VIETNAM – Hanoi – A Stroll in the Old Quarter

Description

This walking tour of Hanoi starts at Hoan Kiem Lake, then head along the famous coffee street of Hang Hanh towards the Catholic Church; stepping on and off sidewalks, now mainly used for motorbike parking and outdoor makeshift shops. It is the best way to find the answer to the question: What is the old Hanoi.

Passing quiet and peaceful alleys with street vendors taking a nap, or seeing a motorbike taxi-driver sleeping precariously on his bike will help one to discover the pockets of quietness in Hanoi before suddenly, the atmosphere becomes noisy and the streets so incredibly abuzz with life. Throughout the tour, all ones senses are bombarded with a cascade of different sights, sounds, smells and characters that play the tune of the music of life in Hanoi. The walking tour finishes with a stop at welcoming coffee shop, or with the opportunity to lie back and enjoy a relaxing foot massage near the lake.

Can be combined with

Incentive

•  Hanoi – Share a moment of Vietnamese life, Tai Chi at dawn

Groups

• Hanoi – Attend a private show of water puppetry

Selling points

• To discover the famous old quarter of Hanoi often refereed to as the “36 streets”
• A walk to explore different views of Hanoi, from the street stalls to the impressive architecture
• To finish the tour in a local cafe to enjoy one of the best specialties of Hanoi

Level Of The Excursion

The Impact Of This Excursion

Social/cultural Impact

Economic Impact

Additional Information

Walking around the Old Quarter in Hanoi is a sustainable way to explore the city’s rich history and culture. By choosing to walk, you reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to less traffic congestion and pollution. The Old Quarter is a pedestrian-friendly area with narrow streets that are perfect for leisurely strolls, allowing you to discover hidden gems, local markets, and traditional crafts. Additionally, walking supports local businesses as you can stop by small shops and street vendors along the way. This eco-friendly activity not only benefits the environment but also provides a more immersive and authentic travel experience.

Time And Transportation

Duration

4 kilometers – 2 hours

Min pax

1

Max pax

30

How to sell it

• The perfect walk for the travelers who wants to discover the old quarter of Hanoi
• A great way to understand how Hanoi works, from local street-sellers to cafe, scooters & architecture
• Not challenging at all, the walk is easy as long as you can walk with ease
• The end is flexible, clients may finish in a local cafe or in a spa
• During the weekend, it’s more suitable to walk on the pedestrian area and perfect for families and kids. They can play with kites, electronic toys & cars and roller skating
• Try to propose this tour during weekend according to arrival date of travelers

Why this activity

• One of the most frequently-asked places to visit by the travelers
• A short and easy walk for all type of travelers
• Affordable activity
• The main highlight of Hanoi in 2 hours
• Easia signature

Good to combine with

Cooking class or classic visit like Literature temple or museum

Do not combine with

Another walking tours

Market suggestion

Competitor comparison

All the DMCs

Pros

• Easy to organize for operation, only guide. Travelers can do what they want
• The neighborhood that travelers do not want to miss in Hanoi
• Easy and accessible to anybody who can walk 4 kilometers and 2 hours.
• Easia signature

Cons

• Might not be pleasant if raining
• Tourist area
• Might be difficult for some people (especially for kids) to walk between streets & motorbikes

Alerts

Make sure that travelers do not have young kids, otherwise you should warn them that walking in the old quarter in difficult with young kids (they will have to carry them) and that strollers are not suited to the narrow streets and often busy sidewalks of Hanoi

Quotation guideline

Provision for drink for pax and for guide

Inclusion

Provision for cups of coffee or others

Exclusion

• Guide fee
• Transportation

Possible Extra

Lunch/ Dinner/ Entrance fee

Remark

• In the weekend, from Friday night to Sunday night, there is no possibility to park around Hoan Kiem lake.
• Verify with operation and guide where to pick up

Special Guide notes

Take advantage of visit during the weekend to walk in Hanoi with safety

English

A stroll in the Old Quarter
You will set off from Sword Lake, passing by Hang Hanh – the famous coffee street and head towards the Catholic Church. Wandering in these peaceful alleys, your eyes will catch the daily scenes of street vendors quietly napping in the shade or a motorbike taxi-driver (or xe om in Vietnamese) sleeping precariously on his bike. Then, suddenly you will again find yourself in a noisy and busy street. Throughout the tour, your senses will be bombarded with a cascade of different sights, sounds, smells and characters that harmonize to the music of life in Hanoi. At the end of the walk, you will have time to enjoy a cup of coffee from one of the many small shops in the area.

