Hanoi Villages: Incense, Conical Hat & Lacquer Art Day Trip

Summary

Craft incense, hats and lacquerware with Hanoi artisans on a day trip

You’ll get your hands sticky rolling incense sticks with local artisans near Hanoi, paint your own conical hat as a keepsake in Chuông village, enjoy a homemade Vietnamese lunch at an artisan’s house or riverside spot, and try your hand at traditional lacquer painting before heading back—with colorful memories (and maybe some paint stains) that linger longer than you’d think.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the smell to hit me so quickly—sweet, smoky, almost peppery. The air in the incense village was thick with it, and you could see the color everywhere: bundles of red sticks fanned out like giant flowers drying under the sun. Our guide, Minh, waved us over to a woman who showed us how she rolled the paste by hand. My fingers got sticky fast. She laughed when I tried to copy her rhythm—mine looked more like lumpy pencils than incense sticks, but she just grinned and handed me a few to take home anyway.

The drive out from Hanoi was only about 40 minutes but felt like we’d left the city behind completely. In Chuông village, we met Mr. Tuan at his little workshop where he’s been making nón lá—the conical hats—since he was a kid. He let us try threading the palm leaves ourselves (harder than it looks), and his granddaughter kept sneaking peeks at us from behind a pile of half-finished hats. Painting my own hat felt weirdly personal; I wrote my name on it in wobbly letters and tried to draw a lotus flower. Not sure anyone would recognize it as a flower but hey, it’s mine now.

Lunch was at someone’s actual house—rice bowls steaming on the table, fish sauce that smelled sharp but tasted mellow once you dipped fresh herbs in it. There was this moment when everyone just sat quietly for a second before eating; I guess we were all hungry from concentrating so hard on our crafts. Afterward we drove to Ha Thai lacquer village where the light bounced off trays painted so glossy they looked wet. The process is slow—layer after layer—and I got lacquer all over my hands trying to make a tiny painting. Minh said the villagers used to make pieces for royalty; standing there with black-stained fingers made me laugh.

If you want, you can ask them to drop you off at Train Street back in Hanoi—it’s chaotic in its own way, trains rattling past inches from tiny cafés. But honestly, I kept thinking about those bright incense fans drying in the sun outside the city instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit traditional craft villages near Hanoi

• Explore incense stick-making village
• Create your own conical hat
• Enjoy home-cooked lunch
• Visit lacquer art village
• Try making lacquer painting
• Optional drop-off at Train Street

Top questions

How far are the craft villages from Hanoi?

The villages are located about 15–40 kilometers south and southwest of central Hanoi; travel time is usually 30–45 minutes each way by car.

Can I keep the conical hat I paint?

Yes, you can take home your painted conical hat as a personalized souvenir from Chuông village.

Is lunch included on this day trip?

Yes, a home-cooked Vietnamese lunch is included for full-day trips—served either at an artisan’s house or by the riverside.

Are guides available in languages other than English?

Private tours offer guides who speak French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean or Thai upon request.

Is hotel pickup included for this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you’re staying in Hanoi Old Quarter (except for “Local Guide” option).

Can children or people with mobility needs join this tour?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all ages; infants’ seats are available if needed.

Do I get to make my own incense sticks?

Yes—you’ll try rolling your own incense sticks with help from local artisans in the incense village.

Is there an option to visit Train Street after the tour?

You can request an optional drop-off at Train Street for extra exploration after visiting the villages.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off within Hanoi Old Quarter (unless you choose “Local Guide”), bottled water throughout the journey, all entry fees and taxes covered up front so there’s no hassle later on, hands-on activities like making incense sticks (with some free ones to take home), painting your own conical hat as a souvenir from Chuông village, trying out lacquer art in Ha Thai village—and of course a home-cooked Vietnamese lunch served by an artisan family or beside the river before heading back into town.