Hanoi Private Walking Tour Including Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake & Hoa Lo Prison
by Hanoi Private Tour Guide
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$5Overview
This private walking tour in Hanoi covers key cultural and historical sites over about 3 to 5 hours. The tour begins with a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake, located in the city center, where visitors can watch local residents engage in daily activities like badminton and exercise. Next is Ngoc Son Temple on a small island in the lake, accessible via the red wooden The Huc Bridge. The temple honors General Tran Hung Dao and Vietnamese scholars and offers a quiet setting to understand spiritual and intellectual traditions. The tour continues to the Temple of Literature and National University, originally established in 1070 as Vietnam's first university dedicated to Confucius and scholars. The site contains well-preserved traditional architecture and historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties, commemorating thousands of graduates. Visitors then explore Hoa Lo Prison, known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the American War, with exhibits focusing on the Vietnamese fight for independence from French colonial rule. A professional private guide leads the tour and hotel pickup is available within Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized upon request. Participants should dress respectfully, avoiding tank tops and shorts above the knee when entering spiritual sites. The tour includes no tipping or hidden fees. A workshop to make tire sandals is optional but may be offered depending on the guide’s arrangement.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Temple Ngoc Son
Ngoc Son Temple sits on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake and is connected to the shore by the red wooden The Huc Bridge. The temple honors General Tran Hung Dao and various national scholars and heroes. It is a quiet place illustrating Vietnam's spiritual and intellectual heritage and is one of Hanoi’s most visited cultural sites. The visit typically lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake)
The tour starts at Hoan Kiem Lake, the central point of Hanoi. Here, visitors can observe local people engaged in recreational activities such as playing badminton and exercising. The stop is flexible in schedule and lasts roughly 30 minutes.
30 min
Temple of Literature & National University
This site was originally Vietnam’s first university, built in 1070 to honor Confucius and scholars. It features well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and buildings dating from the Ly and Tran dynasties. The site commemorates thousands of graduates and serves as a memorial to education and literature. Visits usually last about one hour.
60 min
Hoa Lo Prison
Known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ by American prisoners of war, Hoa Lo Prison contains exhibits focused on its use up to the mid-1950s and the Vietnamese struggle against French colonial rule. The visit typically lasts about one hour and provides insight into this historical site.
60 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Hanoi Private Walking Tour Including Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake & Hoa Lo Prison
by Hanoi Private Tour Guide
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$5Overview
This private walking tour in Hanoi covers key cultural and historical sites over about 3 to 5 hours. The tour begins with a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake, located in the city center, where visitors can watch local residents engage in daily activities like badminton and exercise. Next is Ngoc Son Temple on a small island in the lake, accessible via the red wooden The Huc Bridge. The temple honors General Tran Hung Dao and Vietnamese scholars and offers a quiet setting to understand spiritual and intellectual traditions. The tour continues to the Temple of Literature and National University, originally established in 1070 as Vietnam's first university dedicated to Confucius and scholars. The site contains well-preserved traditional architecture and historic buildings from the Ly and Tran dynasties, commemorating thousands of graduates. Visitors then explore Hoa Lo Prison, known as the “Hanoi Hilton” during the American War, with exhibits focusing on the Vietnamese fight for independence from French colonial rule. A professional private guide leads the tour and hotel pickup is available within Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The itinerary is flexible and can be customized upon request. Participants should dress respectfully, avoiding tank tops and shorts above the knee when entering spiritual sites. The tour includes no tipping or hidden fees. A workshop to make tire sandals is optional but may be offered depending on the guide’s arrangement.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Temple Ngoc Son
Ngoc Son Temple sits on an island in Hoan Kiem Lake and is connected to the shore by the red wooden The Huc Bridge. The temple honors General Tran Hung Dao and various national scholars and heroes. It is a quiet place illustrating Vietnam's spiritual and intellectual heritage and is one of Hanoi’s most visited cultural sites. The visit typically lasts about 30 minutes.
30 min
Lake of the Restored Sword (Hoan Kiem Lake)
The tour starts at Hoan Kiem Lake, the central point of Hanoi. Here, visitors can observe local people engaged in recreational activities such as playing badminton and exercising. The stop is flexible in schedule and lasts roughly 30 minutes.
30 min
Temple of Literature & National University
This site was originally Vietnam’s first university, built in 1070 to honor Confucius and scholars. It features well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture and buildings dating from the Ly and Tran dynasties. The site commemorates thousands of graduates and serves as a memorial to education and literature. Visits usually last about one hour.
60 min
Hoa Lo Prison
Known as the ‘Hanoi Hilton’ by American prisoners of war, Hoa Lo Prison contains exhibits focused on its use up to the mid-1950s and the Vietnamese struggle against French colonial rule. The visit typically lasts about one hour and provides insight into this historical site.
60 min
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.