VIETNAM – Hanoi – Self-Guided Walking Tour in the South of Hanoi

Explore a traditional area in the south of Hanoi that’s rarely visited by travelers.

Theme

Art & Culture, Classic, Self-Guided Tours

Country - City

Vietnam - Hanoi

Market segment

Thematic Leisure

Price Level

$$

Level of difficulties

LEVEL 0

Max pax

10

Seasonality

All year long

Arrival city

Hanoi

Departure city

Hanoi

Description

This self-guided activity explores a lesser-known area located in the south of Hanoi. The itinerary not only focuses on colonial buildings (like those found in the Old Quarter), but also the social housing system, small hidden markets, large shopping malls & universities. This journey offers an amazing opportunity to learn about Vietnam today, from the ubiquitous coffee culture to Korean influences, or from the price of an apartment to the habits of the young Vietnamese. The neighborhoods visited are off the radars for tourists, yet extremely interesting to anybody willing to learn what it’s like to live in Vietnam; a great way to see another side of Hanoi!

Can be combined with

Thematic Leisure

Selling points

  • Explore a traditional area in the south of Hanoi that’s rarely visited by travelers.
  • This self-guided activity explores a lesser-known area located in the south of Hanoi.
  • The itinerary not only focuses on colonial buildings (like those found in the Old Quarter), but also the social housing system, small hidden markets, large shopping malls & universities.
  • This journey offers an amazing opportunity to learn about Vietnam today, from the ubiquitous coffee culture to Korean influences, or from the price of an apartment to the habits of the young Vietnamese.
  • The neighborhoods visited are off the radars for tourists, yet extremely interesting to anybody willing to learn what it’s like to live in Vietnam; a great way to see another side of Hanoi!

Level Of The Excursion

Low - This activity impacts local community, culture and/or environment in a small but meaningful way

The Impact Of This Excursion

Environment Impact

Transportation

Economic Impact

Community benefits

Additional Information

Positive Impact:

This activity provides direct income to local coffee shops where the travelers stop, as well as to the taxi to start the activity.

Time And Transportation

From To Km By Duration Road condition
Old Quarter Dong Da District 5 Car 15 minutes Good

Duration

  • Normal version : 3 hours
  • Extension to the railway tracks : +30 minutes

Min pax

1

Max pax

10

How to sell it

  • For travelers who are looking to explore “off the beaten path” neighborhoods, they will explore Nam Dong & Kim Lien in Dong Da (and continue to Ho Ba Mau if they want to see the railway tracks)
  • Perfect to include on the second day of a self-guided tour, after visiting Hoan Kiem (Old quarter) the day before
  • The activity is really filled with a lot of content, there are a lot of details about many different topics of the local life (coffee industry, KTT in Nam Dong, How local markets work, the influence of Korean culture in Vietnam, the propaganda art, the international school, VinCom and the large brands in Vietnam, KTT in Kim Lien, The Milk Tea Alliance, Kim Lien pagoda, etc.).
  • An itinerary and region that is impossible to explore without a self-guided tour.
  • Travelers will really see the value of doing the Self-Guided Tour when they do this activity, it’s not on any travel guide and it provides extensive knowledge on the daily-life in Vietnam (and not just about history for example).

 

Why this activity

  • In order to develop the self-guided activities in Vientnam
  • In order to develop a wide range of experiences for SGT in Hanoi, with interesting activities and different neighborhoods for the travelers

Good to combine with

On a second day in Hanoi, with the rest of the afternoon free for travelers to explore the iconic monuments (Temple of Litterature, HCMC Mausoleum, etc.).

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Competitor comparison

Easia Signature, difficult to copy

Pros

  • Easy to organize
  • Travelers need to reach Nam Dong street by taxi to start the tour, it should be easy since it’s a famous street in Hanoi
  • The neighborhood visited almost never have any foreigners visiting
  • The activity is really interesting for the travelers and should bring good feedbacks (if it’s sold to the correct travelers!)