Distance and duration of the walk: 4 kilometers – 2 hours

Level: 0

French

Promenade dans le vieux quartier de Hanoi
Lors de cette promenade vous explorerez le vieux quartier de Hanoi et ses 36 corporations, pour en découvrir les différentes facettes. Depuis le lac Hoan Kiem, vous vous engagerez dans la fameuse rue Hang Hanh, également surnommée « la rue des cafés », et vous vous dirigerez vers la cathédrale. Dans les ruelles les plus calmes, les vendeurs font la sieste dans leur boutique tandis que les chauffeurs de moto-taxi dorment en équilibre sur la selle de leur engin. Cette promenade sera pour vous un véritable éveil des sens : images frappantes, odeurs en tous genres, et une animation sonore inoubliable. Le parcours s’achèvera dans l’un des nombreux petits cafés de la vieille ville.

Distance et durée de la marche: 4 kilomètres – 2 heures
Niveau: 0

Spanish

Paseo por el Barrio Antiguo
Saldrá hacia el Lago de la Espada Restituida, pasando por Hang Hanh, la famosa calle del café, y se dirigirá a la Iglesia Católica. Paseando por estos tranquilos callejones, podrá observar las escenas diarias en las que los vendedores callejeros duermen la siesta tranquilamente a la sombra de una motocicleta taxi (o xe om en vietnamita), cuyo conductor duerme a su vez de forma precaria sobre su vehículo. Posteriormente, volverá a encontrarse de nuevo en una calle ruidosa y abarrotada. Durante el tour, sus sentidos se verán bombardeados por una cascada de diferentes imágenes, sonidos, olores y caracteres que se armonizan al son de la música que emite la vida en Hanói. Al final del paseo, tendrá tiempo para disfrutar de una taza de café en una de las múltiples pequeñas tiendas de la zona.

Distancia y duración del paseo: 4 kilómetros – 2 horas

Nivel: 0

Italian

Passeggiata nel Quartiere Vecchio
Cominciate la vostra avventura dal Lago della Spada, attraversate Hang Hanh, la rinomata strada dei caffè e dirigetevi verso la chiesa cattolica. Mentre passeggiate tra queste tranquille viuzze, potrete scorgere istanti di vita quotidiana: venditori ambulanti che riposano all’ombra dei loro negozietti, autisti di taxi (xe om in vietnamita) precariamente assopiti in bilico sulle loro motociclette. Sboccherete poi d’improvviso in una strada caotica e trafficata. I vostri sensi verranno bombardati da una cascata di colori accesi, suoni inaspettati e profumi pungenti. Gettatevi a capofitto nella sinfonia della vita della città di Hanoi, prima di concludere il vostro tour sorseggiando una profumata tazza di caffè in uno dei numerosi caffè della zona.

Distanze e durata dell’escursione: 4 chilometri – 2 ore

Livello: 0

German

Ein Spaziergang im Altstadtteil Old Quarter
Ihre Tour beginnt am Schwert-See durch Hang Hanh, die berühmte Kaffee-Straße, bis zur katholischen Kirche. In dieser friedlichen Umgebung können Sie tägliche Szenen der Straßenverkäufer sehen, die ruhig im Schatten ein Nickerchen machen oder Fahrer von Motorradtaxis (oder xe om auf Vietnamesisch), die wagemutig auf ihren Motorrädern schlafen. Dann finden Sie sich plötzlich in einer lauten und betriebsamen Straße wieder. Während dieser Tour werden Ihre Sinne mit einer Aneinanderreihung verschiedener Sehenswürdigkeiten, Geräusche, Düfte und Charaktere bombardiert, die aber allesamt miteinander zur Musik des Lebens in Hanoi harmonisieren. Am Ende des Spazierganges haben Sie Zeit, eine Tasse Kaffee in einem der vielen, kleinen Geschäfte dieses Gebietes zu genießen.

Strecke und Dauer des Spaziergangs: 4 Kilometer – 2 Stunden
Schwierigkeitsstufe: 0

• Product Photos
• View more photos in Media Library