Top Northern Vietnam Art & Culture Classes

It's not every day that you can learn how to make knives at an actual blacksmith's workshop. This small-group class in Hanoi is led by one of the only officially-recognized female artisans in the trade, letting you learn from a master with decades of experience. From designing the knife to sharpening it, be part of every step of the traditional knife-making process.

With over a decade of expertise as an artisan perfumer, I create an immersive, hands-on workshop in my intimate studio. My extensive knowledge, personalized guidance, and use of premium, locally-sourced ingredients ensure a uniquely engaging and authentic experience for every participant.

Hi everyone! I’m Nguyen , a professional portrait and street photographer based in Hanoi—I’ve shot on the streets of India, Europe, America, and Africa. Join me on my daily photo adventures as we explore the city’s vibrant corners, capture hidden moments, and play with color. Perfect for all levels: Phone shooters: Discover your device’s strengths, work around its limits, and get pro tips to elevate your shots. Experienced photographers: Dive into insider spots, advanced techniques, and local insights. Can’t wait to explore Hanoi with you!

I'm a Hmong mother of 4 children and I've lived in Ta Van, Sapa my entire life. I started working as a guide, running treks in the mountains and rice terraces when I was a teenager. I love my family and my community, and I have been working hard to make a better life for all of us. I love sharing with my guests the local Hmong culture. I've practiced Hmong textile traditions for more than 15 years. In recent years, I've also traveled to villages in the mountainous northern Vietnam to learn more about traditional textiles and natural dyes of different ethnic groups. Hmong batik and indigo dye is an art that I love so much, and I run this workshop because I deeply feel the responsibility to preserve it and to share it with more people.

Enjoy a hassle-free arrival with this Hanoi airport private arrival transfer. Meet your friendly driver when your plane touches down and avoid the headache of navigating a new city. Your professional driver will be waiting with a personalized signboard to whisk you off to your hotel of choice.

- Unleash Your Inner Blacksmith at Hanoi’s Knife Making Class. - Go visit traditional craft villages on the outskirts of Hanoi. - Meet and chat with locals. - You will go through all processes of making a simple knife.

Craft your own traditional Vietnamese knife Learn from a master blacksmith with over 40 years of experience Take home a unique, personalized handmade souvenir Create a custom, fully functional blade to use at home

Not only does this art form celebrate Hmong heritage, but it also plays a vital role in economic development. By sharing their unique artistic skills with visitors and tourists in Sa Pa, the Hmong people create an unforgettable cultural experience. This engagement fosters economic opportunities and helps preserve their artistic traditions while ensuring a sustainable future for the community. Through beeswax painting, the Hmong not only express their creativity but also enhance their livelihood, making this art form a significant aspect of their cultural and economic landscape.

Looking for a unique and meaningful experience in Hanoi? Join us at Mộc Thôn, where you’ll carve your own wooden keepsake from reclaimed or flood-fallen timber that has been lovingly restored. Begin by choosing your block of wood, each with its own natural patterns and history. With simple tools and friendly guidance, you’ll learn how to shape, smooth, and finish your piece whether it’s a board, coaster, or a small figure that reflects your personality. The workshop is calm, creative, and welcoming to all skill levels. You’ll enjoy Vietnamese tea, gentle music, and stories from local craft traditions. When you finish, your artwork will be placed in a handmade cloth bag to take home. Mộc Thôn is also a creative hub supporting emerging local artists, so you’ll have the chance to visit a mini art gallery and support the community. Leave with a beautiful handmade piece and a heartfelt memory of Hanoi.

Highlights: - Learn traditional Vietnamese embroidery techniques from a famous local artisan. - Create your own unique embroidered souvenir to take home. - Explore a beautifully preserved ancient house in Hanoi's Old Quarter. - Enjoy a complimentary Vietnamese refreshment and local snacks. - Option to add an authentic home-cooked meal of a Hanoi specialty. Meet Hong, our host, a fourth-generation embroidery artisan and owner of Tân Mỹ, a family business founded in 1969. Born into a lineage with 400 years of textile tradition, Hong devoted her life to preserving her ancestral craft. The story of Tân Mỹ began during the war, when her grandmother created embroidered keepsakes with messages of love and hope for soldiers. Today, Hong continues this legacy, welcoming visitors to learn hand embroidery and become part of a living history that has touched generations.

Looking for a unique last-minute activity this weekend in Hanoi? Whether you're a curious traveler, an expat looking to explore something new, or an artist needing a creative warm-up, our Life Model Drawing session is the perfect experience. Join us this upcoming weekend for an inspiring session with professional models in a cozy, thoughtfully curated setting. No experience needed – our friendly instructors offer guidance in English, making it accessible for complete beginners. Located in the vibrant Tay Ho area, this is more than just a drawing class – it's a chance to connect, create, and enjoy a relaxing, art-filled moment in Hanoi. Come solo or bring a friend – explore your creativity and make your weekend memorable!

A calm and nurturing environment awaits children aged 5–11 at art studio in Tây Hồ. Designed to promote creativity and skill development, these classes offer hands-on sessions in drawing and contemporary art. Kids will learn essential techniques like shapes and light as they create imaginative projects inspired by modern artists. Taught by graduates from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, this program includes all materials and opportunities for exhibition submissions, ensuring a thorough art experience throughout the course.

