The colonial capital city Hanoi is a unique Asian city with tree-lined boulevards, French colonial architecture, peaceful lakes and traditional pagodas and temples that date back hundreds of years.

This morning city tour will have you drive to Ho Chi Minh's complex, including the mausoleum of the nation's founder and leader. Here, large crowds gather to pay their respects to the man they simply call “Uncle Ho” as they silently file past his glass sarcophagus. The Presidential Palace and Uncle Ho's wooden stilt house can also be seen here. One of the must-see places in the complex is the One Pillar pagoda that dates back to the 11th century.

The next stop is the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's oldest university and dedicated to one of the world's most famous scholars, Confucius. Inside the temple grounds, huge steles rest on the backs of even larger stone turtles (in Vietnam's culture, the turtle represents longevity). The stele recorded the names of the successful candidates who later became mandarins in the Emperor's court. From here, you will have a walking tour of Hanoi 's vibrant Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake, the focal point of the city. This is not only a beautiful spot but is also the historical site of the legend of Le King and the golden turtle in the lake.

Our guide will tell you about the legend of the lake and how it became one of the must see places in Hanoi for both domestic and international tourists.