, and Upper Pagodas.
Afternoon
Continue cycling through the rural countryside toward Hoa Lu Ancient Capital. Along the way, visit a traditional Vietnamese farming family and gain an insight into everyday life in the countryside.
- Visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam from 968 to 1010 and an important historical site associated with the Dinh and Early Le dynasties.
- Explore the two historic temples dedicated to King Dinh Tien Hoang and King Le Dai Hanh, whose reigns played an important role in the early history of an independent Vietnam. The preserved architecture and peaceful surroundings provide a fascinating glimpse into the country’s ancient past.
This Ninh Binh day tour combines boat rowing, cycling, trekking, rural scenery, and historical attractions into a rewarding one-day excursion. After the sightseeing, your car or bus will bring you back to Hanoi, with approximately two hours of driving to complete the journey.
Contact us at [email protected] if you need more details, additional options, or advice about our classic day tours from Hanoi.
More Classic Road Tours From Offroad Vietnam
- 4×4 (4WD) Tours
- Trekking Tours
- Train Tours
- 2-day Short Tours
- 3-day Short Tours
- Authentic Vietnam 16 Days
- Grand Tour 18 Days
Something different for a day tour?
If you are looking for something more adventurous, discover the one-day Vietnam motorbike tours provided by our company. Watch the video below or visit our YouTube channel to see more of our Vietnam motorbike adventures and explore the country from a different perspective.
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