We will pick you up at hotel and then head to outskirt of Hanoi. Get out of the city center, you start driving on the dyke of the Red River. On the way, you could see the contrasts of urbanization, old villages with small houses covered by shoe- shaped tiles dotted with modern apartment buildings area behind.

The first stop is But Thap Pagoda. The pagoda is one of the finest pagodas in the North and known as Vietnam’s first Buddhist centre. The pagoda was built in the 13th century and rebuilt in the 17th century. The wooden sculptures, one thousand eyes and arms statue, stone tower are highlights of the Pagoda.

Not too far from pagoda is Dong Ho Folk Woodcut Paintings Village. Visit the house of a famous artisan to see his descendants continuing his profession in traditional way and listen to the stories about the paintings represented. Walking a bit further into the village, you will discover another traditional job here: making replicas items by paper. This originated from local belief that the passed away ones also need “things” as when they alive. So to send them “things”, we will burn paper replicas items so don’t be surprised if you will see modern mobile phones, TV, computers, cars, houses. Of course, all made of paper.

Leave the village; you will drive to visit an ancient house. Meet the hospitable host, have cup of tea and listen to his introduction of 300 years old house, it is full of antiques. His grandfather was a Mandarin; his father was a Confucian scholar so the stories about his family will be very interesting for you. Beside his ancient house, he also loves to tell you about his beautiful garden and how his grandfather applied Fengshui in choosing the location and constructing their house.

You will be invited to have lunch prepared by his wife, a lady with “happy- ending face”. Enjoy the meal and you will get to know more about the philosophy behind the cuisine of the Northern Vietnam.

Farewell to the warm hearted host, on the way back to Hanoi, you will stop at Bat Trang Ceramic Village – it is well known throughout Vietnam for its beautiful ceramics. The products become quite commercial now but the old part of the village is still worth of visiting. You can go to visit the family workshop where the whole process of making ceramic will be explained to you carefully. Reach to your hotel in the afternoon, end of the trip.

Driving distance: 100 km