11 Days Vietnamese Art Heritage

Day 1

Arrive at Noi Bai International airport by flight ... (Please kindly advise us the arrival flight). Pick up at airport and transfer to your hotel in Hanoi for check in (Check-in time is at 14:00 hrs; early check-in is at surcharge).

The rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included:

None  

Day 2

Breakfast at hotel

Starting the tour today at The Old Quarter or 36 streets of 36 wares. You can meet and talk with a number of dedicated artisans who always strive to keep and enhance their age-old craft performance. Visit a water puppet craftsman’s home and learn about traditional water puppetry and listen to his stories of traveling around the world to promote this unique Vietnamese folklore performing art. The next stop is the home of an artisan who specializes in the ancient folk art of ‘Hang Trong’ paintings which originated in the 17th century. The craftsman will explain the method of creating folk paintings as well as the meaning of every paintings.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 3

Breakfast at hotel

The driver and guide pick you up at 8:30 AM at your hotel to start the tour today. Transfer through the peaceful countryside to Dong Ho Village, where you can find the woodblock folk painting method. The craftsmen have used ‘dzo’ tree bark paper for 300 years. This great tradition has been kept and enhanced by the entire village’s dedication. Pay a visit to a craftsman to learn about every meaningful aspect of this art form.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hanoi.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 4

Breakfast at hotel

Then transfer to the airport for the flight to Hue. Upon arrival, you meet the guide and driver, move to your hotel for check-in and take a rest.

In the afternoon, visit a ‘Phap Lam’ workshop and learn about the sophisticated art form used to decorate royal tombs under Nguyen Dynasty in 19^th century. ‘Phap Lam’ is an architectural material, the core is made of copper, the outside is coated with many layers of colorful enamel; The ability to withstand external forces, temperature, the harmful effects of rain, sun and time is very high.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 5

Breakfast at hotel

Move to the outskirts of Hue City and visit craft villages where devoted craftspeople persistently create renowned folk art. Discover the 400-year-old craft of folk painting with natural materials like red dirt, seashells, and the ashes of bamboo leaves from an artisan. After that, enjoy a scenic bicycle ride to Thanh Tien Village where you can discover the 300-year-old art of creating paper flowers, which are mostly used as offerings in religious ceremonies and to adorn altars for ancestor worship. Try making a paper lotus flower on your own with the help of an artist.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hue.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 6

Breakfast at hotel

Check-out and transfer to Hoi An. Drive through the Hai Van Pass where you can enjoy one of the most beautiful coastline routes in the world. We start our walking tour to explore the ancient city of Hoi An highlights with Phuc Kien Communal House, Tan Ky Ancient Commercial House, Japanese covered Bridge, and Phung Hung Ancient Trading House.

Strolling around the Ancient Town, you can see the beautiful silk lanterns hung along the street and storefronts which make Hoi An more unique. Then, visit a craftsman and his family and learn how to make your own lantern.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hoi An.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 7

Breakfast at hotel

Starting the day tour to Thanh Ha Village which is well-known for its pottery products. The products are especially unique because they are made from terracotta clay taken from the nearby riverbeds. Visit a family in Thanh Ha Village and experience the authentic hands-on experience in Vietnam. Then move to the bamboo craftsman’s home and learn about bamboo utility design.

Accommodation at your hotel in Hoi An.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 8

Breakfast at hotel

Check-out and transfer to the airport for the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival, move to your hotel for check-in and take a rest.

In the afternoon, we'll head to the Reunification Palace, which saw the end of the tough Vietnam War in 1975. Now, it's a museum and a place where important meetings happen. Nearby, you'll see the Notre Dame Cathedral (just from the outside) and the Central Post Office, both well-known places in the city. Continue to visit Fine Art Museum where you can obtain the insight in the current art trend.

Finally, late afternoon, we'll visit the lively Ben Thanh Market in District 1.

Accommodation at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Day 9

Meet at the Victoria Can Tho Resort jetty at 10:00 am. Your crew welcomes you on board your private sampan with cold towels and a refreshing drink. Cruise the waterways of the Mekong Delta, observing villagers going about their daily activities against picturesque landscapes while your attentive crew serves tea and seasonal fruit. We will then cross the Hau River passing by quaint villages to visit a family who makes delicate tofu skin, a food product made from boiling soy milk with a plethora of uses.

Continue by sampan, and observe the endless boat traffic and the quiet but constant activity along the banks. Enjoy shore excursions to gain insight into how the local people make a living, and stop for a visit to a Cao Dai temple.

Lunch is served on board while cruising towards Vinh Long along a narrow canal teeming with life. Stop for a visit at a clay pot factory before crossing Co Chien River. Enjoy the sunset boat while Song Xanh continues its way towards the Tien River. Dinner and overnight on board.

Accommodation on Songxanh Sampan Cruise.

Meals included:

Breakfast onboard

Lunch at a local restaurant

Day 10

After breakfast on board, take a rowing boat along the canal or just walk a little bit further into the village to see how local people make a variety of common handicrafts such as hammocks, handbags from water hyacinths. Back to the sampan and cruise to Dong Hoa Hiep for a visit to an ancient house.

Continue to Phu An village and stop along the way to see local cottage industries that utilize products from the Delta, like rice and coconuts, to make tasty snacks including puffed rice and chewy coconut candy.

Our boat ends at Le Longanier Restaurant. Lunch is served in this exquisite riverside colonial-style villa set in lush tropical gardens and surrounded by fruit plantations, a throwback to the elegant lifestyle enjoyed by a privileged few in Indochinese times. Drive back to Ho Chi Minh City.

Accommodation at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meals included:

Breakfast onboard

Lunch at a local restaurant

Day 11

Enjoy your leisure time until pick up the airport for flight home.

Note: check-out time is at 12:00 hrs; late check-out is at surcharge and upon availability.

Meals included:

Breakfast at hotel

Price in US Dollar per full paying guest in twin/double sharing room in a party of

11 DAYS VIETNAMESE ART HERITAGE

1

2-3

4-5

6-9

10-14

15-19

20 up

Single Supp

Package price for 3-star option

 $2,213

 $1,318

 $992

 $845

 $836

 $825

 $807

 $336