Your free walking tour of Vietnam's 1,000-year capital. Tell us a story, theme, or vibe and your audio tour is ready in 30 seconds. Works offline, 9 voiced languages, 30 free minutes on signup.
Old Quarter + Hoan Kiem day 1, Ho Chi Minh + Temple of Literature day 2, West Lake + food day 3.
36 streets, each historically dedicated to one trade (Silk, Silver, Tin, Paper). Cross with care.
'The lake of the restored sword'. Turtle Tower, red Huc Bridge, weekend pedestrian zone.
Mausoleum (free, closed Mon/Fri), Stilt House, One Pillar Pagoda, Ba Dinh Square. Strict dress.
1070. Vietnam's first university. Five courtyards, stele of doctors, the cult of Confucius.
Cafe-lined railway. Officially closed to tourists; cafe owners still allow access. 19:00 train.
17 km circumference. Tran Quoc Pagoda (oldest in Hanoi), expat cafes, sunset on the causeway.
Hanoi Opera House, Sofitel Metropole, the colonial-era boulevards, Tho Xuan church.
Pho (Pho Gia Truyen), bun cha (Bun Cha Huong Lien, where Obama ate), banh mi, egg coffee.
2-day/1-night $130-300. Pick Lan Ha Bay over Halong proper - same karst, fewer crowds.
Type a theme, an angle, a question - we'll build the walk in 30 seconds.
Local knowledge
The stuff you only learn after you've walked it.
01
Hanoi has more scooters than people. Crossing requires moving slowly, predictably, and never stopping or running. Step off the curb at a steady pace and the scooters flow around you like water around a stone. Don't lock eyes with drivers; just move. Locals will sometimes physically guide you across the first time.
02
Cà phê trứng - whipped egg yolk + condensed milk + coffee, served warm. Hanoi invented it in the 1940s when milk was scarce. Cafe Giang on Nguyen Huu Huan (the original family). Cafe Dinh on Le Thai To (above the lake). Both serve in tiny upstairs balconies. Trust us.
03
The Old Quarter has 36 streets of trade-named alleys (Silver, Silk, Tin, Sugar, etc.) and the centre of the action. Stay one block off the busiest streets to sleep. Boutique hotels in restored shophouses €€-€€€: Hanoi Marvellous, Apricot, La Sinfonia del Rey. The Metropole in the French Quarter is the colonial splurge.
04
Officially closed to tourists since 2019 (renewed 2024). The cafes still serve, the trains still pass, but you need to know one of the cafe owners to be allowed onto the street. Most hotel concierges arrange visits. Or walk the public-access section near the Long Bien bridge. Trains pass roughly 06:00, 09:00, 11:30, 15:00, 19:00, 19:50.
05
The day-trip from Hanoi (4 hr drive each way, 4 hr on water) is an exhausting marathon. The 2-day/1-night cruise gives you sunset on the karsts, dinner on board, sunrise tai chi, and a kayaking morning. $130-300/person depending on cruise standard. Lan Ha Bay is the quieter, cleaner alternative to Halong proper.
06
Bia hoi - fresh, lightly fermented beer brewed daily, served at street-corner stools for 6,000-15,000 VND/glass ($0.25-0.60). Bia Hoi Corner (Ta Hien × Luong Ngoc Quyen) is the tourist version. Quan Bia Minh on Hang Buom and the corner of Ngo Bao Khanh are the locals' choice.
How it works
Three things, in 30 seconds.
01
Any quarter, theme, or vibe. "Old Quarter", "Train Street", "Halong Bay". iWander writes you the walk in 30 seconds.
02
King Ly Thai To founding the capital in 1010, the Chinese centuries, the French Protectorate, Ho Chi Minh and 1954, the Doi Moi reforms. Stories whispered as you cross the lakes.
03
Whose temple is this? What's this dish? Where does this trade street go? Point your camera, ask out loud, or type. Your guide answers in seconds.
Works offline · 9 voiced languages · 30 free minutes on signup
Questions
Practical info
Also walking in
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Updated 19 May 2026 by the iWander local team · Curated for accuracy