Hanoi City Break

Day 1: Arrive Hanoi

On arrival in Hanoi, you meet and transfer to your hotel by your local guide.
Overnight Hanoi.
(Meals: none)

Day 2: Hanoi

Today, you will have a combining a morning tour of Ba Dinh Square and an afternoon visiting the city highlights.
Visit Ba Dinh Square, where silent sentries guard the marble and granite mausoleum where Ho Chi Minh lies in state. (Subject to opening times the interior of the mausoleum can be visited). See the simple cottage where Uncle Ho lived and worked. Nearby, visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, an extraordinary tribute in abstract form to the life of the 'father of the country' and the evolution of Vietnamese independence. French architecture is a feature of Hanoi, and the nearby former Governor's Residence is a fine example. See also the One Pillar Pagoda, and hear the legend of its construction, born from the love of an emperor in the 11th Century.
Lunch at local restaurant
This afternoon enjoy an orientation of the tree-lined streets of Hanoi, resplendent with French colonial architecture, including the recently restored Opera House. Pass by Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as Lake of the Restored Sword from the legend that surrounds it en-route to one of the city's fascinating museums (Army, History or Fine Arts, depending on your preference). Continue to the Temple of Literature, built in 1070 and then dedicated to Confucius, it is a serene retreat from the busy streets outside, and later became Vietnam's first university.
Then take to the streets on foot for a walking tour of the Ancient Quarter or 36 Streets District. This densely populated corner of the city was once a centre of commerce where goods were sold under the street name of a particular guild. Still a thriving community of sellers today, you will see street names such as Sugar Street, Tin Street and Paper Street. Ancient homes and temples are interspersed with stores in this souvenir hunter's paradise!
Overnight Hanoi.
(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3: Thay and Tay Phuong Pagoda

Rich in Buddhism, the north of Vietnam is home to the country's most colourful and revered pagodas and temples. Located 40 kilometres southwest of Hanoi lies the Thay Pagoda (Master's pagoda). Whilst a temple is a place worship the dead, a pagoda is a place to worship the Lord Buddha. Thay Pagoda is widely known for its finely carved statues in lacquer and gold of Buddha in his past and present form and for its colourful Buddhist ceremonies performed here during auspicious dates of the Lunar calendar. Water puppetry is also occasionally performed in the courtyard of the pagoda but this is generally limited to festivals and holiday periods.
Only 6 kilometres further away lies Tay Phuong Pagoda situated at the top of a small hillock. Built in 1794 the pagoda is famous for its vast display of finely carved wooden statues of former monks from the 18th Century.
Return to Hanoi and rest of the day is your free time. Lunch on your own today.
Overnight Hanoi.
(Breakfast)

Day 4: Depart Hanoi

At leisure until you are transferred to your onward flight.
(Breakfast)