Immersive Cultural Hanoi Tour – 3 Days

Tour Highlights

• Begin with an enchanting traditional Water Puppet Show, a captivating performance unique to Vietnam.
• Explore the renowned Nguyen Art Gallery, engaging with local artist Henry Le and appreciating a diverse range of artworks.
• Discover the ancient art of Vietnamese calligraphy in a hands-on class, guided by a skilled master artist.
• Visit historical landmarks including the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long.
• Immerse yourself in the blacksmithing heritage of Da Sy.

Are you looking for an immersive cultural experience in Hanoi? This tour can satisfy your needs! Come with us and watch the traditional Vietnam Water Puppet Show, then immerse in the art space in Nguyen Art gallery, one of the top ten galleries in Hanoi, then join in a traditional Vietnamese calligraphy class, learn how to use the brush from your instructor. And the last destination is Da Si forging village, witness the blacksmith in their work and then participate in the have-just-learn skill into knife making class. We bet that this Hanoi tour will never disappoint you.

General Information

Duration: 3 Days
Departure Date: Any Time You Wish
Start/ End: Hanoi/ Hanoi
Tour Route: Hanoi Water Puppet Show – Nguyen Art Gallery – Calligraphy Class – Da Si Forging Village – Knife Making Class

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Water Puppet Show (D)
Day 2: Hanoi Art Tour in Nguyen Art Gallery – Calligraphy Class (B, L, D)
Day 3: Full-day excursion in Da Si Forging Village – Knife Making Class (B, L)

Full Cultural Hanoi Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival – Water Puppet Show (D)

Welcome to Hanoi Vietnam! After pick up, you’ll be transferred to the hotel for check-in. Join in a one-hour cyclo tour around Hanoi Old Quarter. Then have a traditional Vietnamese Water Puppet Show in the theatre nearby Hoan Kiem Lake. When the show finishes, you’re transferred to a local restaurant for the welcome dinner. Back to the hotel for overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Hanoi Art Tour – Calligraphy Class (B, L, D)

The sound of Hanoi wakes you up in the morning, savor the nice breakfast at the balcony of the hotel, looks at the street in Hanoi and locals, and feel the first sunshine. After breakfast, there was a short transfer to Nguyen Art Gallery, one of the top ten galleries in Hanoi. In Nguyen Art, there stands many paintings, artworks, and it’s so exciting when talking to Henry Le, a dedicate artist of Nguyen Art.

After that, the guide will lead you to a Calligraphy class, learn the ancient art of Vietnamese calligraphy. He will introduce you to Vietnam by the Chinese as the unique form of expression that shaped the local culture. Get a look at how the form of writing has changed over history to adapt the art to express how rich the Vietnamese language. Your teacher is a skilled artist and a calligraphic master, offers you look back in time to delve into the art form that now still revered and respected. Get the chance to give you a chance to give the strokes form as learning this ancient art.

Have lunch at a local restaurant and ready for the afternoon activities.

In the afternoon, we will visit the top highlight destinations in Hanoi. Our first stop is Temple of Literature, the first university in Vietnam, then transfer to Imperial Citadel of Thang Long – one of ten special national heritage sites which were proclaimed by Prime Minister in 2009.

Later on, hop on a drive to West Lake to catching the stunning sunset scene & try the scrumptious foods here. West Lake is majestic in all seasons, especially in the sunset when the Hanoians walk along and breathe the fresh air, revel in the stunning scenery. Back to the hotel for overnight accommodation.

Day 3: Full-day Excursion in Da Sy Forging Village – Knife Making Class (B, L)

Today will start with a scenic drive to Da Sy Forging village. Nestled in Kien Hung Commune of Hanoi, Da Sy, a small but charming village is notable for its long-standing history of blacksmithing. Historically, Da Sy rose to prominence as a blacksmith craft village after two blacksmiths named Nguyen Thuat and Nguyen Thuan from a nearby province taught the locals a highly advanced form of forging. Ever since Da Sy has been known prominently for forging steel weapons for the nation’s military during periods of war.

Although the village’s “golden age” has passed, local craftsmen are keeping the traditional blacksmithing craft alive by staying relevant with the times. Since peace returned to Vietnam years ago, the people of Da Sy resorted to making agriculture & household implements such as plows, rakes, machinery parts, scissors & kitchen knives. The work of forging is labor-intensive involving many steps, such as drafting and templating shapes, consistently maintaining the fire in the furnace, hammering the steel into shape, tempering and finally shaping and sharpening the final product.

Have lunch at the localhost. In the afternoon, join a knife making class. Experience the first hand on how to forge the hand-made knife from the scrap metal. Learn how to forge a knife under the guidance of locals in Da Sy. Your Cultural Hanoi Tour finishes.