You will be picked up from your hotel in Hanoi and taken for sightseeing tour of Ho Chi Minh’s Hanoi. An English-speaking guide will accompany you on this tour.
Begin your trip with a visit to the Ho Chi Minh complex on the site where he declared Vietnam’s independence in 1945, and see the reverence with which Vietnamese people treat their ‘Uncle Ho’.
Other sites that you will visit include:
• House 54: Ho Chi Minh lived and worked here between 1954 and 1958.
• Stilt House: Ho Chi Minh moved from House 54 to the Stilt House in 1958, and worked and lived there until his death in 1969. It is beautifully crafted with lacquered and polished wood, modeled along the lines of a traditional communal house on stilts.
• Presidential Palace: This bright mustard building was originally built by the French at the start of the 20th century to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. Following his ‘Declaration of Independence’ Ho Chi Minh refused to move into the building due to its connection with the country’s colonial past.
• One Pillar Pagoda: This is a unique wooden structure originally built in 1049 by Emperor Ly Thai Thong of the Ly Dynasty. The current structure is a replica of the original.
Continue on your journey through Hanoi drive to the Temple of Literature . Originally built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Thong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later.
Have lunch at Hanoi’s famous KOTO training restaurant, an institution that assists with training street and disadvantaged youth empowering them with a trade to support themselves and their families.
After lunch visit the Museum of Ethnology , to learn more about the cultural diversity of Vietnams ethnic minorities. Established by the Vietnamese government in 1997, the museum provides a fascinating insight into the diverse cultures, customs and lifestyles of the 54 ethnic groups that inhabit Vietnam.
Finish the day with a walking tour of Hanoi’s hectic Old Quarter . See how Hanoians live out their lives on the streets, sitting and eating together on the sidewalks and bartering for wares.
Visit the local Hang Be or Dong Xuan local markets , before finishing with refreshments at a bia hoi (local tavern) where you have the opportunity to swap stories with local people eager to practise their language skills.
At the end of the trip you are free to continue exploring the area or your guide will assist you in getting a taxi back to your hotel.