Hanoi Night Tour Best Tours to Explore the Capital City's Nightlife

If you are in the capital city and interested in exploring the place's enchanting nightlife, these are the 6 best Hanoi night tours to consider. Experience unique activities that are only available after sundown, and let these unforgettable trips reveal different facets of the city. 
 

Built in the 11th century, Thăng Long Imperial Citadel symbolized the independence of the Đại Việt (Great Việt) nation. For nearly 13 consecutive centuries, this area was the political epicenter of the country, witness of countless significant historical events. Today, it is a still-standing representation of a distinct Southeast Asian civilization particular to the lower Red River Delta. The structures and their remnants were listed among the UNESCO World Heritage in August 2010, and are now located at the 18 Hoang Dieu archaeological site.

Decoding The Imperial Citadel Of Thang Long Night Tour

The Hanoi night tour, named Decoding the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, is available every weekend at 7 PM. The 1.5-hour tour begins at Đoan Môn (Main Gate), the entrance of Cấm Thành (Forbidden City), or the king’s residence. Through the tour guide, visitors learn about the history, architecture, and uses of the area. 

Upon arrival at the archaeological excavation site, a welcoming traditional dance is presented on the glass covering the area. Visitors are then given a tour of the dig, which contains artifacts from the Ly, Tran and Le dynasties. A trip to an exhibition hall with rare relics, some over a thousand years old, is also included.

The Hanoi night tour ends with a laser light show showcasing Thăng Long Imperial Citadel's most notable artifacts. There is also a minigame in which visitors must identify common items from feudal dynasties in the past.
 

The double-decker bus tour, departing daily from 8 AM to 8.30 PM, is an unforgettable experience for any tourist visiting the capital city. The open-air, 80-seat double-decker buses make 12-15 stops and visit around over 20 iconic landmarks in only an hour. Due to the walking street nearby, there will be 2 alternative weekday and weekend departure points and routes. The bus will typically stop at these following attractions, allowing travelers to explore and experience the city in their leisure:

- Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square – Hoàn Kiếm Lake (Mon - Fri)
- Hanoi Opera House – (Sat - Sun)
- Le Thai To’s Statue
- St. Joseph’s Cathedral
- The Flag Tower of Hanoi
- Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
- Quan Thanh Temple
- Tran Quoc Pagoda
- Cua Bac Church
- The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
- One Pillar Pagoda
- The Temple of Literature
- Hoa Lo Prison Relic
- Museum of Vietnamese Women
- Hanoi Opera House
- Hanoi Post Office

Bus Night Tour Hanoi

The bus has accessible seating for the young, old, and physically disabled. An itinerary map, multi-languages audio guides & headsets are available for tourists to learn more of the attractions. If interested, one can choose whether or not to get off the ride and explore the site on their own. The bus is also equipped with free wifi, air conditioning and a guide staff for a more comfortable ride. 

Tickets are available for purchase at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, 7 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, or at a kiosk on 51 Ly Thai To Street.
 

Finding your way around Hanoi's crowded streets might be difficult on your own, especially when there's a lot of different Vietnamese culinary options to try. Here at Inbound Vietnam, visitors need only follow our insider's guide to some of Hanoi's finest food stands and eateries. 

For our Hanoi night tour, you can choose your hotel's departure time along with the foods you wish to avoid. A foodie as your guide guarantees you can experience all of the delicacies that make Hanoi a top culinary destination. And while filling up on the best street food the capital has to offer, you can take in the locals' and the city's nightlife.

Hanoi Food Tour At Night with Inbound Vietnam

The Old Quarter, with its small lanes and antique brick homes, is the heart of our night food tour. The area is a maze of narrow streets that were once a hub for merchants and artisans. Many take their names from the commodities that were traded there, like Hang Go (Wood Product), Hang Ga (Chicken), Hang Chao (Porridge), to name a few. 

