A Day in Hanoi

Enjoy the drive to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi and the views of the beautiful scenery of the Red River Delta and its farming activities. Stop for photos at Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the oldest pagodas in Vietnam and a cultural symbol of Vietnamese Buddhism. Start your walking tour at the important Ba Dinh Square, dominated by the impressive marble and granite Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum. Pass the former French Governor's residence and the tranquil lotus ponds at the entrance to Ho Chi Minh's Cottage. You’ll find the rebuilt One Pillar Pagoda, its origins shrouded in legend. Drive to the Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucianism. Enjoy walking through the tranquil five walled courtyards and see the pavilion where "men of letters" once recited their poetry. Local delicacies are served for lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the "Hanoi Hilton". You’ll see where John McCain and Douglas B. Peterson, ex-Ambassador to Vietnam, were imprisoned. Drive to Hoan Kiem Lake, where you can see the Ngoc Son Pagoda perched on a tiny island in the middle of the lake and learn about the legend from which its nickname originated. Your walk also takes you to the ancient quarter, or 36 Street District. The streets here are named after the tradesmen that worked in them such as Tin Street, Paper Street and Silk Street.