Village Discovery

Highlights / General details

Trade in the frenetic pace of hectic Hanoi for the slow and steady vibe of rural Vietnam. Visit a village known for it's supreme silk making skills, see ceramic making in action, and learn about life outside of Hanoi. Escape the chaos of Hanoi for a glimpse at life in the surrounding villages. Explore a traditional Vietnamese "community house". Visit a pottery making village and see how ceramics are made. Savor lunch at a local restaurant. Visit Van Phuc silk village, a well-known village for top quality silk product.

Inclusion

Local English speaking guide; Entrance fees as indicated; Transport as indicated; Lunch.

Exclusion

Items of a personal nature; Tips or gratuities for drivers or guides.

Hours of operation

Available: Daily; Start time at 8:30am - 9:00am.

Duration

Approximately 8-9 hours.

Location Pickup location: Pick up at centrally located hotels in Hanoi. Drop off location: Drop off at centrally located hotels in Hanoi.

Itinerary About an hour's drive outside of crazy Hanoi is Bat Trang ceramic village, where we'll be taken through the production process in the village, and have a chance to visit the workshops and see at the kilns used for firing the ceramic pottery. Continuing along our Hanoi village tour, we'll visit the community house of Dinh Bang. Traditionally all villages in Vietnam had a "community house" in the centre of the village; it was where all decisions regarding the village were made, it connected everyone to the village, and was the core of Vietnamese culture. With few "communal houses" remaining in Vietnam today, the Dinh Bang communal house provides us with an interesting insight into Vietnam's past, and something you must see during your time in Vietnam. Our next stop is the Do Temple to experience some local Hanoi history. Do Temple or Den Do Temple honours the 8 Ly emperors of the Ly Dynasty. During their reign, Vietnam experienced an era of prosperity and independence. The first emperor of the dynasty Ly Cong Uan founded Hanoi in 1010. In the middle of a lake situated at the front of the temple there is a two story, eight roofed house which floats on water and is used as a stage for water puppet shows. Every year on March 15th there is a festival honouring the 8 emperors of the Ly dynasty. We'll head back into Hanoi for lunch at a local restaurant before venturing back out into the surrounding area to continue our Hanoi village tour. Next up is Van Phuc silk village. For centuries, silk has been considered an extreme luxury, and the silk-making industry has a history in Vietnam stretching back more than two thousand years. Silk has long been a universal symbol of luxury, often worn by the richest, most powerful citizens in Vietnam. Van Phuc is known to make the best silk in Vietnam, as well as being the oldest silk-maker in Vietnam. Despite many ups and downs, during the recent years the village’s craft has enjoyed revival due to a surging demand for silk in both the domestic and foreign markets. During our visit to the village, our local guide will walk us through to meet the people and learn about their craft and lifestyles. Van Phuc is the last stop on our Hanoi village tour, so after our visit here, we'll head back to Hanoi to end the tour.

Participant restrictions

Children must be between 6 years and 11 years of age inclusive.

Additional Information Dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.

Itinerary

About an hour's drive outside of crazy Hanoi is Bat Trang ceramic village, where we'll be taken through the production process in the village, and have a chance to visit the workshops and see at the kilns used for firing the ceramic pottery. Continuing along our Hanoi village tour, we'll visit the community house of Dinh Bang. Traditionally all villages in Vietnam had a "community house" in the centre of the village; it was where all decisions regarding the village were made, it connected everyone to the village, and was the core of Vietnamese culture. With few "communal houses" remaining in Vietnam today, the Dinh Bang communal house provides us with an interesting insight into Vietnam's past, and something you must see during your time in Vietnam. Our next stop is the Do Temple to experience some local Hanoi history. Do Temple or Den Do Temple honours the 8 Ly emperors of the Ly Dynasty. During their reign, Vietnam experienced an era of prosperity and independence. The first emperor of the dynasty Ly Cong Uan founded Hanoi in 1010. In the middle of a lake situated at the front of the temple there is a two story, eight roofed house which floats on water and is used as a stage for water puppet shows. Every year on March 15th there is a festival honouring the 8 emperors of the Ly dynasty. We'll head back into Hanoi for lunch at a local restaurant before venturing back out into the surrounding area to continue our Hanoi village tour. Next up is Van Phuc silk village. For centuries, silk has been considered an extreme luxury, and the silk-making industry has a history in Vietnam stretching back more than two thousand years. Silk has long been a universal symbol of luxury, often worn by the richest, most powerful citizens in Vietnam. Van Phuc is known to make the best silk in Vietnam, as well as being the oldest silk-maker in Vietnam. Despite many ups and downs, during the recent years the village’s craft has enjoyed revival due to a surging demand for silk in both the domestic and foreign markets. During our visit to the village, our local guide will walk us through to meet the people and learn about their craft and lifestyles. Van Phuc is the last stop on our Hanoi village tour, so after our visit here, we'll head back to Hanoi to end the tour.

Participant restrictions Children must be between 6 years and 11 years of age inclusive.

Location

Pickup location: Pick up at centrally located hotels in Hanoi. Drop off location: Drop off at centrally located hotels in Hanoi.

Itinerary About an hour's drive outside of crazy Hanoi is Bat Trang ceramic village, where we'll be taken through the production process in the village, and have a chance to visit the workshops and see at the kilns used for firing the ceramic pottery. Continuing along our Hanoi village tour, we'll visit the community house of Dinh Bang. Traditionally all villages in Vietnam had a "community house" in the centre of the village; it was where all decisions regarding the village were made, it connected everyone to the village, and was the core of Vietnamese culture. With few "communal houses" remaining in Vietnam today, the Dinh Bang communal house provides us with an interesting insight into Vietnam's past, and something you must see during your time in Vietnam. Our next stop is the Do Temple to experience some local Hanoi history. Do Temple or Den Do Temple honours the 8 Ly emperors of the Ly Dynasty. During their reign, Vietnam experienced an era of prosperity and independence. The first emperor of the dynasty Ly Cong Uan founded Hanoi in 1010. In the middle of a lake situated at the front of the temple there is a two story, eight roofed house which floats on water and is used as a stage for water puppet shows. Every year on March 15th there is a festival honouring the 8 emperors of the Ly dynasty. We'll head back into Hanoi for lunch at a local restaurant before venturing back out into the surrounding area to continue our Hanoi village tour. Next up is Van Phuc silk village. For centuries, silk has been considered an extreme luxury, and the silk-making industry has a history in Vietnam stretching back more than two thousand years. Silk has long been a universal symbol of luxury, often worn by the richest, most powerful citizens in Vietnam. Van Phuc is known to make the best silk in Vietnam, as well as being the oldest silk-maker in Vietnam. Despite many ups and downs, during the recent years the village’s craft has enjoyed revival due to a surging demand for silk in both the domestic and foreign markets. During our visit to the village, our local guide will walk us through to meet the people and learn about their craft and lifestyles. Van Phuc is the last stop on our Hanoi village tour, so after our visit here, we'll head back to Hanoi to end the tour.

Participant restrictions Children must be between 6 years and 11 years of age inclusive.

Additional Information Dress standards are conservative throughout Asia, especially outside major cities. To respect this and for your own comfort, we strongly recommend modest clothing. This means clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot Asian climate.

Policies This tour is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12. If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at your hotel for pick up. Please check your hotel details are correct on the voucher. Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation