🗺 Where we’ll meet: Hanoi St. Joseph’s Cathedral · Hanoi 
| 🍄 Available: every day
👟 Walking | ⌚ 3 Hour Tour | 💬 English
Coffee, History, and Architecture of the French Quarter Tour
Join our Hanoi French Quarter Walking Experience to discover one of the most beautiful parts of Hanoi. The historical area is the southern part of Hanoi and full of history and culture that sets it apart from the rest of the city. The aim of my walk is to make you discover specific areas of Hanoi in the light of aspects of our city’s rich history that are rarely touched upon by guidebooks, with in-depth information (history buffs welcome) but in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. A conversation, rather than a lecture!
After an explanation of Vietnamese general history in a French villa coffee shop with a cup of authentic Vietnamese COFFEE, we give a brief overview of French influences in Hanoi as well as the famous Vietnam War, featuring St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Trang Tien ice-cream, Hanoi Opera house, Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi Post office, Trang Tien Street, Hanoi Metropole Hotel, the very first university in French Indochina so many more!
You will learn so much about how Vietnamese society changed under French rule and explore the bad and the good of this period. Make sure you ask your guide plenty of questions for the host!
Stroll through the past and present of this fascinating city viewed through the French Quarter. This area will tell you about Hanoi history more clearly than any other historic site. The history combines with awesome architectural features for an unforgettable experience.
See 15+ Top Sights in the Hanoi French Quarter Including: a coffee shop, an ice-cream, St. Joseph’s Cathedral of Hanoi, Hanoi Metropole Hotel, Hanoi Opera House and many more!
Food
An Ice-cream
Drinks
a cup of Vietnamese coffee/tea in a secret French villa.
Meeting point
Hanoi St. Joseph’s Cathedral · 6 Au Trieu Street · see on map
Trusted by customers
EXCELLENT reviews on TripAdvisor and Airbnb Experience
We are proud of our achievements in providing our customers with a great walking experience! We have gone above and beyond, with 80+ positive reviews on TripAdvisor and 200+ five-star ratings on Airbnb. We have worked hard to make sure our customers are comfortable and have enough knowledge, with well-maintained paths and knowledgeable guides. We are thrilled that our customers have recognized our dedication to excellence, and we will continue to strive for the best walking experiences!
Locals guide
Hosted by Young Vietnamese locals
Our hosts are passionate, young Vietnamese locals, providing an authentic and unique experience. We are eager to share our stories with the world, so that you will leave with a greater understanding of the vibrant country and its people.
Easier
Small group
The maximum group size is 8 people, typically ranging from 4-6 participants. Smaller groups make it easier to uncover local secrets, ask the host questions, and engage in meaningful conversations about history and politics, which is not achievable with larger tour groups.
More than 20+ locations
We will visit more than 20+ locations
From the renowned sites such as St. Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi and Hoan Kiem Lake to the lesser-known spots like the first French-built university in Vietnam, all your questions will be answered. By the end of the tour, you’ll gain invaluable insight from your local host.
Overview
Coffee, ice cream, and history
We start the tour at the very old French villa to learn about the overview of Vietnam history while having an authentic Vietnamese coffee. We gain an overview of the country’s past and how it has shaped the present. From the French colonial period to the Vietnam War, we are given an insight into the past and how it has influenced the present. We learn in detail about the various wars, the political and economic landscape, and the cultural and religious aspects of the country. Take a break and explore the culture and history of Vietnam – a perfect balance between relaxation, discovery, and learning.
215 reviews for Coffee, History, and Architecture of the French Quarter Tour
Note: for review to be approved, please refer to Terms and conditions
Customer images
verified account
Excellent tour with Mina! I went on another history tour with a different experience and Mina’s was definitely better! She gave an excellent tour filled with historical facts, a good amount of walking but also built in breaks, and really helped me get a feel of the city and it’s history. She brought us to this amazing coffee shop and I went back 3 different times while I was in Hanoi 😅 Absolutely recommend booking this tour with Mina!
verified account
Oh, I couldn't recommend more! I went for the French Quarter tour. Tony is very knowledgeable, friendly and what's great his English is perfect. Sometimes it's hard to communicate with people because of the different accents, but that's not the case. And in the end, Tony give me a list of recommendations on where to eat. I really enjoyed the tour and felt very comfortable emotionally. Tony, thank you a lot.
