The walking tour will give an overview of the changes to Ha Noi that began during the French period (1869-1954). The tour will touch on the development of the education system, town planning and architecture, including important political and diplomatic buildings, as well as other eclectic information regarding the past and present of Ha Noi.

Starting at Chu Van An School, established by the French as the High School of the Protectorate, and now one of the oldest institutions for secondary education in Indochina, the tour will head to the iconic Ba Dinh Square and discuss the key government buildings in the area.

These include the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Communist Party – formerly the Lycee Albert Sarraut High School – and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Strolling along Chua Mot Cot Street and the surrounding avenues, participants will pass former villas now home to various embassies.

The leisurely walk will take tourists to Dien Bien Phu and Hoang Dieu streets, before ending the tour at Cua Bac (North Gate) and Cua Bac Church on Phan Dinh Phung street. For those who would like to stay on for lunch after, the group will walk to the nearby Ngu Xa Islet for some pho cuon (pho burrito).

The English-speaking tour will start at 9.30am and last for about 2.5 hours. It allows a maximum of 12 people to attend and each of them will donate 70,000 VND. Those who want to join the tour can register at stellaciorra@hotmail.com.