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Discover the art of making folk musical instruments in Dao Xa village & explore Incense Village. Meet artisans, participate in workshops, learn local traditions. Or Visit Incense Village & Hat Village

Highlights

• Discover the art of making folk musical instruments in Dao Xa village
• Meet artisans and learn about the intricate process of crafting instruments
• Explore Quang Phu Cau Incense Village and see colorful incense fields
• Participate in hands-on workshops to create your own incense sticks
• Chuong Conical Hat Village - home of Vietnam’s iconic hat to paint your own hat

Description

Private Tour: Dao Xa Handmade Folk Musical Instrument Village & Incense Village Begin your journey in Dao Xa, a village renowned for its handmade folk musical instruments. Discover the history of this craft, founded by Dao Xuan Lan in the early 19th century. Learn how he traveled far and wide to master the art of making different types of folk musical instruments before passing the craft on to his descendants and other villagers. As you explore, see how the craft gradually spread throughout Dao Xa village. In the mid-19th century, talented Dao Xa musical instrument makers brought their families to Thang Long (now Hanoi) to set up their guild called Hang Dan street, which was later merged into Hang Quat street in the Hanoi Old Quarter. Meet the artisans who craft various types of traditional instruments, including the “dan bau” (a monochord), the “dan nguyet” (a full-moon-shaped guitar with two strings) and the “dan nhi” (an upright two-string fiddle). Smell the wood and hear the sound of these musical instruments as you learn about the intricate process of making them. Hear stories from artisans like Dao Van Soan, a nationally famous artisan and the only person in Vietnam to have received the titles National Folk Artisan and Hanoi’s Emeritus Artisan. With 40 years of experience, Soan shares his knowledge of the craft’s ups and downs, from its heyday to the challenges faced during the American war. Learn about the patience, skill, and energy required to craft these instruments. Discover how builders must master carpentry and have a good ear for music. Understand the process of selecting and drying the wood, shaping the body, attaching the neck, polishing, smoothing, fitting the strings, and completing the final decoration—all done manually using traditional techniques. Next, visit Quang Phu Cau, a village known for its incense-making tradition dating back over a century. Discover how incense plays a significant role in Vietnamese culture and spiritual practices, used in temples, homes, and various ceremonies to honor ancestors and deities. Explore the different stages. Option HALF DAY Group Tour : Visit 2 Villages: Conical Hat and Incense Craft Village + Train Street (optional) Duration: ~ 6 hours Morning from 7:45~13:30 Afternoon from 11:45~17:30 Start with a pickup from Hanoi’s Old Quarter and head to Chuong, a village that has been well-known for the craft of conical hat-making for over 300 years. Get an observe how conical hats are made and decorate a hat by painting it then bring it home as a souvenir. Depart for the Quang Phu Cau village, which has been producing incense for more than 100 years. Take a walk to the center of the village and see how locals make incense on the artisanal, family scale. Meet a family who specializes in dyeing incense sticks and take in the colorful bundles of incense. Back to the city center. First place for drop off: Hanoi Train Street. If you don't want to get drop off here, please wait in the car

Includes

Visit to Dao Xa village Visit to Quang Phu Cau Incense Village Meet artisans Learn about musical instrument making Learn about incense making Participate in incense making workshops Explore incense drying fields Experience village life 01 free conical hat for painting in the hat village and take it home as a personalized souvenir Some free incense sticks after you made incense sticks yourself Bottled water All entrance fees Professional local tour guide Hotel pickup and drop-off at your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter area

Important Information

• Wear comfortable shoes for walking Bring a camera for photography opportunities Workshops may require manual participation

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund