The Insider's Hanoi

The Insider’s Hanoi

The Insider’s Hanoi begins as all good tours should, by sampling the authentic local café culture in the heart of the Old Quarter, then darting through the busy streets to explore the famous French colonial style St. Joseph’s Cathedral.

We then set off for an intimate ride through the city’s iconic narrow streets to the picturesque ‘Art Street’, where we learn about local artist’s murals showcasing a mix of traditional Vietnamese culture and modern ‘social’ influences.

We then ride out of the city to the Long Bien Bridge, a magnificent structure built over a hundred years ago which spans the Red River and connects the Hoan Kiem and Long Bien Districts. This magnificent structure also provides shelter to locals living on floating homes. Only motorbikes and bicycles can traverse here and this is truly an experience off the beaten track, so off we go! (weather permitting)

It’s back on the Vespas for a fun ride past the West Lake to Ngoc Ha Market and a stroll around this vast, bustling marketplace taking in the vibrant atmosphere that typifies Ha Noi.

After a short ride on your comfortable vintage Vespa’s toward Huu Tiep Lake, we explore the grounds of a 400-year-old temple, followed by a short walk through traditional local market streets to see the B52 crash site at the lake. This US bomber was shot down during the 1972 bombing raids of Ha Noi, a poignant reminder of Vietnam’s recent history.

Our final ride takes us along the riverside as we zoom past the ancient dyke wall, beautifully decorated with mosaic artwork to our  final destination. A tranquil green oasis at a miniature Kumquat farm (seasonal) or we learn about the ancient tradition of making tea at the home of a Vietnamese Tea Master.

From the final stop, we will drop guests back at their hotel and bid them a safe farewell.

The Insider Hanoi – local coffee shop, St. Josephs Cathedral, Artistic murals, Long Bien Bridge, local market, local pagoda, B-52 lake, local tea house or kumquat farm!