4 Day Vietnam Exploration – Art, Crafts, and Ethnic Villages

Day 1: Hanoi orientation (B, L, G)

After breakfast, your guide will arrive at your hotel and take you to the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum for an overview and historical perspective of Vietnamese art. The museum displays not only paintings, ceramics and lacquers created by modern Post-war artists but many of its contents date back as far as pre-historic time. You will also call in the nearby Craft Link Handicraft Bazaar, the leading not - for - profit organization working with handicrafts and producers in Vietnam. After, visit the Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam dating back to the 11th century.

After lunch, you’ll drive to the excellent Ethnology Museum for an overview of Vietnam’s 54 distinct ethnic groups in anticipation of your trip to Sapa. The centre of Hanoi, including Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ngoc Son temple and the bustling Old Quarter, is a magnet for visitors – it’s noisy and hectic, but definitely a ‘must-see’ attraction. You’ll cruise ride around the Colonial and Old Quarters on a cyclo to discover the city’s architectural mixture of French colonial style, social realism (mostly public buildings - designed or influenced by the USSR), pagodas and communal houses with many Chinese features, merchants’ residences, ‘tube’ dwellings, modern buildings and vernacular houses.

In the evening, you’ll have tickets for a performance of traditional Water Puppetry (an art form unique to northern Vietnam, and a good, light-hearted introduction to its rural culture).

Day 2: Hanoi traditional art & craft workshops/Overnight train to Lao Cai (B, L, G)

After breakfast, your guide will take you to Van Phuc, a small village once the creators of fine material for the robes of the Royal Court. The local families have specialised in weaving and dying silk over many centuries, and retain some of the ancient secrets that make their distinctive fabrics.

You will then have a special experience at VUN Art, where you will participate in the production process of the silk-grafting products under the guidance of Vụn Art's workers. In this 90-minutes workshop, you can be creative as much as you wish to decorate your own tote bag, purse or painting and bring it home as a souvenir.

After lunch, you will drive to Lacquer school Tay Ho, a lacquer art centre by Artist Tran Anh Tuan, MA-professor at Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Art. You will be introduced about the history of lacquer profession in Vietnam, materials and tools, process and technique to create lacquer painting. The artist will then demonstrate some of lacquer painting techniques, explain and answer any questions you may have then instruct you to do some simple techniques. It’s time to explore your creativity in a new cultural context and make your ideas become true under the artist’s guidance. After your hand-on experience, you will enjoy the gallery of Mr. Tran Anh Tuan and bring your own product home.

You will then have room at a mini hotel near Hanoi Train Station to freshen up and rest while waiting for your train to Lao Cai. At 09.20pm, you guide will take you to Hanoi railway station to board the overnight sleeper SP3 at 10.00pm to Lao Cai. You will spend the night on board.

Nestled among the ancient temples and tranquil ponds of Van Phuc Village, Vun Art is a social enterprise founded in 2017 by Mr. Le Viet Cuong, a person with a mobility disability. Vun Art was born with the desire to preserve and introduce traditional culture, create jobs for people with disabilities and utilize excess materials in the production process to protect the environment.

Day 3: Lao Cai/Ethnic market/Sapa (B, L, G)

You’ll arrive at Lao Cai Train Station at 06.00am in the early morning. Your guide will welcome you and take you to visit a market frequented by ethnic minority peoples. After a picnic lunch, you’ll return to Lao Cai and continue your journey into the mountains to Sapa, a small town perched on the mountainside opposite Mt. Fan Si Pan, Vietnam’s highest peak. You’ll be free to relax and spend the night in a lodge with good mountain views.

Although it’s quite a long drive, the landscape is attractive and the ethnic markets are a fascinating experience. Unlike those in the tourist areas, the markets that we choose are for not only for buying and selling, but are also meeting places for ethnic minority people to meet and exchange news. There will be plenty of colour and authentic costumes, but very little to buy as souvenirs unless you want to barter for a water buffalo or a sack of fertiliser!

The trips to ethnic minority markets can be arranged on Monday (Ban Phiet or Phong Hai Market), Tuesday (Coc Ly or Ban Cam Market), Wednesday (Cao Son or Sin Cheng Market), Thursday (Lung Khau Nhin or Binh Lu Market), Friday (Chau or Phong Hai Market), Saturday (Can Cau, Pha Long or Tam Duong Market) or Sunday (Bac Ha, Muong Hum or Muong Khuong Market).

Day 4: Transfer to Hanoi (B)

Today, enjoy breakfast before a private transfer back to Hanoi.

Key

B = Breakfast

L = Lunch

D = Dinner

G = Guide

GP = Guide pick-up

DP = Driver pick-up