Hanoi West Lake Heritage Tour: Quán Thánh Temple, Trấn Quốc Pagoda, Tây Hồ Temple & Flower Villages
City Tour
Walking Tour
Cultural tour
Standard
Departure point
→
Destination
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hanoi
1N (Participation Duration)
Car,Walking (Transportation)
English (Language)
Number of participants 0/10
0 booked
Tour description
Most visitors know Hanoi through the Old Quarter and Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Just a short distance to the north, West Lake is where Hanoians go to pray for peace, take walks, and enjoy the fresh air—a 500-hectare lake surrounded by ancient temples and pagodas, historic flower villages, and today, cafés and numerous embassies.
This tour takes you on a complete route around the lake. We begin at Quán Thánh Temple, one of the sacred Four Guardian Temples of Thăng Long, home to a 4-ton bronze statue of Huyền Thiên Trấn Vũ. We then cross Thanh Niên Road—the road separating West Lake from Trúc Bạch Lake—to reach Trấn Quốc Pagoda, a more than 1,400-year-old pagoda that was moved to this island in the 17th century. The vehicle will take you along the lakeside to Tây Hồ Temple, dedicated to the Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh and also a center of Mother Goddess worship in Hanoi, where the guide will introduce the offerings and the traditional practice of hầu đồng.
The final part of the morning takes place on the northern shore: visiting Nhật Tân peach gardens and families making Quảng An lotus tea—a traditional craft now recognized by the city—before concluding the journey with the famous crispy West Lake shrimp cakes made with shrimp and sweet potatoes.
This tour takes you on a complete route around the lake. We begin at Quán Thánh Temple, one of the sacred Four Guardian Temples of Thăng Long, home to a 4-ton bronze statue of Huyền Thiên Trấn Vũ. We then cross Thanh Niên Road—the road separating West Lake from Trúc Bạch Lake—to reach Trấn Quốc Pagoda, a more than 1,400-year-old pagoda that was moved to this island in the 17th century. The vehicle will take you along the lakeside to Tây Hồ Temple, dedicated to the Mother Goddess Liễu Hạnh and also a center of Mother Goddess worship in Hanoi, where the guide will introduce the offerings and the traditional practice of hầu đồng.
The final part of the morning takes place on the northern shore: visiting Nhật Tân peach gardens and families making Quảng An lotus tea—a traditional craft now recognized by the city—before concluding the journey with the famous crispy West Lake shrimp cakes made with shrimp and sweet potatoes.
Meeting point:
View on map
Quan Thanh Temple (Den Quan Thanh), corner of Thanh Nien and Quan Thanh streets, Hanoi
Meet at the temple gate on Thanh Nien Street. Pick-up from Old Quarter hotels is available on request.
Detailed itinerary
Stop 1 - Quan Thanh Temple (08:00): An 11th-century Taoist temple featuring the imposing bronze statue of Tran Vu, the deity who guarded the northern side of the former imperial citadel. Entrance ticket included.
Stop 2 - Thanh Nien Road: Stroll along the road separating West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, while listening to stories about the lotus ponds and fishing villages that once existed here.
Stop 3 - Tran Quoc Pagoda (around 08:50): Hanoi's oldest pagoda, with a 15-story stupa and a bodhi tree propagated from the bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya.
Stop 4 - Tay Ho Palace (around 10:00): A lakeside temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess, and the city's busiest place of religious worship on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month.
Stop 5 - Quang An and Nhat Tan (around 10:45): Traditional flower villages and lotus tea-making villages on the northern shore of the lake. Experiences vary by season - peach blossoms bloom from mid-December through Tet, lotus tea is scented in June and July, and nursery-garden care takes place during the rest of the year.
Stop 6 - West Lake Shrimp Cakes (around 11:45): Enjoy West Lake shrimp cakes by the water - crispy shrimp and sweet potato fritters served with herbs and dipping sauce - along with iced tea.
End (12:30): Drop-off in the Old Quarter area.
Stop 2 - Thanh Nien Road: Stroll along the road separating West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, while listening to stories about the lotus ponds and fishing villages that once existed here.
Stop 3 - Tran Quoc Pagoda (around 08:50): Hanoi's oldest pagoda, with a 15-story stupa and a bodhi tree propagated from the bodhi tree at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya.
Stop 4 - Tay Ho Palace (around 10:00): A lakeside temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess, and the city's busiest place of religious worship on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month.
Stop 5 - Quang An and Nhat Tan (around 10:45): Traditional flower villages and lotus tea-making villages on the northern shore of the lake. Experiences vary by season - peach blossoms bloom from mid-December through Tet, lotus tea is scented in June and July, and nursery-garden care takes place during the rest of the year.
Stop 6 - West Lake Shrimp Cakes (around 11:45): Enjoy West Lake shrimp cakes by the water - crispy shrimp and sweet potato fritters served with herbs and dipping sauce - along with iced tea.
End (12:30): Drop-off in the Old Quarter area.
Tour price includes
• English-speaking local guide
• Air-conditioned vehicle for the lakeside route
• Entrance ticket to Quán Thánh Temple
• West Lake shrimp cakes with one beverage
• Bottled drinking water
• Taxes and service fees
• Air-conditioned vehicle for the lakeside route
• Entrance ticket to Quán Thánh Temple
• West Lake shrimp cakes with one beverage
• Bottled drinking water
• Taxes and service fees
Tour price excludes
• Offerings or donations at temples and pagodas (at your discretion)
• Additional food and drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance
• Additional food and drinks
• Tips
• Travel insurance
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. In the event of a storm warning or an official closure notice due to bad weather, we will reschedule the itinerary or provide a 100% refund.
Other notes
Dress modestly when visiting all three temples and pagodas, covering your shoulders and knees; remove your shoes when entering the worship halls.
Peach blossoms bloom on the trees only from around mid-December until Tết, and the lotus tea-making season takes place only from late May to July. Outside these periods, the stop at Nhật Tân / Quảng An will be a short walk through the gardens and a chance to talk with the gardeners; we will clearly inform you about the seasonal conditions when you book the tour.
Tây Hồ Temple is very crowded on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month and during Tết; the guide may shorten the visit.
A vegetarian alternative to the shrimp cakes is available upon request.
Peach blossoms bloom on the trees only from around mid-December until Tết, and the lotus tea-making season takes place only from late May to July. Outside these periods, the stop at Nhật Tân / Quảng An will be a short walk through the gardens and a chance to talk with the gardeners; we will clearly inform you about the seasonal conditions when you book the tour.
Tây Hồ Temple is very crowded on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month and during Tết; the guide may shorten the visit.
A vegetarian alternative to the shrimp cakes is available upon request.
Detailed price list
| Guest type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | $45 |
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