Begin your day in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter with a morning heritage walk along Phan Dinh Phung Street, where you'll admire the elegant French villas and the historic Northern Gate of the Old Citadel. Visit the World Heritage-listed site of Hanoi's Ancient Citadel, the War Invalids Monument, and the nearby General Giap House. As you pass the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, housed in a colonial-era building with distinctive drum-like architecture, you'll also see the National Assembly House and Ho Chi Minh Museum.
Continue your journey to the imposing French colonial building, once the High School of Indochina, now the Communist Party's central office. From quieter spots, you'll have unique views of the Presidential Palace and Ba Dinh Square. Turning right, visit Quan Thanh Temple, dedicated to Tran Vu Saint, one of the four guardians of Hanoi's Citadel, with the temple overlooking West Lake and its surrounding greenery. Enjoy the fresh air and serene atmosphere along Thanh Nien Street, which separates two lakes, and end your walk at Tran Quoc Pagoda, Hanoi’s oldest pagoda.