Incense Village, Hat, and Lacquer Artisanal Tour

Highlights

• Visit Quang Phu Cau Incense Village - the heart and soul of Vietnam’s tradition
• Discover Chuong Conical Hat Crafting Village, home of Vietnam’s iconic hat
• Explore Hanoi Lacquer Crafting Village and its local artwork
• Capture stunning photos in the colorful scene of the incense village
• Choose optional drop-off at famous Hanoi Train Street

Description

Half-day option: Visit 2 Villages: Conical Hat and Incense Craft Village + Train Street (optional) Duration: ~ 5 hours Discover Vietnamese handicrafts on an immersive, guided tour from Hanoi that will take you to meet a local artisan, discover a historical incense-making village, and learn about the conical hat-making process. Get a unique look at the local culture with this discovery of detailed artisanal crafts. Start with a pickup from Hanoi’s Old Quarter and head to Chuong, a village that has been well-known for the craft of conical hat-making for over 300 years. Observe how conical hats are made and decorate a hat by painting it then bring it home as a souvenir. Depart for the Quang Phu Cau village, which has been producing incense for more than 100 years. Take a walk to the center of the village and see how locals make incense on the artisanal, family scale. Meet a family who specializes in dyeing incense sticks and take in the colorful bundles of incense. See the next level of incense production with a tour of a nearby factory. Learn how incense is made from scratch and more about the lives of manual workers. Take home memories of your visit with incense souvenirs from the place they’re produced before returning to Hanoi. Back to the city center. First place for drop off: Hanoi Train Street. If you don't want to visit it, please wait on the bus. Please note: This half-day tour does not include lunch, so we recommend eating beforehand or bringing snacks to keep you energized throughout the afternoon. Choose drop-off at the famous train street or your hotel. If you choose train street, you can enjoy your time there, then take a taxi/Grab back to your hotel on your own. Full-day option: Visit 3 Villages with home cooked lunch: Lacquer, Conical Hat and Incense + Train Street ( Optional Drop-off ) Duration: ~ 8 hours After pickup from your hotel, meet your tour guide and head to your first stop, the incense stick-making village. Learn more about the techniques from local artisans as you walk through the village. Stop at some places in the village to take some awesome photos. Then, get back on the bus, and hop to your next destination, just 15 minutes away, the traditional conical hat-making village. Not only observe but also get involved in the process of making and painting your own hat, a souvenir to remember your day. Continue to a local artisan’s house or a riverside restaurant for a meal. After bidding farewell to a hat-making village, depart for the last stop, the lacquer art-making village. Observe and learn the quintessence of local artwork from the artisans as you visit a large family-run factory. Visit the local artist house in the village to know the process of producing lacquer art products and have the chance to paint a lacquer piece. Finally, get back on the bus and head back to Hanoi city center. Train Street ( Optional Drop-off )

Includes

Hotel pickup and drop-off at your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter area by comfortable bus English-speaking tour guide Home-cooked lunch (if full-day tour option selected) 1 conical hat per person 1 water bottle per person All entrance fees

Excludes

Other drinks and personal expenses Lacquer piece for painting purposes only Your appreciation for the service of the tour guide and driver

Important Information

• This half-day tour does not include lunch, so we recommend eating beforehand or bringing snacks to keep you energized throughout the afternoon Option for drop-off at the famous train street means you can enjoy your time at train street and then take a taxi back to the hotel on your own The artisans use acrylic paint/lacquer paint at most of the places we visit. If you are sensitive to these smells, please take note before booking

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund