Hanoi · Day tour
Incense Village Tour (Quang Phu Cau + Chuong + Ha Thai)
Great for couplesGreat for familiesEasy fitness levelDaily departures
Price on request
Duration
Day trip (~9.5h)
Departure
Daily
Pickup
Hanoi Old Quarter or Opera House
Group size
1+ guests
Fitness
Easy
Type
Culture & heritage
The incense-making village outside Hanoi preserves classic and traditional beauty - an interesting alternative to typical city tours. This tour combines 3 craft villages in the suburbs.
Itinerary
07:45-08:15
Pickup
Tour guide and bus collect from Old Quarter or Opera House.
09:30
Quang Phu Cau village (Incense)
- Stop at incense workshop to learn traditional incense-making + cultural significance - Visit San Hap for iconic photos with colorful incense bundles (top photo spot of tour)
11:00
Chuong village (Conical hats / Non-La)
Famous for 300-year-old conical Non-La making. - Short walk through local market - Hosted at local artisan's home - **Hands-on activity:** paint your own Non-La while artisan prepares lunch - **Optional:** small cooking class while waiting for lunch
Stop 4
Lunch (~12:30)
Home-cooked lunch at artisan's home in Chuong village. Chance to feel real countryside vibe.
13:00
Ha Thai village (Lacquerware)
Lacquerware production for over 400 years. - Meet lacquerware artisan, visit creative space - **Hands-on activity:** make your own lacquerware - Walk around village, stop at family workshops to interact with villagers + see production
15:30
Surplus clothing store stop
Optional stop at famous surplus clothing store (sells goods from factories that process for major brands).
17:00
Drop-off at hotel in Old Quarter
Notes
- 3 hands-on craft activities (incense observe, conical hat paint, lacquerware make)
- Souvenirs from activities are yours to keep
- Quang Phu Cau is THE photo destination - schedule allows enough time
✓ Included
- Transfer bus from hotel in town
- English-speaking tour guide
- 1 bottle of water/person
- Lunch at artisan's house
- All entrance fees
✕ Not included
- Tips for guide and driver
- Personal expenses
🎒 What to bring
- Camera (Quang Phu Cau is photogenic)
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Hat + sunscreen
Travelling with children
- Free for children under 5
- Full price from age 11
Good questions about this tour
Is the surplus clothing store stop a shopping trap?
It's an optional stop on the way back, with no pressure to buy anything. If you're not interested, just let your guide know in advance and we'll skip it entirely.
Isn't three villages in one day too rushed?
It actually flows really comfortably - the three villages are all within 30-60 minutes of each other on the outskirts of Hanoi, and you spend a good 1.5-2 hours at each. The home-cooked lunch in Chuong village gives you a nice break in the middle of the day too.
I have no artistic talent - can I still do the painting and lacquerware?
Don't worry at all - the artisans guide you through every step, so no artistic skill is needed. And the piece you create is a real, finished souvenir to take home, not a gimmick.
