Sunday Nov 30 2025 - Hanoi Vietnam
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STEPS 8,800 bus tour
WEATHER sunny 25
TOUR DAY 5 full day tour with lunch
ITALICS TOUR DESCRIPTION
Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, you will meet with your local guide in the lobby of your hotel for a full day city tour of Hanoi. You will start with the Ho Chi Minh Complex, including the Mausoleum, his former stilt-house residence, the Presidential Palace, and the nearby One Pillar Pagoda founded in 1049. This structure has become an important symbol for the people of Hanoi. Then you will continue toward the Temple of Literature, Vietnam’s first university founded in the 11th century.
After your lunch included at a local restaurant, you will visit the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, which housed Vietnamese revolutionaries and American prisoners of war during the Vietnam War. Afterward, you will enjoy a cyclo ride for about an hour, touring through the narrow, lively streets of the Old Quarter, heritage of the French colonial era in Hanoi. At the end of the day, you will see a traditional performance of the famous Vietnamese water puppets.
Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hanoi. (Breakfast-Lunch)
* Please note : The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all day on Mondays and Fridays, as well as from October 1st to November 30th (approx.) for annual conservation.
We met after breakfast at 8:30 and started our full day tour.
Breakfast fruit.
Hotel menu option.
And we're off on our first all day group tour.
Văn Miếu (Vietnamese: Văn Miếu, chữ Hán: 文廟[1][2]), literally translated as Temple of Literature, is a temple dedicated to Confucius in Hanoi, northern Vietnam. The temple was founded and first built in 1070 at the time of Emperor Lý Thánh Tông, and it hosted the Imperial Academy (Quốc Tử Giám, 國子監), Vietnam's first national university, from 1076 to 1779. In 1803, The academy was moved to the new capital of Nguyen dynasty in Hue.
OOPS John forgot long pants were required, no problem he just dragged them down to his knees and got away with it!
Despite the numerous conflicts and wars fought in Vietnam, the temple retained its architectural charm and beauty and has now become not just another tourist attraction, but also a place for joyous graduate photoshoots.
And wow, there were photoshoots from kindergarten to university, it was wonderful.
This was fun as there were hundreds of graduating students.
The Văn Miếu is one of several temples in Vietnam which are dedicated to Confucius, sages, and scholars. The temple is located to the south of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long. The various pavilions, halls, statues, and stelae of doctors are places where offering ceremonies, study sessions, and the strict exams of the Đại Việt took place. The temple is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese đồng banknote.
The Văn Miếu was founded and first built in 1070 and was reconstructed during the Trần dynasty (1225–1400) and in the subsequent dynasties. For nearly two centuries, despite wars and disasters, the temple has preserved ancient architectural styles of many dynasties as well as precious relics. Major restorations have taken place in 1920, 1954 and 2000.
Vendors everywhere.
One of Hanoi’s most famous sites is the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, also known as the Uncle Ho (Bac Ho) Mausoleum and is the burial place of the beloved father of the nation, President Ho Chi Minh.
Located in the historic Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is where Ho Chi Minh read from the Declaration of Independence which established Vietnam as its own democratic republic in 1945.
Visiting the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum involves strict rules, long but fast-moving lines, intense security, and a solemn atmosphere requiring conservative dress (shoulders/knees covered), no photos/talking/bags inside the main hall where his body rests in a glass case, with early morning arrival (before 8 AM) recommended for the best experience in Hanoi. The entire experience, including security, the brief viewing, and walking the complex (Stilt House, Museum), takes time, with the mausoleum itself open mornings only.
When we showed up to the complex it was absolute chaos. Hundreds, possibly even thousands of people were everywhere. Soldiers lined the streets, directing different groups to different areas.
We went then directed to line up, straight lines, military style until it was our rows turn to go through the metal detector, then directed ordered to a waiting area. From there we marched, single file, with soldiers stationed every few feet.
Much like lines at Disney World, the line to get into the mausoleum wrapped in and out of random courtyards and gardens.
The mausoleum closes for a couple of months every fall, while Minh’s body is taken to Russia for meticulous re-embalming and other maintenance.
The main square was an intimidatingly open space with lots of granite and Vietnamese and Soviet flags piercing the cloudy sky. In the middle was the mausoleum in all of its glory, standing tall and ominously with giant a red HO CHI MINH branded on it.
The mausoleum was supposed to be inspired by Lenin’s Mausoleum in Moscow, with some Vietnamese style added in. Unfortunately, the end result is not so pretty. In fact, CNN once ranked it the 6th ugliest building in the world (2012).
I don’t know if I’d say it’s ugly, but it was underwhelming.
As you get closer to the entrance of the mausoleum to see Ho Chi Minh’s body, there are multiple signs with rules to follow. No pictures. No shorts. No bags. No chewing gum. No hands in pockets. No talking. No hats. On and on… You can tell that they take the body viewing extremely seriously, which is understandable considering that Ho Chi Minh is the biggest figure in Vietnamese history. As you walk up the stairs into the massive gray structure the decibel level of voices creepily gets lower and lower.
Guards would blow a whistle anytime someone got too close or slow.
When you turn the corner to walk into the chamber, the lighting is a dark glowing red, and in the middle of the room, to my great shock, is the body Ho Chi Minh. It’s just there. Out in the open. I figured we’d see a coffin or sarcophagus, but no, he’s on fully display. Ho Chi Minh is dressed in a black robe with giant Vietnamese and Soviet flags hanging above and behind his body (think the Smithsonian Star-Spangled Banner sized flags). The body itself is in incredibly good condition, which makes sense considering that they send it to Russia every year for two months for ‘maintenance.’ It is an absolutely surreal, creepy scene and I think the whole thing takes 30 seconds!
