Tour guide you recommend

[Olddaddy]

I will be going to Hanoi 🇻🇳in March 

I must ask for a personal recommendation for a tour guide you may have used .🦮

I'm not interested in their sexualiity ,gender or even their age .

I'm only interested that they can speak sufficient English and have a good knowledge of Hanoi .

Please don't hesitate to PM ( personal messages) me if you wish to keep it confidential 

[garygx]

may I ask why you pick Hanoi over Ho Chi Minh? I am making that decision now.

[Olddaddy]

Yes Gary 

I believe Hanoi is more "old type" of Vietnam plus I want to see the War relics 

[garygx]

Got it, thanks 

[macaroni21]

On 1/12/2026 at 1:39 AM, Olddaddy said:

Yes Gary 

I believe Hanoi is more "old type" of Vietnam plus I want to see the War relics 

I don't know what you're hoping to see by way of "old type" Vietnam, but most of Hanoi is undergoing a major construction boom with skyscrapers shooting up with no regard for their neighbours.

If you mean the Old Quarter of Hanoi then be prepared to have your toes run over by motorbikes. It's congested, over-touristed, noisy and stressful to walk through.

In the Old Quarter, the pavements ("sidewalks" to people from Trumpland) are either non-existent or narrow. In any case, motorcyclists treat pavements as parking lots for their vehicles, forcing pedestrians onto the streets, where other motorbikes zoom past with only centimetres to spare, or they make a sudden turn and cross right in front of your feet.

Read this: https://shamelessmacktwo.travel.blog/2025/03/03/hanoi-miscellany-november-2024/

 

[captainmick]

I’ve visited Hanoi on several occasions spanning over 35 years.  The Old Quarter has always been crowded and touristy with the pavements used as bike parks.  In the 1990’s the method of propulsion was pedal power and the city was full of bicycles and the charming sound of the riders ringing their necessary bells.  That gave way to petrol powered scooters and the pollution and noise was appalling.  Now e-power is taking over with battery operated scooters which look almost identical to their petrol predecessors but are pollution free and deadly quiet.  It’s still a delightful city to visit and I marvel at the level of development with skyscrapers appearing from nowhere like daffodils in spring

[macaroni21]

34 minutes ago, captainmick said:

but are pollution free and deadly quiet

The quiet contributes to the deadly.

 

35 minutes ago, captainmick said:

with skyscrapers appearing from nowhere like daffodils in spring

That's a turn of phrase. I would not have thought of that analogy. 🤣