From war wrecks to warm coffee - uncover Hanoi's past with those who lived it.
Let's explore hidden war sites and hear untold stories from real Hanoi veterans and locals
Built by the French in 1890s, to imprison Vietnamese revolutionaries, this place was meant to crush the spirit of independence. But it became a school of resistance.

Small Group_Hanoi’s Untold History Tour with locals and veterans

Tours by Duration
Digital Voucher
270 minutes (Approx.)
See Availability
en
This isn’t your typical city tour - it’s a walk through Hanoi’s memories. The walk begins quietly—inside walls that once held revolutionaries, and later, captured airmen. From there, you’ll trace subtle shifts in time and tone: a lakeside temple older than the city itself, a modest stone relief near the water’s edge. Later, beside the wreckage of a fallen aircraft, stories emerge—not from books, but from those who lived them. Nothing is staged, yet everything carries meaning. Though rooted in history, this experience isn’t only for history lovers. It’s for anyone curious about Hanoi’s layered soul—for those who wish to go beyond the surface, to feel the resilience and nuance behind the noise. This is not a lecture. It’s an experience with the city, through its people, its places, and its memories. We end not with a conclusion, but a cup—Hanoi’s iconic egg coffee—served in a quiet corner where past and present gently meet. Real stories. Real people. Real Hanoi. Real Vietnam.

Search Availability

Things To Know

  • Inclusive: Hoa Lo Prison, B52 Victory Museum, Tran Quoc Pagoda
  • Bottled water
  • Professional English Speaking Guide
  • 1 cup of Egg coffee (or 1 item of other equivalent drink) is included
  • Locals and Veterans
  • Pick up and drop off included. Cars/Van along the way
  • Tipping is optional
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What's included in the package

Itinerary

Hoa Lo Prison

1st stop: Let's Go to Jail, where revolution was born. Built by the French in 1890s, to imprison Vietnamese revolutionaries, this place was meant to crush the spirit of independence. But it became a school of resistance.

Admission Ticket Included

Chua Tran Quoc

Tran Quoc - the oldest Buddhist pagoda in Hanoi, nearly 1500 years. During the war, while bombs fell around Hanoi, this pagoda stood still. It was a place where people came to pray, light incense, and quietly hope they'd survive another night.

John Sidney McCain Memorial

John McCain memorial - when enemies became peacemakers. In 1967, US Navy pilot John McCain was shot down. His plane crashed into Truc Bach Lake - and he parachuted right into the water behind you.

B52 Victory Museum

What's better way to visit a museum with a veteran who served in Hanoi's air defense during 1972 bombings.

Admission Ticket Included

Huu Tiep Lake and the Downed B-52

A B52 bomber, once feared in the skies, now lying quietly in a pond. A real wreckage, which was shot down during the Christmas bombings of 1972. You will meet one of very few survivors who lived this story - not through books, but through their bones.

Hanoi Old Quarter Vietnam

End our journey not in fear, but flavor - with Hanoi's most famous drink: egg coffee. Watch and learn how they invented and made it through hardship. As you sip, think of this: a city that survived fire and fear, now serving warmth and welcome. That's Hanoi. That's Vietnam.

Admission Ticket Included

Where to meet and pickup

Pickup and Dropoff

You can choose to be picked up from a list of locations, or alternatively, have the choice to make your own way to the meeting points

Please arrive at the pick up point 30 minutes before departure time.

Additional Information

We will pick you up at your hotel. Your guide will contact you 24 hours in advance to arrange pick up for you.

Meeting / End Points

  • Let's gather at the ticket office at the front entrance of Hoa Lo Prison

Ticket Redemption

Direct access, no redemption is required

Operated By

The Good Vibes - Cultural and Local Experiences

Payment Methods

Accept all major debit and credit cards
discoverCreated with Sketch.
jcbCreated with Sketch.
alipay_hkCreated with Sketch.
Accept crypto currencies

Search Availability

Things to know

Included
  • Inclusive: Hoa Lo Prison, B52 Victory Museum, Tran Quoc Pagoda
  • Bottled water
  • Professional English Speaking Guide
  • 1 cup of Egg coffee (or 1 item of other equivalent drink) is included
  • Locals and Veterans
  • Pick up and drop off included. Cars/Van along the way
Not Included
  • Tipping is optional
Additional Information
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Payment Methods

Accept all major debit and credit cards
discoverCreated with Sketch.
jcbCreated with Sketch.
alipay_hkCreated with Sketch.
Accept crypto currencies