Hanoi City Tour No.03 route called "Thang Long Scenic Spots" has recently been launched, bringing new exciting travel experiences to travelers at home and abroad.

Hanoi City Tour No.03 promises to bring wonderful experiences to travelers. Photo: Hanoi Passenger Transport Company JSC.

With 20 seats, the minibus can easily navigate the narrow streets of  Hanoi's Old Quarter   and small roads along the shore of the iconic West Lake. It is also equipped with audio guide equipment to introduce the destinations in various languages, including Vietnamese, English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and others. In addition, English-speaking staff can meet all the guests' requests and provide them with additional information about the sightseeing.

Joining this newly launched bus tour, visitors will have a chance to get around Hanoi in just one day, traveling through 13 famous landmarks of Hanoi, including Dong Xuan Market, Long Bien Station, Tran Quoc Pagoda, West Lake Seaplane Terminal, Vong Thi Temple, Tao Sach Pagoda, Kim Lien Pagoda, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, Hoa Lo Prison and Hanoi Opera House, among others.

According to Duong Minh Thang, deputy director of Hanoi Passenger Transport JSC, a flexible schedule and a reasonable fare are the features that make the tour "worth trying". Passengers can also get off at their favorite destinations and then hop on the next bus to continue exploring the capital.

The chic look of the newly launched tourist bus in Hanoi. Photo: Hanoi Passenger Transport Company JSC.

In fact, two types of public service vehicles are used on the route. However, the larger 20-seater buses make it very difficult to access landscapes located on narrow streets.

"This minibus can help tourists explore some lesser-known destinations in the city. Its chic and colorful exterior conveys a friendlier and more intimate feeling to travelers, helping them enhance their travel experience in Hanoi," he said.

As one of the first passengers of the minibus service, Huong Nguyen from Cau Giay District said she was very excited to have the chance to go around Hanoi in such a funky open-top bus. She visited some new tourist destinations offered by Hanoi's City Tour No.03, such as the West Lake Seaplane Terminal, Vong Thi Temple, and Tao Sach Pagoda in Tay Ho District.

"The narrow streets of the Old Quarter amaze visitors with their bustling atmosphere, while the ancient temples and pagodas are serene and relaxing," she said.

The design of the open-top bus allows passengers to enjoy the scenery outside. Photo: Hanoi Passenger Transport Company JSC.

The new bus route takes visitors to a lesser-known site: the old seaplane terminal on the West Lake.

Back in the early 20th century, the French brought seaplanes to Vietnam for the first time. At that time, the vast water surface of the West Lake was an ideal location for seaplane construction. A hangar was built at the present Chu Van An High School stadium, while a small terminal was built on the shore of the lake.

Hanoi Old Quarter at night. Photo: Yen Ngo

The Thang Long Scenic Spots Bus operates daily from 9 am to 6.30 pm. Each trip takes 30 minutes. On weekdays, the bus picks up passengers at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square on Dinh Tien Hoang Street to travel through old streets, including Hang Dao, Hang Ngang, Hang Duong, Dong Xuan, Hang Giay and Thanh Nien, among others.

On weekends, the schedule of the bus changed a bit, leaving from Hanoi Opera House to pass through some streets in the Old Quarter, including Ly Thai To, Ngo Quyen, Hang Voi, Hang Tre, Hang Muoi, Tran Nhat Duat, Yen Phu, Thanh Nien and others.

Travelers can choose from different types of tickets, starting from a normal ticket at VND100,000 (US$4.2) per trip; a four-hour ticket at VND150,000 ($6.2) each; an all-day ticket at VND250,000 ($10.4) each. Children under the age of six are free. Online tickets are available at http://hncitytour.vn.

Kim Lien Pagoda on the shore of West Lake. Photo: Kim Phuong

The old building of the former seaplane terminal at the West Lake. Photo: Hieu Minh/Tien Phong News