Your Travel Experience with Finest Journeys
Ho Chi Minh Complex - Pottery Class - Water Puppet Show
Today there is a full-day Hanoi city tour, beginning at the Ho Chi Minh Complex, where you can explore Ba Dinh Square, the Presidential Palace, and the rural-style House on Stilts, where Ho Chi Minh lived and worked. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Museum, which highlights the life and contributions of Vietnam’s founding father, as well as the One Pillar Pagoda, an 11th-century structure designed to resemble a lotus flower, a symbol of purity and compassion. There will be time to visit one of Hanoi’s specialized museums, such as the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, or the National Museum of Vietnamese History. Each offers a distinctive look into the country’s past and cultural development. Later, stop by Hoan Kiem Lake, also known as the Lake of the Returned Sword, steeped in legend and historical significance. Cross the iconic red wooden bridge to Ngoc Son Temple, situated on a small islet in the lake. Continue to Bat Trang Pottery Village, on the Red River southeast of Hanoi. This village, with a heritage of ceramic craftsmanship dating back to the 14th century, is renowned for its handmade ceramic goods. Your guide will show you the artisans creating clay pots, dishes and vases. Learn about the intricate process of crafting these pieces, from molding the clay to firing it in kilns, as you create your own pottery keepsake. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Water Puppet Show, an art form that originated in the northern rice fields. The performance showcases folklore and rural life through detailed puppetry accompanied by live music.