The soul of Nature

You may have seen and contemplated the beauty of Nature, but have you ever realized its soul?   From a small stone, a leaf, a sand stretch, even a bark to a huge mountain, a long river, a grand bay, they all have their deep soul that we rarely realize. Let’s meet with artisans who are keen on creating unique handmade works from raw material. Let’s explore deeply inside the beauty of natural heritages. Let’s see how local tribes live in harmony with their natural conditions. You’ll understand... That’s why we organize this tour.

Day 1: Hanoi Arrival (D)

Price / Person (for 2+)
Executive	Contact us for current pricing
Deluxe
Standard
(Single person surcharge applicable)

Arrive in Hanoi, warmly welcome with flowers. Catch the first glance of Hanoi as strolling along dike-streets lying between green fields and flower gardens. Transfer to downtown hotel. If time permits, take a cyclo around Hanoi’s Old Quarter and see the 500-years-old handicraft center of Hanoi. Each street will impress you with its specialized handmade works. Dinner followed by Water Puppet show. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 2: Trail of Handmade Fine Art (B, L, D)
Today we would love to introduce you 2 of the most unique fine art strains in Vietnam: Embroidery paintings and Precious stone inlayed paintings. The day will begin with Pho, the famous delicious soup of Hanoi, for breakfast. We then onward to Gem Cosmo Gallery for a glance at amazingly beautiful paintings inlayed by many precious stones. Here you will be surprised by not only the art meaning of the painting but also the talent of artisan in inlaying stones into such wonderful fine art works. A visit to Geologic Museum where you will have chance to see a unique display of artifact from natural land, inclusive of many kinds of raw precious stone. We continue with the Precious Stone Inlaying factory and see artisans inlaying. Take your opportunity to be an artisan yourself as our artisans introduce and teach you the way to inlay a painting. Have lunch with Shrimp Cake in a Lake side Restaurant. In the afternoon, we visit XQ Embroidery Paintings Gallery. These paintings are another kind of handmade fine art that you will be surely attracted. After contemplating XQ paintings, we attend and see an embroidery room where you will be close to the process of creating a work, from drawing, embroidering to framing. The art life seems to crystallize in this room. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 3: Traditional Handicraft Villages (B, L, D)
We spend full day sharing the daily life and work with local people in 2 long traditional handicraft villages in Hanoi’s suburb. The morning used for Bat Trang ceramic village which is very famous for its pottery works. We walk down the village road and see some main style of ceramic here then stop at a long existed kiln. After visiting and listening to the introduction of our host about the process of making ceramic works, we join artisans and learn to make a small ceramic work for you. Your name or a symbol that you like will be drawn on a plate, a cup...by yourself and then you could have it fired and completed. It must be a wonderful gift you give your family and friends. After lunch, we onward to Dong Ho village vie 13th century But Thap pagoda. Lying by peaceful river, this village will not only give you a calm moment with tranquil countryside but also surprised you by the wood-blocked paintings made from natural materials like leaves, sand, sells, rice, coal...This strain of folk fine art was once integral for northern Vietnamese life. Overnight in Hanoi.

Day 4: Ha Long – Cat Ba Island (B, L, D)
Early depart for Ha Long where we recommend you another beauty of nature. Arrive in Ha Long City, onboard cruising around the bay, admire its marvelous sights with more than a thousand limestone peaks soaring from its crystalline emerald water. Each strange-shaped island will remind you of a meaningful image which tells you a fairy tale of the original days. Stop for visit magnificent scenes of Ha Long through system of Karst caves and grottoes such as: Thien Cung, Sung Sot...Lunch with sea food will be served on boat. We have some swimming in fresh water before go on ahead to Cat Ba Island. Overnight in hotel on Cat Ba Island or on boat in Lan Ha Bay. Make sure not to forget to give you a wonderful time with your lovers or family in a private space filled with the salty breeze, the moonlight and the song of waves. Feel the tenderness of Nature around you.

Day 5: Ha Long- Hanoi (B, L, D)
Be sure to be awaken by the sound of waves and the daily life of the citizens on the island. Take some walk on the beach, enjoy the cool breeze from the sea and if fortunately, you may have chance to take some nice photos of the beautiful sunrise here. Swimming in the morning is very wonderful, too. After breakfast, we have a short trekking in Cat Ba National Park, a place which is regarded as The World Biosphere Reserving Zone. The diversity of fauna and flora here will surely give you a fantastic impression. Explore the Cat Ba town, witness the daily life of people on the island and in the floating villages around. In the afternoon we board a hydrofoil for a one-hour ride to the port city of Hai Phong. Here we transfer to our vehicle for a 2-hour journey back to Hanoi. Have dinner and relax till 10pmwhen we board the night train to Lao Cai.

Day 6: Sapa’s mist mountainous views (B, L, D)
Pick up at Lao Cai station and transfer to hotel in Sapa, the town in the mist of cloud. As soon as arriving in this small quiet town you will be impressed by the romantic appearance of old French architecture and the streets filled with various kinds of hill tribes’ costumes up and down the hills. Have shower and then order for breakfast. After a short relax, we start trekking to Laochai – Tavan. You will trek through remote villages of Red Dao, Black H’mong and Giay ethnic groups, pass incredibly beautiful valleys and rice terraces. Have picnic lunch on the hill. After a 5-hours trek, have a short relax before our Jeep pick you up and back Sapa. Have dinner and enjoy Sapa at night with streets full of local brocade works and children in their colorful costumes walk in group and sing together. The Cathedral is worth seeing, too.

Day 7: Sapa’s embroidery works – Hanoi (B, L, D)
Catch the romantic and splendid dawn from your hotel bacon. Have breakfast, then trek for Cat Cat village and visit a local house where you will have chance to see hill tribe women weaving and dying their clothes with bark threads, leaves and rice. The sophisticated decorations on the clothes will surely interestingly amaze you. From the most popular natural materials, these women create truly beautiful works that show deeply not only their traditional culture but also the mysterious nature. Here you could also see the French Power by Cat Cat Waterfall. Pass some root hang-bridges to back Sapa town. Have lunch. In the afternoon, visiting Silver Waterfall, Dragon Jaw mountain and see garden of Mongolia, Gate of Heaven. Have dinner and take the night train to Hanoi. Overnight on train.

Day 8: Hanoi Departure (B, L, D)
Spend last minutes shopping before transferring to Noi Bai airport for your own flight.

All tours include: Present of handmade work - Accommodation based on twin sharing either Executive, Deluxe or Standard - Air Conditioned transportation - Meals in full board - All admission fees - English speaking guide - Tourist insurance. NOT included are: Single person surcharge - Drinks - Personal expenditures - International air ticket and airport tax - Tips