Travellers Corner

Currencies: AUDCADCHFEURGBPJPYNZDSGDUSD

Village Discovery

General Info | Photo Gallery | Traveller Feedback
Highlights:

• Wander through a pottery making village.
• Explore a traditional Vietnamese "community house"
• Saviour lunch in a local restaurant
• Visit Van Phuc silk village, a well-known village for top quality silk product.
• Venture through North Vietnamese countryside

 

Tour style:Local Life & Culture, Heritage & History
Inclusion:

English speaking guide, Entrance fees as indicated, Transport as indicated, Meals: 1 lunch.

Exclusion:

Items of a personal nature, Tips or gratuities for drivers or guide.

Group size:Maximum 12
Schedule details:

• Duration: 8-9 hours
• Pickup location:

  Pick up centrally located hotels in Hanoi.

• Pickup Time: 8.30 AM-9.00 AM
• Drop off location:

  Drop off centrally located hotels in Hanoi.

Additional information :

• Voucher exchange details:

  Please present your voucher to the local guide at the beginning of the tour.

• Confirmation of booking:

  It is very important to please email Hanoi Urban Adventures on info@hanoiurbanadventures.com to confirm your pick up hotel at least 24 hours prior to departure. This confirmation helps to avoid delays in our departure.

• Dress standard:

  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.

• Child policy:

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

• Language: English

Itinerary:

Our Hanoi tourbegins with a 1 hour drive from the hectic capital of Hanoi to Bat Trang ceramic village.  Here our local guide will take us through the production process in the village, we have a chance to visit the workshops and have a look at the kilns used for firing the ceramic pottery.

 

Continuing we visit the community house of Dinh Bang (approximately 45 minutes). 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 on your Hanoi travels.

 

Not far from the communal house lives a family who make lacquer ware. Our local guide will assist us in learning more about the process and translate for those of us who may have questions for the family, a special experience you won't find on other Hanoi sightseeing tours.

 

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.  Other achievements during this enlightened period included the construction of the Temple of Literature and first University in Vietnam. The temple was built in 1030 by Emperor Ly Thai Tong to worship his father Emperor Ly Thai To who died in 1028. Over the centuries the temple has been upgraded and restored on a number of occasions. Unfortunately the temple was damaged in 1952 during the French war and was restored in 1989 to the original architecture from the 17^th century.

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. On March 15^th each year there is a festival honouring the 8 emperors of the Ly dynasty -  Ly Thai To (1009-1028), Ly Thai Tong (1028-1054), Ly Thanh Tong (1054-1072), Ly Nhan Tong (1072-1128), Ly Than Tong (1128-1138), Ly Anh Tong (1138-1175), Ly Cao Tong (1175-1210) and Ly Hue Tong (1210-1224).

 

We head back to Hanoi for lunch at a local restaurant.

 

Following lunch, we head to 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.

 

We return to Hanoi by private vehicle as we finish our Hanoi tour experience.

 

Photo Gallery:

Traveller Feedback:

Ms. Jane H.
Australia ~ 24 Mar 2013[back to top]

This trip offered a terrific insight into village life now and in the past and a great sense of how Vietnam's economy has evolved from village craft to enterprise. Our guide was very knowledgable and shared a great desk if interesting information about how people live in this country. He was relaxed and friendly and we thoroughly enjoyed our day.

 

Mrs. Sarah M.
Australia ~ 11 Jan 2013[back to top]

Guide was great - name of Son and driver very competant negotiating the traffic. Enjoyed the day.

 

Ms. Katie B.
Australia ~ 15 Apr 2012[back to top]

Lisa was an excellent host and we would reccomend her to any body wanting to do an urban adventure trip with intrepid. The village tour was a great introduction to Hanoi and a good way to start the rest of our trip. Lunch at the market was great. would be good to incorporate the silk village into the tour.

 

Your trip:

This tour is offered on a "join-in" basis. Maximum group size is 12.

Tipping:

If you are happy with the services provided by your local guides and drivers a tip - though not compulsory - is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid Urban Adventures destinations. Please consider this when budgeting for your extra expenses on this tour.