Vietnam Art & Heritage

Day 1 : Hanoi

On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 2 : Hanoi

Many of Hanoi’s crafts are thousands of years old, however some have expired over time. Hang Trong paintings are found in the temples, shrines, museums and on the altars of Vietnamese families, and used to be an important product of North of Vietnam. Today, you will have a short drive to an alley in the Old Quarter to visit the home of the last Hang Trong artisan, who is one of seven children of a family who have made this art form for generations. Listen to him share of his work, the techniques and his life. On the way back to hotel, pass Hang Trong Street which was famed for selling this type of painting.

Later discover how contemporary Vietnamese art is a mixture of Eastern techniques and European influences. Meet with Ms Vu Kim Thu who graduated from the Chicago School of the Art, for a glimpse of how artists are now integrating the traditional into the modern and expressing themselves in new ways. Start at the Hanoi Fine Arts University (closed on weekends and public holidays) for an overview then wind your way to the Fine Arts Museum, for a thorough grasp of art and its development. Visit some nice galleries and get to know more about her remarkable exhibitions and lectures throughout the US.

Day 3 : Hanoi

Today meet with Mr Vu Manh, an artist who has a number of solo exhibitions showcasing Installation and Performing Arts. Graduating from the Fine Arts University, Vu Manh will teach some basic techniques of mixing colors before you enjoy a fun face or body painting session.

Day 4 : Hanoi > Hue

Transfer to the airport and fly to the former Imperial capital of Hue. Meet with a Phap Lam expert to learn about the revival of this sophisticated enamelware art, unique for its copper base layered with colourful enamel paint. See the complete process behind this stunning art form, and try your hand at creating your own piece.

Day 5 : Hue

Embark on a 1 hour dragon boat ride to a rural village, where you are invited into the house of a local artisan. Learn about the 400 year old craft of paintings made from dzo (tree bark) paper and natural dyes, preserved with a layer of sticky rice paste. Cycle past rice fields to another village known for paper flower making, used to decorate altars and as offerings in religious rituals. Cycle back to your hotel via scenic flower and vegetable growing villages.

Day 6 : Hue > Hoi An

Transfer to Hoi An and check in to your hotel. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, Hoi An was a prosperous trading port, attracting Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, Portuguese and Spanish ships amongst others. Today, this World Heritage ancient town is recognised for its well-preserved architecture, pedestrian-only streets and distinctive local cuisine, allowing visitors a glimpse of its illustrious past. Hoi An’s narrow lanes are ideal for a guided walking tour of its many atmospheric sights including: the old merchant houses with influences from Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese architecture; the 400-year-old Japanese Covered Bridge, first built in the 1590s by the Japanese community to link them with the Chinese quarters across the stream; the Assembly Hall of the Chaozhou Chinese Congregation with its intricate woodcarvings; and the colourful market with stalls brimming with local specialties including silk, which can be turned into fashionable garments within a day or two.

This afternoon enjoy silk lantern-making with a local artisan.

Day 7 : Hoi An

Visit the pottery village of Thanh Ha, which created the bricks, tiles and floor slabs for buildings in Hoi An’s ancient town in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today villagers have preserved the craft by transitioning to beautiful decorative pieces. In the afternoon meet an artisan specialising in bamboo utility design and learn how bamboo is used in everyday life.

Day 8 : Hoi An > Danang > Saigon

Transfer to the Danang airport for your flight to Saigon, home to a burgeoning contemporary art scene led by young emerging artists introducing new concepts while challenging old ideologies. A modern art scholar will join you, providing insight into the current art trends, as you visit the Fine Arts Museum. Then visit the Nguyen Art Foundation which was established in 2018 in an effort to better serve artists in Vietnam, then stop in at the studio of a contemporary local artist.

Day 9 : Saigon > Ben Tre > Can Tho

Drive to Ben Tre, gateway to the Mekong Delta. Spend the day exploring the small villages of the area, where locals will teach you about traditional sticky rice dishes, local shipbuilding and exotic fruit farming. Enjoy a lunch of local Mekong Delta specialities at a farmer’s house before driving to Can Tho for the night.

Day 10 : Can Tho

Wake up early to visit the colourful floating market where wholesalers converge on the Mekong River to sell their goods. Return to shore to explore more of Can Tho city. Visit the Binh Thuy Ancient House, an outstanding example of Western and Vietnamese architectural elements. Continue to Con Son, a community tourism villages where each household operates a different profession such as fruit orchardists, bakers or fishing.

Day 11 : Can Tho > Saigon

After breakfast transfer to the airport in Saigon for your onward travels.