Hotline: +84 985 237 882
- SG$ Singapore Dollar
- A$ Australian Dollar
- £ British Pound Sterling
- C$ Canadian Dollar
- € Euro
- MYR Ringgit Malaysia
- US$ United States Dollar
- đ Vietnamese Dong
Hotline/Whatsapp: +84 86 622 7878
Email: sales@asiamystika.com
About Us
Destinations
Travel Styles
Travel Guide
Blogs
News
Wondering if the Hanoi city tour bus is the right way to explore the capital? This hop on hop off bus offers an easy and comfortable introduction to Hanoi’s most famous landmarks, from the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. In this guide, you will learn how the Hanoi city tour bus works, compare daytime and night routes, check updated ticket prices, and decide whether this sightseeing option suits your travel style and schedule.
Hanoi’s streets are lively, loud, and packed with motorbikes. It is exciting to watch, but navigating it on foot or by taxi can feel exhausting. The hanoi city tour bus offers a simple alternative. From the top deck, you can enjoy the city’s landmarks without worrying about traffic, directions, or constant stop and go.
Many travelers think bus tours are too tourist focused, but in Hanoi they are surprisingly practical. Major sights like the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Mausoleum area, and West Lake are spread far apart. The hanoi city tour bus connects them all in one loop, saving both time and transport costs.
In this guide, you will learn how the hanoi city tour bus works, check the typical timetable and decide whether the daytime route or the night tour is the better fit for your schedule.
The daytime hanoi city tour bus is built for easy sightseeing. Instead of planning routes or negotiating taxis, you follow a clear system that lets you explore Hanoi step by step, only stopping where you truly want to.
How It Works
Ticket options: 4-hour, 24-hour, or 48-hour passes
Usage: Unlimited rides within the valid time
Style: Hop off to explore, hop back on when ready
This setup is ideal if you want freedom without feeling lost in the city’s traffic.
Starting Points
You can begin your ride from one of two main locations:
Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square near Hoan Kiem Lake
Hanoi Opera House in the French Quarter
Both are central, easy to reach, and well connected to hotels.
Must-See Stops on the Route
These are the most popular places to hop off:
St. Joseph’s Cathedral - a landmark in the Old Quarter
Flag Tower of Hanoi - a historic symbol of the city
Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum - the most important stop for first-time visitors
Temple of Literature - calm, cultural, and photogenic
Tran Quoc Pagoda - West Lake’s iconic pagoda and a nice break from the crowds
Timetable and Frequency
Operating hours: Around 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Bus frequency: Every 30 to 45 minutes
You never wait too long, which makes short stops practical.
Weekend Travel Tip
From Friday evening to Sunday, walking streets around Hoan Kiem Lake change traffic flow. During these times:
- The route may skip the lake area
- Departures usually shift to the Opera House
If you keep this in mind, the hop on hop off bus remains one of the most efficient and relaxed ways to see Hanoi in a single day.
The Hanoi city tour bus night tour is different from the daytime hop on hop off service. It runs as a non-stop panoramic loop, which means you stay on the bus for the entire route and simply enjoy the views without getting off.
Duration and schedule:
The night tour usually lasts about 70 to 80 minutes from start to finish. Most operators offer fixed departures in the evening, typically around 7:00 PM, 7:30 PM, and 8:00 PM. Exact times can change by season, so it is always a good idea to check the current timetable on the ticket booth or the operator’s website. To get good seats on the upper deck, try to arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.
Starting point:
Most night tours start from one of two central locations:
Hanoi Opera House in the French Quarter or Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, near Hoan Kiem Lake. Your ticket or voucher will clearly state the exact meeting point.
Route and main sights:
During the loop, the bus focuses on Hanoi’s most beautiful night scenery. You will slowly pass through the French Quarter, where key landmarks like the Hanoi Opera House, historic government buildings, and colonial villas are lit up and easy to photograph from the top deck. From there, the bus usually heads toward West Lake, giving you a chance to enjoy cooler air, reflections on the water, and the calm contrast to the busy Old Quarter.
If you want an easy, low-effort way to see Hanoi at night without walking or dealing with traffic, the night version of the Hanoi city tour bus is a very pleasant choice. It is especially good for your first evening in the city or after a long day of sightseeing when your legs need a break.
The Hanoi city tour bus offers several ticket types depending on how much time you have and how you plan to explore the city. Prices are fixed and easy to understand, making it a budget friendly sightseeing option.
This option is perfect if you simply want to see Hanoi’s highlights from above and understand the city layout.
