The 11 Best Private Tours in Hanoi

1.PRIVATE TOUR HALONG BAY ONE DAY with Cave, Kayaking, Bamboo Boat

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,007 reviews · from $160Our pick

Leave Hanoi by private air-conditioned car or van for a day on Ha Long Bay. Cruise past limestone islands, stop at Fighting Cocks Island and the Incense Burner, explore Thien Cung Cave, and kayak or take a fisherman-rowed bamboo boat through peaceful lagoons. The cruise can be private or shared, depending on your choice. Guides have included Hai, Gam, Robert, Lyn, and Jacky.

“My husband and I had a fantastic time on this private boat and I would definitely recommend the experience. I felt it was a great value for the money to have an entire 48-person boat (plus staff!) for just me and my husband for 4 hours. We alRead more”

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2.Best Seller-Private Full-Day Tour to Ninh Binh Depart from Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 510 reviews · from $115

Travel from Hanoi to Ninh Binh with a private English-speaking guide and driver. Visit Hoa Lu, take a sampan ride through Tam Coc or Trang An, cycle through the countryside, and climb 500 steps at Mua Cave. The tour includes transport, entry fees, lunch, and water, with time and route adjustable to your group.

“We had a fantastic tour. Our tour guide Eden was the best. His English was excellent and he was very informative. He was always eager to ensure that we had a wonderful day. Our driver was always very polite and always open the car door for us and made sure we had lots of water”

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3.Private Guided Tour of Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 347 reviews

Meet a local student guide for a private, flexible tour of Hanoi’s key sights. The route can include the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, an old Vietnamese house, and Hoan Kiem Lake. Guides such as Linh, Son, and Louisa have led past tours. Old Quarter hotel pickup and drop-off are included; transport and most site admission fees are not.

“Son was outstanding. He took us to little known places for an authentic experience. He speaks very good Englush. Highly recommend that you ask for him by name.”

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4.Hanoi City Half-Day Private Tour: Train Street And All Highlights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 298 reviews · from $44Best value

This 4 to 5-hour private Hanoi tour pairs an English- or Vietnamese-speaking guide with air-conditioned transfers between major sights, from Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum to Train Street. You’ll also visit the Temple of Literature, Dong Xuan Market and Long Bien Bridge. Guides have included Lan, Andy and Long, though your guide may differ.

“The train experience is a must. We did the local food as well. The opera house we couldn’t go in as it was under renovation. The mausoleum was ok make sure you know that there is only 2 hours per day to see the body (if you want to see the body) and it wasn’t at the time of our tour. Ann was a great tour guide”

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5.Hanoi City Half Day Private Tour: Hidden Corners & Train Street

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 291 reviews · from $52

A private guide and driver take your group around Hanoi’s major sights and lesser-known corners, from the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Temple of Literature to Dong Xuan Market and Train Street. Choose a morning or afternoon start. The mausoleum is a morning-only stop, and your Train Street visit includes tea or egg coffee.

“Enjoyed the tour with Ken. He listened to our requests and crafted a great tour. His dry wit kept us smiling despite typhoon rain conditions.”

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6.Day tours from Hanoi city (PRIVATE TOUR)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 224 reviews · from $109

Leave Hanoi by private car or bus for a countryside day in Ninh Binh. Depending on the option you choose, visit Hoa Lu, Tam Coc, Thai Vi Temple, Mua Cave, Bai Dinh Pagoda, or Trang An, with a local guide, Vietnamese lunch, and some time on a bicycle. Guides have included Nam, Thang, Hien, and Kolia.

“Lovely tour with Mr Kolia who was the best tour guide! Even though it rained, Kolia was prepared and managed to show us all the beautiful sights and take incredible photos of us along the way.”

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7.Unique Halong Private Day Cruise – Fishing Village, Kayak

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 193 reviews · from $345

Spend about 12 hours on a private cruise from Hanoi, with a luxury limousine transfer, English-speaking guide, lunch, and time around Cua Van Floating Village, Tien Ong Cave, and Bai Tu Long Bay. You can kayak or take a bamboo boat. Guide Steven has been praised for explaining local natural and mythological history, though your guide may differ.

“The kayaking was fantastic! Starting early helped beat crowds, the views were fantastic, and was a calm, quiet serene experience. Our tour guide Steven was great, shared a lot of great information about the country, area, both natural and mythological history. The caves were very cool too!”

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8.Highlights & Hidden Gems With Locals: Best of Hanoi Private Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 190 reviews · from $68

Walk Hanoi’s Old Quarter with a private local guide and visit Dong Xuan Market, Bach Ma Temple, Ngoc Son Temple, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and Hoa Lo Prison. The route can be tailored to your interests, and includes a local drink or tasting plus the prison ticket. Guides such as Anne, Lien, Hoa, Jenny, and Jade have led this tour.

“This was a great way to get insights into both some historical places and the daily lives of people in Hanoi. My guide was friendly and knowledgeable and took me places I wouldn’t have found on my own. Definitely would recommend this tour, especially if you don’t have a lot of time in the city.”

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9.Best Private Day Trip Hanoi to Ninh Binh: Multiple Options

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 166 reviews · from $147

Leave Hanoi by private car with an English-speaking guide for a full day in Ninh Binh, about 90 km south. Depending on the itinerary you choose, the day can include Mua Cave, a sampan ride in Tam Coc, cycling through villages and rice fields, and lunch with a local family. Guides named Son, Po, and Hanh have led this trip, though your assigned guide may differ.

“Excellent tour to see many beautiful sights in the Hanoi region. Out tour guide was very knowledgeable and full of info about history and the sights visited. Our driver safely navigated the terrain to get us there safely. The lunch was o. Redo me and the entire trip was simply first rate”

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10.Ninh Binh Private Tour to Mua Cave Trang An Grottoes From Hanoi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 137 reviews · from $160

Leave Hanoi by air-conditioned vehicle for Mua Cave’s 500-step climb, a Tam Coc cycling visit to a local farmer’s home, lunch, and a two-hour sampan ride in Trang An. The tour includes hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, transport, bikes, tickets, and lunch. Hoa and driver Hieu led one praised outing, though your guide may differ.

“Fantastic tour, very intensive with the climb to the top of the lying dragon. Beautiful view. Cycling was fun, visit to farm adds little. Boat trip was very nice, but long if you don't row yourself, so we did that fanatically (2 hours). Which also resulRead moreAuto-translated”

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11.Incense Village Private Tour from Hanoi to Ninh Binh Old Capital

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 102 reviews · from $157

Leave Hanoi’s Old Quarter by private air-conditioned vehicle for Quang Phu Cau’s colorful incense-drying yards, then continue to Ninh Binh for lunch, a Tam Coc river boat ride, and Hoa Lu’s ancient temples. An English-speaking guide, water, entrance tickets, and Old Quarter pickup are included. Guides have included Augustine, Tam, Lee, Nien, and Hoa Mai, also known as Bruce Lee.

“Wonderful day trip. Tam was so knowledgeable and kind. He really made the adventure come to life with so much insight and attention.”

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