Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Day Trip from Hanoi to Perfume Pagoda (Chua Huong): River Boats and Mountain Shrines
How to visit the Perfume Pagoda from Hanoi — the rowboat journey, mountain shrines and sacred grotto of this major pilgrimage site.
Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Thach Xa Bamboo Dragonfly Village: The Ingenious Gravity-Balancing Folk Craft
A guide to Thach Xa village near Hanoi and its ingenious hand-painted bamboo dragonflies that balance perfectly on their beaks.
Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Ha Thai Lacquerware Village: The Multi-Layered Resin Craft of Master Artisans
A guide to Ha Thai, the lacquerware village near Hanoi, and the patient, multi-layered craft behind its glossy, striking art.
Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Chuong Village Conical Hats (Non La): The Heritage of Vietnam's Traditional Symbol
A guide to Chuong village, where Vietnam's iconic conical hats (non la) are hand-crafted, and the heritage and market behind them.
Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Van Phuc Silk Village: Weaving Royal Vietnamese Silk for Over a Millennium
A guide to Van Phuc, the ancient silk-weaving village near Hanoi, where you can watch the looms and buy genuine silk from the source.
Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Duong Lam Ancient Village: 1,200-Year Laterite Stone Houses, Mia Pagoda & Village Life
A guide to Duong Lam, a beautifully preserved ancient village near Hanoi with laterite houses, old pagodas and living rural traditions.
Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Bat Trang Pottery Village: 700-Year Ceramic Heritage & DIY Clay Wheel Workshops
A guide to Bat Trang, Hanoi's 700-year-old pottery village, with hands-on workshops, the striking ceramic museum, and authentic pottery shopping.
Craft Villages & Cultural Excursions
Quang Phu Cau Incense Village Guide: How to Capture Iconic Crimson Photos
How to visit and photograph Quang Phu Cau, the incense village near Hanoi famous for its spectacular fans of crimson incense sticks.