 

Cons

  • Some shops could disappear in the future and could lead to some misunderstandings with the travelers
  • Some parts (as in Hoan Kiem and other districts of Hanoi) could be dangerous if the travelers do not pay attention
  • Travelers need to be independant-enough to take a taxi by themselves

Information

  • The walking tour is about 4 kilometers, starting in Nam Dong street and finishing at Kim Lien Pagoda, it’s possible to extend for another 1.5 kilometers (total 5.5kms)
  • The 4 kilometers walking tour with break at coffee, as well as time to read and understand about the places should take between 2.5 and 3 hours depending on the travelers.
  • Since travelers will see 2 markets (Nam Dong & Trung Tu) it’s recommended to visit in the morning.
  • Even if it’s raining, the tour can still be done with umbrellas.

Alerts

  • This tour is great if you have already seen Hoan Kiem, because what travelers expect is to see the old quarter first.
  • Do not organize this activity on the first day in Hanoi, it would be too confusing for the travelers

Price range

$$

Quotation guideline

Regular quotation for the Self Guided Tours

Inclusion

Nothing but the information on the App

Exclusion

  • Taxi transfers
  • Coffee break(s)

Important notes

  • No services are included from Operation’s side, travelers need to travel on their own

Different Choice

No other options is similar in Hanoi

English

Self-Guided Walking tour in the South of Hanoi

After reaching the starting point of your walk, you will begin to explore the neighborhoods of Nam Dong and Kim Lien. Located in the south of Hanoi (approximately 15 minutes from the old quarter), these districts enable you to immerse yourself in the daily life of Hanoi’s inhabitants. Following the route as shown on the App, you will pass many public housing buildings that were built in the 1950s’, small markets, large shopping centers and old pagodas as well as see some small lakes. Thanks to the information provided in the App, you will learn some key aspects of Vietnam such as the influence of Korean culture, the importance of coffee in the daily life of the inhabitants, the role of Confucian heritage in the educational system as well as the challenges of the current urban development. You will see what Hanoi really is; a mixture of old and new, silent and noisy. At the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity to walk to the famous “train street” where the rails seem just a little too close to the houses.

Meals included: 
Accommodation: 
Distance and duration of the walk: 4 to 5.5 kilometers, 3 to 4 hours 
Level: 0 
Transportation: 5 kilometers – 15 minutes 
 

French

Promenade en liberté dans le Sud d’Hanoi

Après avoir rejoint le point de départ de votre balade, vous commencerez à explorer les quartiers de Nam Dong et Kim Lien. Situés dans le Sud d’Hanoi, ces districts permettent de se plonger dans le quotidien des habitants d’Hanoi. En suivant l’itinéraire enregistré sur l’application, vous passerez de nombreux logements encore dans leurs jus qui ont été construits dans les années 1950’, vous traverserez des petits marchés, de grands centres commerciaux, de vieilles pagodes et des petits lacs. Grâce aux informations dans l’application, vous comprendrez certains aspects clés du Vietnam comme l’influence de la culture coréenne, l’importance du café dans le quotidien des habitants, le rôle de l’héritage confucéen dans le système éducatif ou les défis du développement urbain actuel. Vous pourrez voir ce qu’est Hanoi, un mélange de vieux et de neuf, de propre et de sale, de silence et de bruit. A la fin de la balade vous aurez la possibilité de marcher jusqu’à la fameuse « rue du train » où les rails semblent traverser les habitations.

Repas inclus : 
Hébergement : 
Distance & durée de la marche : 4 à 5.5 kilomètres – 3 à 4 heures 
Niveau : 0 
Transport : 5 kilomètres – 15 minutes 

 

