4 Days Discover Hanoi's Rich Culture

This morning, after breakfast, car and guide pick up at your hotel and transfer to:

• Visit National Historical Museum - a place to preserve, display, and introduce Vietnamese history from prehistoric to present through a system of extremely rich and valuable documents and artifacts, including many National Treasures.

• Heading to visit the Temple of Literature. In 1076 Quoc Tu Giam - Vietnam's first university also referred to as Van Mieu, was established within a temple to educate Vietnam's royalty, mandarins and members of the elite. The university functioned for an incredible 700 years and its gardens and well-preserved architecture offer a fascinating glimpse into Vietnam’s past.

• Quan Thanh Temple, formerly known as Tran Vu Temple, is a Taoist temple and known as one of Hanoi’s four sacred temples which were built to worship four protectors in four directions. With its history and architecture, the temple has become a famous religious cultural place in Vietnam’s capital.

After lunch continue exploring Hang Gai Street in Old Quarter. The street is a harmonious combination between houses-design-stores’ architecture, and religious places. All of them create a unique beauty, not only traditional but also modern. Strolling around here, you can find over one hundred stores, which primarily do business silk or goods and service related to silk, together with many small but unique Art Galleries.

The late afternoon, go straight to Water puppet theatre or Hanoi Opera House to enjoy Vietnamese traditional shows (choose the show depends on travel date).

Tonight’s dinner will be held in the local restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Today’s tour begins at 08:30. Set off from Hanoi after breakfast and travel west, passing through the scenic North Red River Delta on the 1.5-hour drive. Arrive Duong Lam ancient village - a great chance to explore the special architecture through its surviving laterite brick ancient houses built 3 or 4 centuries ago. Laterite and mud, the two materials those are abundant in the area, on house walls, gates, wells, temple walls, and so forth. Wander along Duong Lam’s narrow alleyways to explore rural life and Vietnam’s ancient architecture. Firstly, explore Mia Pagoda, built in the 15th century. Admire the 287 statues of all sizes can be seen here, among which are famous sculptures such as the statue of Buddha and the statues of the ‘Eight Vajra Deities’. Afterwards visit Mong Phu commune - the only hamlet whose original village entrance remains intact. Then continue through the narrow alleys to see the old laterite houses which make up this charming village.

For lunch enjoy a local style meal in a rustic hundreds-year old house. Continue visiting the hundreds-year-old Catholic Church to learn about local’s belief and the changing of religion under different periods in the past. Before returning to Hanoi, make a stop at a local family and try hands on making rice straw puppet and ‘Che Lam’ (rice cake) – a rustic specialty of this home town. Transfer back to Hanoi.

This evening dine at a delicious local restaurant.

Overnight in Hanoi.

Spend the morning at leisure before the transfer to the next destination.