| Option | Duration | Indicative price | For whom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street cyclo, negotiated | 45 min to 1 h | 100,000 VND an hour (60,000 to 200,000 by source) | independent travellers, everything to negotiate |
| Guided tour cyclo + egg coffee + bun cha | 2.5 to 3.5 h | from about $22 | first visit, fixed price |
| Evening cyclo with water puppet show | evening | not recorded (4.4/5 from 39 reviews at one reseller) | couples, families |
| Private panoramic cyclo | 1 to 2 h | usual tip 100,000 VND per person per hour on top | photographers |
Prices seen in October 2026 at resellers and in guides; they vary.
The scam to know
A reported trap: an agreed 100,000 VND becomes 1,000,000 VND at the end, in a quiet street with no witnesses. Counters: fix the total price, duration and route in writing; specify "per person" or "for two"; refuse any extra for stops; pay only at the end; prefer a cyclo with a posted fare or a booked tour.
Which option to choose
- First visit, little time: a guided tour that includes egg coffee and a meal.
- An evening in Hanoi: an evening cyclo with the water puppet theatre.
- Tight budget: one hour in the street after fixing the price, around Hoan Kiem Lake.
See also scams in Hanoi and the Old Quarter.
