ハノイの秘密の手作り村（香と帽子の村）

Before booking hotel confirmed with tour agency that we'd return to hotel by 1pm. Driver picked us up but didn't speak English. Took 1.5 hours to get to destination. Driver didn't tell us anything for entire trip. Upon arrival, met guide. English broken with strong accent. Asked him when we'd be back to hotel and he said 2 pm. Was not told we needed to be back by 1 to catch flight. He said he'd check. At arrival to second stop we had to ask him again. He said we'd leave by 12 and be back by 1 and we'd be first hotel stop. We said we were going back via taxi since it would take 1.5 hours for return. Tried to get us to stay with others and also his manager tried to tell us the same by phone. We objected showing them it would take 1.5 hrs and got our own taxi leaving at 11:15. It took 1.5 hours to return directly by taxi to hotel. Had we stayed and left at 12 with others, we would have been back after 1:30. Very uncomfortable having to argue with guide and agency. Obvious that trip was much longer on weekend due to traffic. We went on tour based upon their commitment to get us back by 1. Guide never was told and then tried to pressure us to return with rest of group. We would not have made our flight had we not taken our own steps to return to the hotel by 1pm.

Great little tour. Including hat village, incense village, bahn mi lunch and Hanoi city tour. Louisa was a fantastic and funny guide and a great photographer.

An absolute must! It’s interesting, informative, creative, and fun, and it gives you a real glimpse into the cottage industries that make Vietnam what it is.

+5

If you want a little time out from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, then this trip out of town is for you! We visited 3 different villages, firstly seeing the amazing wood carving and having a go at creating our own lacquered picture (mindful, relaxing and good fun) We then went for a typical Vietnamese lunch, kindly hosted by a local lady. The food was served sharing style and catered to vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters within the group and was a delicious taste of local food. We had a demonstration of the art of hat-making and helped prepare some palm leaves for them. Our final visit was to see incense sticks being made and have a go ourselves, followed by some breathtaking photo opportunities amongst the colourful incense stick display. The whole day gave me a really authentic and interesting insight into daily life in the villages and we travelled through some fascinating scenery. We were extremely well looked-after by Jane and Lulu and I would highly recommend this tour.

Jane put together an incredible day of cultural immersion that was interesting and very hands on .We totally enjoyed learning about the conical hats , visiting an incense factory and creating a lacquer art piece of our own . The lunch was delicious !

Highly recommend, Wonderful visit to the 3 villages, made handicrafts, received gifts, excellent learning experience, we were immersed in the culture, fabulous lunch prepared by Vietnamese family, guides were friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable, thank you Jane

Interesting, educational and fun day with a visit to 3 different handicraft villages. Our guide was knowledge-rich and fun-willfully shared away about his everyday life in Vietnam

Very insightful and interesting if you're looking for a cultural tour that's a little more "off the beaten path". The lunch was REALLY good! For the price of the tour & time spent with us, its a good deal. Doing a tour of this type is also a great reminder at how privileged we are in my country. When you compare all the work and time these families put in to their craft with so little money gained, its really eye opening. This isnt a tour where anyone is trying to sell you anything though. I kind of thought it might be, but no. No one bugs you about buying things. That said, when you go to the hat maker and the art shop, you'll definitely want to buy a BUNCH of beautiful things though!! 😆 I had to remind myself my suitcase is stuffed full enough already. 😊

First we went to the lacquer village watched a the man at work then it was time for us to have a go. Then we went to the conical hats village where they still make all the hats by hand. I did buy a fabulous one. Then the family made us a traditional delicious lunch. Lastly we went to see how the incense sticks are made and of course those amazing photo opportunities. Was a great day out.

Great day trip. Three different handicraft villages. One for the traditional art of lacquering. We “had a go” and could buy lovely lacquered pieces A conical hat making village we we watched this ancient tradition and had a lovejy lunch made by a local family and finally traditional incense making. A full day which was so interesting and different

+10