An excursion to the traditional handicraft villages on the suburban of Hanoi, immersing into the daily life of local citizens and the rural countryside
8:00 AM: Leave from your hotel to Tho Ha ancient village. Located in the middle of the Cau River and used to host a pottery village, nowadays, it has changed to produce rice paper with more than 400 families involved. Crossing the Cau River by a local ferry. We first visit the local market at harbor then take a short walk to a 500 year-old pagoda and a communal house where they worship the founder of the village.
Continue to experience their daily life through the narrow and zigzag alleys with old houses that had been constructed from broken pieces of terracotta. Have an interesting stop at Mr. Viet’s house, as we learn and practice the making of rice paper in a traditional way as instructed by his wife. Have a cup of tea or even a cup of homemade rice wine during our interesting talk about the village. A short show of Quan Ho music will be performed by Mr. Viet – the leader of the Quan Ho group, a traditional folk music which has just been recognized as a World Heritage.
Hosted lunch by his family will surely be one of the best experiences in your trip to Vietnam.
On the way back to Hanoi visit Dong Ky village which is famous for traditional wood carving. The furniture is formed, carved, polished and decorated in high quality and artistic sophistication by the “golden hands” of craftsmen.
Come back to hotel. End of the day