School trips to Hanoi

Why visit Hanoi?

The historic capital of Vietnam

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and is in the Red River Delta in the north of the country.

Hanoi dates back at least as far as the 3rd century B.C. and has had many names throughout its history. Ruled by China for several hundred years, it was occupied by the French in 1873 and later became the capital of French Indochina. The periods of French and Chinese occupation are evident in the city’s architecture, although in the Old Quarter you can see most of the original street layout and some of the architecture of old Hanoi.

With all this incredible history to explore, your school trip to Hanoi will certainly be a educational experience that your students will never forget.

Discover Vietnamese culture

On your school trip to Hanoi, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to soak up the Vietnamese culture.

We can arrange for you to visit the Fine Arts Museum, where you can learn more about the development of Vietnamese art and its place within the wider culture. Or head to one of Hanoi’s many handicraft villages in the countryside surrounding Hanoi, to learn more about Vietnamese folk art, ceramics, furniture making and silk making.

Back in Hanoi itself, the Temple of Literature is well worth a visit. Dedicated to Confucius, in the 12th century it became the home of the country’s very first university, founded to educate the sons of mandarins. Stelae bear the names and birthplaces of those who passed the royal exams here.

And make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to experience a water puppet show. This uniquely Vietnamese version of the ancient Asian puppetry tradition developed in the country’s paddy fields – when the fields flooded, villagers would perform puppet shows in them to entertain each other. Often the shows are rural in theme and reference traditional Vietnamese folklore.

Explore Ha Long Bay

Hanoi is the perfect base for a geography school trip to Vietnam – as well as exploring the city itself, from Hanoi you can visit the limestone karsts and caves of Ha Long Bay, and the paddy fields that have driven Vietnam to become the world’s second-largest rice exporter.

One of the best ways to see Ha Long Bay is by boat. Your students will be awestruck by the impressive limestone karsts, of which there are more than a thousand! Some of the islands in the bay are home to impressive caves and grottoes, which you can also explore.

You can also head to Van Long eco-tourism site to explore the wetland ecosystem of the Red River Delta. Famed for its tranquil waters, the biodiversity here is incredible and the landscape like something out of a painting. You can take a boat around the lagoon to explore the limestone mountains, caves and wildlife.