There is a giddy sense of relief when we step outside. I think a couple of us offended the guide when we asked "if the body was for real"!!
From there we were guided around the grounds. Tiem did an amazing (and long) dissertation on the life of Ho Chi Minh. In fact John started googling books about HCM.
President Ho Chi Minh was not only a political leader but also a visionary for the future of the country. He dedicated his entire life to fighting for the nation’s independence and freedom, inspiring generations of Vietnamese people. With progressive and humane ideologies, President Ho Chi Minh ignited patriotism and unity among the people. He clearly stated:
“Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom.”
This saying has become the guiding principle for all activities of the Communist Party and the Vietnamese government.
Ho Chi Minh was not only a wartime leader but also a cultural figure and educator. He left behind many valuable literary works and life philosophies. His ideologies remain relevant to this day. He also played a significant role in promoting revolutionary movements worldwide, especially in colonized countries. With a great heart, Ho Chi Minh often emphasised that “Revolution is not a game.”
Despite hardships and challenges, Ho Chi Minh always looked towards a bright future for the nation. He believed that if all people united, loved, and supported one another, the country would develop sustainably. Therefore, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is not just a place of remembrance but also a source of encouragement for future generations.
The Presidential Palace itself was built by Vildieu in 1900 as the French Colonial Governor’s residence, and is not open to the public; it's only used for government meetings. After taking Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh refused to live there because he felt the optics were bad.
The Ho Chi Minh Stilt House, built in 1958 by architect Nguyen Van Ninh, is a modern super luxe version of the Tay stilt houses common in Viet Bac, where Uncle Ho built up the Revolutionary Army before taking Hanoi. It's both very stylish and very modern for its time.
Bunker.
Right around the corner from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is One Pillar Pagoda, a Buddhist temple originally completed in 1049.
And we discover we've lost Pierre! Tiem does several trips around and can't find him, while we visit the pagoda.
The actually temple was tiny! It looked like a little treehouse on a very thick pillar.
The One Pillar Pagoda is one of Hanoi's most iconic landmarks, renowned for its unique lotus-inspired architecture and deep spiritual meaning. Originally built in 1049, this historic Buddhist temple stands on a single stone pillar and symbolizes purity, enlightenment, and the cultural heritage of Vietnam.
I was more impressed by the flowers.
I’m sure it was impressive in 1049 and has a storied history through the years. But I was expecting a massive temple supported on a single, slim pillar. That was not what we got.
Well, still no Pierre, Tiem is beside himself, he's never lost anyone before. However, we must keep to the schedule so we board the bus. On the way to lunch, Tiem receives a call that Pierre is back at the hotel, so he tells them to put him in a cab to the restaurant.
On our way, and we soon realized we are heading back to where we were yesterday, near Train St.
We laugh as we see it is the same place we saw the tour groups enter yesterday.
First group lunch. Food was served "family style", serving dishes placed in the middle per four people. This meal was really rushed, each course right after the other.
It was interesting to see the camps form, basically there was the noisy group and the quiet group.
Outside, waiting for the bus.
Hoa Lo Prison is a sad place documenting the lives of prisoners imprisoned by the French colonists during the Indochina War. While the exterior of the prison-turned-museum is painted a cheery yellow, the interior is dark and gloomy.
It was very crowded!
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Almost all materials used to build the prison – from the bricks to the glass shards lined on top of high walls – were shipped from France. Both men and women were kept segregated in the prison, with a bigger and more depressing portion for men.
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Hoa Lo Prison was opened in 1896 by French colonists to hold Vietnamese political prisoners.
A huge chamber with men shackled on tilted planks. The tilted boards make it impossible for the men to lie down for long. Their captors had also set up a rudimentary squat toilet at the front of the chamber to humiliate anyone using it. In summer, the chamber became an oven with putrid stench from the pail containing excrement. In winter, it became frigid cold.
Solitary cells with the same slanting boards housing just one prisoner. The prisoner gets the same stuffiness/ cold, and no light or human interaction.
An almond tree. I’m not sure if the living almond tree in Hoa Lo is the almond tree that has seen years of tortured men. It was mentioned that the tree provided respite to the poor men, giving them branches for pencils and flutes and young leaves as medicine against diarrhoea and dysentery.
It was then used during the Vietnam War to hold US prisoners of war, most notably John McCain, and later to hold more Vietnamese political prisoners. During the Vietnam War, US POWs referred to the prison as the “Hanoi Hilton.”
Monica Schwinn, 31 years old, of Lebach, West Germany, was a member of the Maltese Aid Service who went to Vietnam to give medical help to people on both sides. During her imprisonment she watched three comrades starve to death.
We were taken back to the hotel for a rest before we did the rest of our day.
We were picked up by rickshaw for an hour tour.
Tiem greeting us on arrival at the puppet show.
The Thang Long Water Puppet Show is a must-watch in Hanoi as part of the cultural experience. Choose one of the timings available (3.30 PM, 4.10 PM, 5.20 PM, 6.30 PM, 8.00 PM) and the ticket class.
We were delighted by the performances, and marvelled at the labour and ingenuity behind the construction of each puppet.
I wondered if it would be like what we had seen in Guilan China in 2009. No, this was very different.
However Maholo guy wasn't impressed, although he had a good nap as we waited for it to start, I guess that happens after 2 gins at lunch and 2 before we headed out for our rickshaw trip. After the show he told the guide he would have left after 5 minutes if he could as it was hot and noisy.
Click here for our video.
Off on our own, we tried a couple of 🏧 but didn't get any money.
We went to get John some cold medicine and then stopped for some medicinal beer, sitting on the sidewalk.
Some photos around the lake.
It got cool so we headed back to the hotel for a glass of Vietnamese wine. Maholo guy was slumped over his drink in the bar.
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