verified account
One of the best experiences in Hanoi! Mina was an amazing tour guide!! Can only recommend her! Great detail in showing the complex history of Hanoi
verified account
Mina was passionate, enthusiastic and funny when it came to going through the history of Hanoi's French Quarter. Insightful with a lot of history and conversations over food. Enjoyed the egg coffee and local ice cream parlour that is popular with the locals. Would recommend this tour to anyone looking to get more information on Hanoi.
verified account
I was lucky enough to have Vu as my personal guide to French Quarter. Learned a lot of the history of Vietnam and saw the French impact on Vietnamese culture and language.
verified account
Mina is the best guide I’ve ever met! She knows everything in Hanoi, she is so nice and fun, she brings lots of knowledge and laugh for us. If you want to know about French history of Hanoi, you must join 👍🏻
verified account
Our tour was with Thuy and she was a passionate and enthusiastic guide. It was great to interact with a young student from Hanoi and learn from her about her hometown. It was one of our first days in Vietnam so as part of the tour she taught us some basic Vietnamese. Thank you Thuy!
verified account
Mina was a wonderful host. We actually ended up taking her tour bc we had such a bad food tour (separately) the day before that we just had to make up for it! What Mina brought to the table for me was storytelling and the plug into the local culture i was looking for! It was comprehensive not just of the old quarter but also neighboring areas (including stopping by the exterior of the Metropole Hotel & Opera House). I particularly liked the local ice cream shop she took us to :)
verified account
An absolute pleasure. The guide was not Cong but Thuy. She was outstanding, very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend this to anyone interested in visiting the french side of Hanoi and having a good time.
View 18 images from customers
verified account
Mina is a precocious girl and we enjoyed the tour with her very much. She was very patient with the many questions we asked her and despite going over the allotted time, she showed us all the spots mentioned in the tour. Her English is really good too! Would recommend!
Kyung Soon verified account
My family really enjoyed the trip. It is indeed a must-go for beginners to Hanoi or Vietnam. We especially appreciates how the guide explained history and culture centering on French influence to the country as well as long history of Vietnam. Cảm ơn.~
Quangtn Administrator
Dear Kyung Soon,
Thank you for joining us and leaving a generous review for Mina. We greatly appreciate your kind words and hope to see you again soon.
Best regards,
Cong, Huyen, Quang, and Mina.
Amani verified account
It was a beautiful morning for a tour. I can recommend it.
Julia verified account
One of the best experiences in Hanoi! Mina was an amazing tour guide!! Can only recommend her! Great detail in showing the complex history of Hanoi
Quangtn Administrator
Hi Julia, We appreciate you for joining us and providing such an awesome review of Mina. Your kind words are highly valued and we look forward to catching up with you soon. Best regards, Cong, Huyen, Quang, & Mina.
Anastasiia verified account
Oh, I couldn’t recommend more! I went for the French Quarter tour. Tony is very knowledgeable, friendly and what’s great his English is perfect. Sometimes it’s hard to communicate with people because of the different accents, but that’s not the case. And in the end, Tony give me a list of recommendations on where to eat. I really enjoyed the tour and felt very comfortable emotionally. Tony, thank you a lot.
Quangtn Administrator
Hi Anastasiia, We are delighted that you were able to come and share a wonderful review for Tony. It was great to hear that you enjoyed the coffee and stories with her. Your kind words meant a lot to us, and we are grateful for your feedback. We hope to see you again soon and wish you all the best. Warm regards, Cong, Huyen, Quang, and Mina
Allison verified account
Excellent tour with Mina! I went on another history tour with a different experience and Mina’s was definitely better! She gave an excellent tour filled with historical facts, a good amount of walking but also built in breaks, and really helped me get a feel of the city and it’s history. She brought us to this amazing coffee shop and I went back 3 different times while I was in Hanoi 😅 Absolutely recommend booking this tour with Mina!
Quangtn Administrator
Hello Allison, We are thrilled that you took the time to share such a lovely review about your experience with Mina. Your kind words truly mean a lot to us, and we appreciate your valuable feedback. We look forward to seeing you again soon and wish you all the best. Warmest regards, Cong, Huyen, Quang, and Mina