Hanoi French Quarter: Coffee and Stories

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Our Hanoi French Quarter Walking Tour will take you to discover one of the most beautiful parts of the city. The historical area is located in the southern part of Hanoi and is full of culture and history that sets it apart from the rest of the city.

We will start with an explanation of Vietnamese general history in a French villa coffee shop, accompanied by a cup of authentic Vietnamese Coffee. We will then give a brief overview of French influences in Hanoi, as well as the famous Vietnam War. Our tour will feature St. Joseph's Cathedral, Hanoi Opera House, Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi Post Office, Trang Tien Street, Hanoi Metropole Hotel, and the very first university in French Indochina, among many other places.

You will learn about how Vietnamese society changed under French rule and explore the good and bad of this period. We will provide in-depth information (history buffs welcome!) but in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. Think of it as a conversation, rather than a lecture!

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Coffee and/or Tea

We will have an amazing ice cream!

Gratuities

What To Expect

St. Joseph's Cathedral

Address: 40 Nha Chung street, Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi St Joseph Cathedral Hanoi is considered to be one of the symbols of Hanoi. It’s a late 19th-century Gothic Revival (Neo-Gothic style) church that serves as the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hanoi to nearly 4 million Catholics in the country. The architecture of St Joseph Cathedral Hanoi is designed in the style of medieval Gothic Europe. The church and colonization are inseparable and the church has played an outsize role in Vietnam’s modern history. It is not only a regular place of worship activities of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, but St Joseph cathedral Hanoi is also a popular tourist destination in Hanoi, attracting a large number of tourists inside and outside to visit.

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

There is nothing better to learn about the history by trying the iconic "Ca phe sua da"- Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk in a hidden French villa. There are so many interesting stories to tell you.

20 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Hanoi French Quarter: Coffee and Stories

Reviews

4.91

162 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

152

Great way to introduce yourself to Hanoi
Stella048,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Really interesting and well paced tour. Learnt lots and benefited from Mina’s obvious passion for her country and its history.
Fun and informative tour
477uc,
Nov 1, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour with Mina. Really enjoyed. Informative and fun. Some quirky facts thrown in too. Mina has a lovely manner and paced the tour just right. Would highly recommend.
A walking tour of the French Quarter
Megan M,
Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00
Less than 24 hours beforehand my tour was changed to the 9:00 am and I was told there was no one to take me at 2:00. I made it work with my schedule. *This was a walking tour* around the French Quarter. For the most part, Mina was a good guide. However, I was a bit offended when she at one point asked if I knew the sacred animals of Buddhism other than the Dragon. I said the Phoenix and she said no - even though it *is* one of the four. She said she wanted to know the "next" one, which was the Unicorn. I didn't know there was a specific order to them and I felt like I'd been made to look foolish in front of the group. She never pointed out that I'd actually named one properly. I felt disheartened after being proud of myself for spending time in the country and learning about their culture, only to feel like it wasn't appreciated. After that I didn't try to interact with her questions any further. Otherwise the tour was good and Mina provided helpful information.
French Quarter Tour
Astrid K,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour with Mina. She is very friendly and has a wide knowledge of Hanoi, its history and its architecture. This tour is a must if you are interested in the history of this fascinating city.
FUN & INFORMATIVE
N5990AFmatthewl,
Oct 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Mina’s tour was both fun and informative. She is high energy and incredibly knowledgeable. A really comprehensive overview of Hanoi’s French quarter with a dollop of Vietnamese coffee, culture & history. Highly recommend
Fantastic opportunity to learn about Hanoi's colonial history
F6731LNbrandonc,
Sep 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Mina was a fantastic tour guide. Highly knowledgeable while also making the experience fun. She is detailed oriented and provided an excellent experience.
Fantastic walking tour with a lovely coffee break
Amir B,
Aug 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Had a great tour with Pinky, she was very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and took care to make sure the tour tailoir the tour as much as possible according to my interests. If you’d like to learn more about the history and stories behind the Hanoi French Quarter, as well as visit a truly unique coffee along the way - than this is the tour for you.
Great tour of the French Quarters!
Adventurer289761,
Jul 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Thank you Mina for a wonderful tour of the French Quarters, sharing us striking buildings in back alleys and providing history and context to what we saw in Hanoi!
Excellent Private Tour of the French Quarter
ToughRalph,
Jul 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
On our first morning in Hanoi (and in Vietnam), we enjoyed a terrific morning tour of the French Quarter with Mina. Our morning started in a quaint and historic café with delicious Vietnamese coffee (we chose egg coffee and a banana coffee). Over coffee, Mina began to share the history and culture of Hanoi and Vietnam. (Over the tour, we also enjoyed Vietnamese ice cream and a brief temple tea with Mina.) Our conversation and tour with Mina covered a great deal of ground, and she was terrific. We visited St. Joseph Cathedral, Hoan Kiem Lake, a community temple, and many streets and icons of the French Quarter. We discussed Vietnamese history – from the dynasties to difficult periods with French and American wars. Give a listen to Joan Baez “Where Are You Now, My Son?” for good context to one important stop. We would highly recommend this tour, Mina, and the One Trip with Local team for Hanoi tours!
So personable and interesting.
Emma P,
Jun 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Loved this tour!!! So personable and interesting. We got to see the French quarters through a locals eyes and taste the best coffee and ice cream in the city.