After breakfast, your full-day sightseeing begins at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, an impressive monument constructed of marble, granite and precious woods. Nearby, you’ll see the unusual One Pillar Pagoda and the Presidential Palace, an elegant ocher-hued landmark built at the beginning of the 20th century. A tour of the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, ironically nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton by American POW’s during the war, offers a thought-provoking and sobering look into history. End your morning at the home of a water puppet artist, the descendent of a long-line of performers. Gain insight into his craft, learn how these unusual puppets are made – and enjoy a private performance of this ancient art form.
After lunch, you’ll visit the Temple of Literature, founded nearly 1,000 years ago and dedicated to the famous Chinese scholar and philosopher Confucius. At Ngoc Son Temple, built in the 18th century on a tiny island in picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake, you’ll hear a colorful legend about an emperor, a magic sword and a giant turtle! End your day with a Cyclo adventure through Hanoi’s colorful Old Quarter, where ancient byways like Tin Street and Bamboo Street are named for the goods that have long been sold there. Meals B+L+D