DETAILED ITINERARY WITH VENUES
🕚08:30 – 09:00 | Hotel Pickup & Cultural Briefing
• Your bilingual guide introduces the heritage of Vietnamese craftsmanship: 1,000-year-old ceramic tradition, the embroidery lineage of Hue, and lacquer arts evolving from dynasties to galleries.
• Receive a premium itinerary brochure and welcome kit.
🕚09:00 – 10:30 | Bat Trang Ceramic Studio Visit – Hien Van Ceramics
• Skip the touristy zone and head straight to a curated space blending ancient Vietnamese motifs with modern minimalist form.
• Watch a live demo of ceramic wheel throwing, hand-glazing, and firing in gas kilns.
• Enjoy tea with the artisan founder (on request) and explore exclusive handmade vases, tableware, and bonsai pots.
• Optional: Paint your own ceramic tile ($80 add-on).
🛍 Recommended buys: Celadon-glazed vases, hand-thrown tea sets, imperial-style jars.
🕚10:45 – 12:00 | Hand Embroidery Showcase
• Visit Hanoi’s most legendary artisan embroidery house with 4 generations of craft.
• Explore a museum-like space showcasing embroidered paintings, silk robes, linen homewares, and personalized couture.
• Learn about the process of hand-stitching using natural silk threads over months of labor.
🛍 Recommended buys: Hand-stitched scarves, pillow covers, framed lotus paintings.
🕚12:15 – 13:45 | Gourmet Lunch – Home Hanoi Restaurant
• Nestled in a French colonial villa, this fine dining restaurant offers upscale Vietnamese cuisine.
• Set menu includes: Hanoi spring rolls, caramelized fish in clay pot, lotus root salad, and traditional dessert.
• Optional add-on: live đàn tranh or sáo trúc (zither/flute) performance during lunch.
🕚14:00 – 15:30 | Lacquerware Studio
• Visit Hanoi’s most prestigious luxury lacquer brand, favored by global designers.
o Learn about 25+ layers of polishing, use of quỳ vàng (gold leaf), and mother-of-pearl inlays.
o Optional private visit for studio experience.
• Visit an alternative studio (for contemporary art lovers): vibrant modern lacquer art in collaboration with young artists.
🛍 Recommended buys: Jewelry boxes, trays, lacquered wall décor, collectible objets d’art.
🕚15:45 – 17:00 | Artistic Souvenir Shopping
• Visit a concept store featuring authentic, curated Vietnamese goods with clean design: incense kits, journals, tea accessories.
• Visit a well-known shop for Decor and lifestyle showroom with hand-woven baskets, textiles from ethnic minorities, ceramics from Mekong artists.
🛍 Recommended buys: Silk scarves, artisan candles, journals, rattan trays, hill tribe embroidery.
🕚17:00 – 17:30 | Return to Hotel & Farewell Gift
• Receive a souvenir keepsake: artisan bookmark, batik pouch, or mini ceramic charm.
• End of tour.