No fees, no running according to commercial schedules, Hanoi Free Private Tour Guide Club's trips are becoming a bridge for young people to tell stories about Hanoi from their own perspective.
Established in 2013, Hanoi Free Private Tour Guide gathers more than 5000 volunteers, mainly students from universities in Hanoi. Members connect with international tourists through an online platform, then directly guide them to visit prominent landmarks such as Hoan Kiem Lake, the Grand Cathedral, Hoa Lo Prison, the Old Quarter or eateries and cafes with strong local imprints.
For many young people, this is not only a volunteer activity but also a "practical class" on foreign languages, communication and culture.
Nguyen Thi Kieu Trang, a student majoring in English Language at the University of Foreign Languages (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) said that participating in the club helps female students improve their English speaking skills and accumulate experience if they pursue a career as a tour guide in the future.
Participating in tour guides like this helps me learn how to handle situations. Sometimes when taking guests to a location, that place is closed, I have to find other options so that guests still have a good experience. At the same time, I also have the opportunity to introduce Hanoi culture, Vietnamese history and even typical dishes to tourists," Trang shared.
Not every trip is smooth sailing. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, a member of the club since 2025 and who has led more than 70 tours, said that the biggest initial challenge was... getting lost in the Old Quarter.
The roads in the old town are very chaotic, in the early days I had to constantly look at the maps. But after many tours, I got used to the streets and also learned more about cafes and cultural spaces to introduce to customers outside of relic sites," Thuy said.
According to Thuy, the most valuable thing that the club brings is confidence. From being afraid to communicate in English with strangers, the female tour guide gradually became more confident when chatting with foreigners, giving presentations in class and learning more about the culture of many countries through short but experienced meetings.
In the opposite direction, many tourists also appreciate the way young people introduce Hanoi. Ms. Jasmine, a tourist from the US, said that accompanying young volunteers helps them better understand the modern life of the city, from cuisine, music to the rhythm of life and how Hanoians live.
Hanoi exceeded our expectations in a very positive way. The city is vast, dynamic and has more to explore than what we have ever seen online. Our tour guides are very knowledgeable about what they introduce and also very friendly," the female tourist shared.
Not promoting with grand campaigns, Hanoi Free Private Tour Guide is spreading the image of Hanoi with sincere conversations, guiding steps and the enthusiasm of young people. In each trip, volunteers not only take tourists to explore the city, but also contribute to making Hanoi remembered as an open, close and unique destination.