There is an active effort from the area to accommodate Hanoi's dynamic atmosphere, while still holding on to its unique and nostalgic way of life. There are no skyscrapers or upscale shops; instead, the streets are a bit smaller so expect occasional traffic. At the end of our Hanoi night tour, you are free to explore the area on your own. So take your time, and enjoy the modest but no less vibrant and bustling nightlife.
 

The historical site Hoa Lo Prison, also known among locals as "Hell on Earth", is a more thrilling destination to visit. This Hanoi night tour will expose visitors to the cruelty of the French colonial prison during their warfare with Vietnam. Though construction barely finished in 1899, tens of thousands of Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers and activists had been imprisoned since. Under inhumane conditions and tortures, not many had made it out alive. 

Hoa Lo Prison which brings you closer to the experiences of its prisoners than ever before. 

Travel back in time for 80 minutes as visitors witness the colonial prison's brutality and the honorable sacrifice of national heroes during the Indochina wars. There is also a unique spiritual area built after the war for locals to honor their predecessors. Although Hoa Lo is open for daytime tours, the night visits offer a truly unique experience. Light and sound effects are used to stimulate an eerie night atmosphere in the relic area, promising to evoke the audience’s emotions and senses.

The Hoa Lo Prison night tours open from 7 PM every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1 Hoa Lo Street. Due to high demand, travelers should reserve tickets 3-4 days in advance to avoid missing out on this unique experience.
 

This one-of-a-kind Hanoi night tour brings visitors back to the golden age of Vietnamese literature. The 90-minute visit takes place in the Vietnam Literature Museum, a 3,000-square-meter space displaying over 3,454 artifacts from generations of renowned Vietnamese authors and cultural figures.

The tour begins with a visit to the gardens of 20 influential figures in Vietnamese literature. Then, visitors can carry the Tam (Soul) and Tai (Talent) symbols written on a traditional lantern to move to the Temple of Vietnamese Literature, also known as the ancient and medieval Vietnamese literary venue. The tour guide will show the preserved ancient bibliographies, the two "Declarations of Independence" from past dynasties, and discuss the use of Vietnamese's Nom and Chinese characters in literature. The temple also features a section dedicated to the great poet Nguyen Du and his 'Kieu story', as well as a poetry reading activity.

Hà Nội's first ever literature tour launched

The literary tour will then lead visitors to the Critical Realism Literature space on the second floor of the museum. There will be a short theater scene from the story 'Chi Pheo' and an area dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh and his poetry. Tourists can also learn about Vietnam's most prominent writers and their best-known works, such as children's novelist To Hoai's 'Diary of a Cricket', or poet-playwright Luu Quang Vu and poet Xuan Quynh.

Visitors can choose to finish the tour with a number of activities, from crossword puzzles, calligraphy, to tea ceremony. This Hanoi night tour is designed not only for those who are interested in Vietnamese literature, but also for people of all ages to deepen their understanding of literature.

The Vietnam Literature Museum is located at 275 Au Co Street, Tay Ho District. The tour opens every Saturday and Sunday, and entry price for adults is currently 150,000 VND (6.3 USD). 
 

Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa, an islet on Truc Bach Lake in the Ba Dinh District, is Hanoi's latest nighttime food and pedestrian zone. The zone encompasses two streets, Ngu Xa and Nguyen Khac Hieu, traversing the center of the 4.5ha Dao Ngoc islet.

Dao Ngoc Ngu Xa night food street in Hanoi

The area was already well-known among locals for its existing restaurants and the Pho spring roll dish. Travelers can expect new eateries, beverage shops and market activities from the Ngu Xa community. There will also be cultural events on the weekend, so get ready for a new culinary and cultural destination in the district.

Dao Ngoc - Ngu Xa will be open on Friday (6 - 10 PM), Saturday and Sunday (7 AM - 10 PM). Similar to the walking street at Hoan Kiem lake, the zone will be closed to vehicles to serve pedestrians only.