Spanish

Recorrido a pie por el sur de Hanoi

Tras llegar al punto de partida de su paseo, comenzará a explorar los barrios de Nam Dong y Kim Lien. Situados en el sur de Hanoi (a unos 15 minutos del casco antiguo), estos barrios le permitirán sumergirse en la vida cotidiana de los habitantes de Hanoi. Siguiendo la ruta indicada en la aplicación, pasará por muchos edificios de viviendas públicas construidos en los años 50, pequeños mercados, grandes centros comerciales y antiguas pagodas, además de ver algunos pequeños lagos. Gracias a la información proporcionada en la App, aprenderá algunos aspectos clave de Vietnam, como la influencia de la cultura coreana, la importancia del café en la vida cotidiana de los habitantes, el papel de la herencia confuciana en el sistema educativo, así como los retos del desarrollo urbano actual. Verá lo que realmente es Hanói: una mezcla de lo antiguo y lo nuevo, de lo silencioso y lo ruidoso. Al final del recorrido, tendrá la oportunidad de caminar hasta la famosa “calle del tren”, donde los raíles parecen estar demasiado cerca de las casas.

 

Comidas incluidas : 
Alojamiento : 
Distancia y tiempo de caminata: 4 a 5,5 kilómetros – 3 a 4 horas 
Nivel: 0 
Transporte: 5 kilómetros – 15 minutos 

Italian

Tour a piedi nel sud di Hanoi

Dopo aver raggiunto il punto di partenza della vostra passeggiata, inizierete a esplorare i quartieri di Nam Dong e Kim Lien. Situati nel sud di Hanoi (a circa 15 minuti dal quartiere vecchio), questi quartieri permettono di immergersi nella vita quotidiana degli abitanti di Hanoi. Seguendo il percorso indicato nell’App, si passerà accanto a molti edifici di edilizia pubblica costruiti negli anni Cinquanta, piccoli mercati, grandi centri commerciali e antiche pagode, oltre a vedere alcuni piccoli laghi. Grazie alle informazioni fornite dall’App, imparerete alcuni aspetti chiave del Vietnam, come l’influenza della cultura coreana, l’importanza del caffè nella vita quotidiana degli abitanti, il ruolo del patrimonio confuciano nel sistema educativo e le sfide dell’attuale sviluppo urbano. Vedrete cos’è veramente Hanoi: un misto di vecchio e nuovo, silenzioso e rumoroso. Alla fine del tour, avrete l’opportunità di camminare fino alla famosa “strada dei treni”, dove le rotaie sembrano un po’ troppo vicine alle case.

 

Pasti inclusi : 
Sistemazione : 
Distanza e tempo di percorrenza: da 4 a 5,5 chilometri – da 3 a 4 ore 
Livello: 0 
Trasporto: 5 chilometri – 15 minuti 

German

Spaziergang im Süden von Hanoi

Nachdem Sie den Startpunkt Ihres Spaziergangs erreicht haben, beginnen Sie mit der Erkundung der Stadtteile Nam Dong und Kim Lien. Diese im Süden von Hanoi gelegenen Stadtteile ermöglichen es Ihnen, in das tägliche Leben der Einwohner von Hanoi einzutauchen. Wenn Sie der Route in der App folgen, kommen Sie an vielen Sozialwohnungen, die in den 1950er Jahren gebaut wurden, an kleinen Märkten, Einkaufszentren, alten Pagoden und kleinen Seen vorbei. Dank der Informationen in der App werden Sie einige kulturelle Aspekte Vietnams verstehen, wie zum Beispiel den Einfluss der modernen koreanischen Kultur, die Wichtigkeit des Kaffees im täglichen Leben der Einwohner, die Rolle des konfuzianischen Erbes im Bildungssystem oder die Herausforderungen der aktuellen Stadtentwicklung. Sie werden sehen, was Hanoi ausmacht: eine Mischung aus Alt und Neu, Sauberkeit und Schmutz, Ruhe und Lärm. Am Ende der Tour werden Sie die Gelegenheit haben, zur berühmten “Zugstraße” zu gehen, wo die Schienen vor den Türen der Wohnhäuser liegen.

Mahlzeiten inklusive :

Unterkunft :

Entfernung und Dauer der Wanderung : 4 bis 5,5 Kilometer, 3 bis 4 Stunden 

Schwierigkeitsstufe : 0 

Transport: 5 Kilometer – 15 Minuten