You can stop at key landmarks like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum or the Temple of Literature, explore at your own pace, then hop back on the next bus.
This pass is ideal if you prefer spreading your visits throughout the day without feeling rushed.
When planning your sightseeing, it helps to understand how the Hanoi city tour bus compares with other popular ways to explore the city. Each option offers a very different experience, and the best choice depends on your time, budget, and travel style.
A Hanoi Jeep tour is all about excitement and immersion. Riding in an open military style Jeep, you dive into narrow backstreets, local neighborhoods, and hidden corners that big vehicles cannot reach. It feels personal, energetic, and a little chaotic in a fun way. The downside is the price. At around US $55 per person, it is a premium experience and not ideal if you are watching your budget.
The Hanoi city tour bus, on the other hand, is designed for comfort and value. Tickets cost around US $13, and you enjoy elevated views, fresh air on the upper deck, and clear audio explanations. The bus stays on main roads and focuses on major landmarks, making it perfect for first time visitors who want an easy overview without stress.
A walking tour in Hanoi is excellent for exploring the Old Quarter in depth. You move slowly, notice small details, and connect closely with street life. However, walking tours are naturally limited by distance and usually stay within a compact area.
The hop on hop off bus solves that problem by linking attractions that are too far apart to walk comfortably. It takes you from the Old Quarter to the Imperial Citadel, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum area, and West Lake without relying on taxis or ride apps. This makes it much more efficient for seeing the full spread of the city.
The best approach is not choosing one over the other, but using them together. Start with a walking food tour on your first evening to understand local flavors and street culture. Then, on the following day, use the Hanoi city tour bus to reach larger historical sites and scenic areas that sit outside the Old Quarter. This combination gives you both depth and convenience, without exhausting your legs or your wallet.
Yes, especially the 4 hour pass. For most travelers, this option offers the best balance of value and convenience. It is one of the cheapest and most comfortable ways to travel from the Old Quarter to major sights like the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and West Lake without relying on taxis or navigating traffic on your own. The 24 hour pass is useful only if you plan to spread sightseeing across two full days.
The Hanoi city tour bus follows a single loop that covers the city’s key areas. It typically starts near Hoan Kiem Lake or the Opera House, heads north toward West Lake and Tran Quoc Pagoda, continues to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Temple of Literature, then returns through the French Quarter. This layout makes it easy to understand and ideal for first time visitors.
Yes. The service runs in light and moderate rain. The lower deck is fully enclosed and air conditioned, while the upper deck usually has a retractable roof or rain protection provided by the operator. Rainy weather can actually make the ride more comfortable since the streets are cooler and less crowded.
No. The night version of the Hanoi city tour bus is a continuous sightseeing loop. It is designed as a relaxed, seated experience focused on illuminated buildings and evening city views, rather than a flexible transport option.
For very short distances, walking is the easiest and most enjoyable choice. For medium distances such as traveling between the Old Quarter, the Mausoleum area, and West Lake, the Hanoi city tour bus or a Grab taxi works best. Regular local buses are generally not recommended for visitors because routes and payment systems can be confusing without local knowledge.
The Hanoi city tour bus is far more than a simple sightseeing ride. It is a practical and comfortable way to move between the city’s major landmarks while avoiding the heat, noise, and constant traffic at street level. For first time visitors especially, the bus offers a clear overview of Hanoi’s layout and helps you connect places that would otherwise require multiple taxi rides.
For the best balance of comfort and flexibility, start your day with the 4 hour hop on hop off pass. This gives you enough time to explore key stops like the Mausoleum area, the Temple of Literature, and West Lake without feeling rushed. Later in the evening, the night tour is a perfect contrast. It is calm, breezy, and ideal for enjoying Hanoi’s illuminated streets and colonial architecture after dinner.
If you are planning a trip to Vietnam, make sure Hanoi is on your list and experience the city from the top deck of the Hanoi city tour bus. It is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to see the capital for the first time. Go to Hanoi, take the city tour bus, and let the rhythm of the city unfold right in front of you.
Asia Mystika Travel is a Vietnamese local travel agency dedicated to bringing first-hand experience of lovely scenery, and distinctive indigenous cultures to every customer. With professional local tour guides and prestiged airline partners (4 domestic airlines and over 300+ international airlines), we offer unique local experience at an extremely reasonable price. All tours are 100% customizable, no shopping and no extra fee.
Contact us for a personalized travel itinerary according to your preferences:
WhatsApp: (+84) 866.22.7878
Planning trip: Click here
Email: sales@asiamystika.com
Website: www.asiamystika.com
