Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is a city with a lot to offer. This means that you will find so many attractions and sites worth a visit. But if your time in the city is limited it is almost impossible to visit every site there is to see. Fortunately, we have a solution to this problem: Join a Hop-on-hop-off bus in Hanoi. This is a perfect way to explore and discover parts of the city that you may not have managed to see. The whole route takes about 90 minutes and covers 13 stops along the way. Below you will find everything you need to know for a day of sightseeing in Hanoi on a hop-on-hop-off bus.
Tickets & Prices
When it comes to tickets you have 2 to choose from: a 24-hour ticket or a 48-hour ticket. Below you can see the prices of each ticket.
| Type of ticket | 24-hour ticket price | 48-hour ticket price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (12+ years) | 17 USD | 24 USD |
| Child (6 – 11 years) | 13 USD | 16 USD |
Keep in mind prices might vary.
The ticket prices do not include the entrance fee for the sites. You must pay these fees by yourself at the entrance of each site. If you want to book your trip on a hop-on-hop-off bus you find more information right here.
Bus Schedule
The buses run every day from 9:15 to 16:15. It is only the stops along the route that may vary depending on whether you join the bus on a weekday or during the weekend. Below you are able to see the 2 types of routes.
Every Monday to Friday afternoon at 16:00 the bus makes the stops as follows:
Stop 1 Frog Garden / Terminal
Stop 2 Central Post Office
Stop 3 Hanoi Cathedral
Stop 4 Military History Museum
Stop 5 Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Stop 6 Quan Thanh
Stop 7 Tran Quoc Pagoda
Stop 8 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Stop 9 Temple of Literature
Stop 10 Hoa Lo Prison
Stop 11 Hanoi Cathedral
Stop 12 Vietnam Women’s Museum
Stop 13 Hanoi Opera House
Every Friday afternoon from 16:00 to Sunday the bus makes the stops as follows:
Stop 1 Frog Garden / Terminal
Stop 2 Military History Museum
Stop 3 Thang Long Imperial Citadel
Stop 4 Quan Thanh
Stop 5 Tran Quoc Pagoda
Stop 6 Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
Stop 7 Temple of Literature
Stop 8 Hoa Lo Prison
Stop 9 Hanoi Cathedral
Stop 10 Vietnam women’s museum
Stop 11 Hanoi Opera House
Audio guides
During your ride on the hop-on-hop-off bus in Hanoi, you are able to listen to audio guides. These are a perfect way to get information about the city and its sites within. The audio guides are available in the following languages: German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, English, Chinese, French, and Spanish.
Sites along the route
As mentioned earlier there are a lot of sites in Hanoi. Luckily for you, you are able to visit most of them during your trip with the hop-on-hop-off bus. It is a perfect way to explore some of the most famous attractions in Hanoi and learn about its fascinating past.
Hanoi Museum
The Museum of Hanoi displays more than 50.000 artifacts from the city’s incredible history, which is more than 1000 years old. More so, you are able to learn not only about the history, but also the culture, heritage, and architecture around Vietnam.
Hanoi Opera House
Hanoi Opera House is also known as the Grand Opera House of Hanoi. It is placed right in the center of the city. It was built by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911. This opera house is one of three that the French built during their time in Indochina.
Quan Thanh Temple
The Quán Thánh Temple is formerly known as Trấn Vũ Temple. This is a Taoist temple that dates back to the 11th century. The name of the temple means Place of the Gods, and it was dedicated to Trấn Vũ who was one of the principal gods in Taoism.
Temple of Literature
The Temple of Literature dates back to 1070. It was dedicated to Confucius and his scholars and serves as a tribute to education and literature. As well as it has housed most of Vietnam’s finest scholars. During your visit, you will find turtle steles, the Well of Heavenly, as well as an abundance of literature.
Hoa Lo Prison
The Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi was originally used by the French colonists to hold political prisoners. Later on, during the Vietnam War, it was used by North Vietnam to hold American prisoners. Back in the 1990s, the prison was demolished but the gatehouse still stands today. This serves as a museum where you can learn about the history of the prison and its role in Hanoi.
Imperial Citadel of Thang Long
The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long is one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Vietnam. This citadel was built in the 11th century, whereafter it expanded during the following centuries. In 1810 it was abandoned when the capital of Vietnam was moved to Hué. The complex is huge and a perfect place to learn about the history of Hanoi.
Best time to join a hop-on-hop-off bus in Hanoi
The best time to join a hop-on-hop-off bus in Hanoi is as early as possible. That way you will be able to get as much out of the day as possible. Another thing to be aware of is if you want to visit all 13 stops. Then you should avoid the weekends as there are fewer stops along the route of the hop-on-hop-off bus in Hanoi.