Make the most of your time on this day trip that lets you experience several of the top attractions in the area surrounding Hanoi. Relax as you’re driven past scenic mountains and rice paddies in Tam Coc, visit old temples in Hoa Lu, and enjoy a ride on a traditional sampan bamboo boat with included hotel pickup.

Skip the lines and the hassle with this book-ahead service that includes water puppet show entrance tickets and delivery to your Hanoi hotel. Choose from several showtimes to fit your travel schedule and wait for tickets to be delivered to you. Arrive at the theater 15 minutes before showtime and prepare to experience one of Vietnam's most memorable traditional art forms live on stage.

Unlike a traditional workshop with step-by-step instruction, this experience gives you the freedom to create at your own pace while discovering one of the Hmong people's most iconic textile traditions. After a brief introduction and demonstration, you'll have two hours to relax, experiment, and design your own beeswax artwork without feeling rushed. Set inside a welcoming local space in Sa Pa, this hands-on activity offers a meaningful cultural experience that's suitable for all skill levels—whether you're an artist or simply curious to try something new. Your artwork is then finished using natural indigo dye, just as Hmong artisans have done for generations, creating a one-of-a-kind souvenir that reflects both your creativity and the region's rich heritage.

Indigo dyeing is more than a craft — it is a living cultural heritage of the Black Tay and other ethnic minority communities in Northern Vietnam. For generations, indigo garments have reflected identity, beliefs, and a deep connection to nature, using dye extracted from the Indigofera plant through a completely natural process. Today, this tradition is at risk. Industrial textiles, tourism-driven jobs, and the use of chemical farming methods are gradually replacing handmade practices and organic cultivation. We are working to preserve this fragile heritage by supporting over 120 producers from seven ethnic minority groups, promoting organic indigo farming, employing disabled and deaf staff, and reinvesting profits into community infrastructure. By joining this workshop, you are not just creating a handcrafted piece — you are helping sustain traditional knowledge, ethical livelihoods, and a more environmentally responsible future for these communities.

Experience the highlights of Ha Long Bay without the hassle of arranging transportation, boat tickets, and activities on your own. This guided cruise combines several of the bay’s most popular experiences in one seamless outing, from exploring Sung Sot Cave to kayaking or taking a bamboo boat through Luon Cave. You'll also have time to enjoy the scenery from Ti Top Island while a Vietnamese seafood lunch is included along the way.

This workshop is more than a craft class – it's a doorway into the soulful world of Vietnamese culture, where beauty is made by hand and stories are woven into every thread. You’ll experience a rare and meaningful tradition that exists only in Vietnam: the art of Cói weaving – using natural sedge harvested in wetlands and shaped through centuries of knowledge passed from mother to daughter. Unlike commercial souvenirs, you’ll make your own eco-friendly artwork, guided by a local artisan who carries the memory of her ancestors’ hands. The space itself is quiet and warm, designed to help you slow down, breathe deeply, and create with intention. As you weave, you’ll also learn about Vietnamese values – simplicity, harmony, and resilience – through stories, rituals, and friendly conversation. This experience is perfect for mindful travelers, cultural seekers, and anyone looking for a gift that carries real meaning. Only in Vietnam – only in this moment – only with your own two hands

Book painting class now to get creative and take beautiful pottery home with you. Today, We bring the Ceramics pottery painting workshop to you right in the heart of Hanoi's old quarter, at 115 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem. Here you can join a cermics painting workshop with experienced teacher from bat trang ceramics village. You will get to learn about the history and basics of Bat Trang pottery painting. Practice painting with ideas in 2.5 hour. And learn how to glaze products Please plan your schedule accordingly in order to pick up and take the products you’ve painted ( we need 1-2days to fire your products) Slots for class: In the morning 8h30 to 11h00 or in the afternoon 14h00 to 16h30 Price is 28 usd per person, include one products to paint ( you take more you will pay more from 2 usd) Ceramics color Tools to paint Painting wheel Glaze Meeting point: 115 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi ( Authentic bat trang Ceramics shop and workshop)

Our pottery classes offer a hands-on experience where you can choose between wheel throwing or hand building techniques to create your own unique pieces. As a delightful bonus, you can also select handcrafted items from our collection as souvenirs or gifts, providing you with lasting memories of your time in Vietnam. Join us for a fulfilling and creative journey at our pottery studio!

Making incense is one of Vietnam’s most aromatic and photogenic activities. Learn how to do it on this intimate small-group tour, with a maximum of six people. Traveling by private car, you’ll sample some of Hanoi’s best pho, drink egg coffee, try your hand at incense-making, and enjoy lunch in the incense craft village with hotel pickup included.

Dong Ho Village with its famous paintings has become an aesthetic symbol in Vietnam culture. Located to the left side of Duong River, Dong Ho stood for centuries making their unique art work. From over 100 families in the 1950s, currently there are only a handful of families still making the traditional craft. Dong Ho paintings are places for artists to reflect their wishes for lucks and their perception of everyday life in the village.

A peaceful art studio hidden in a quiet garden in Tây Hồ — the perfect escape from Hanoi’s busy streets. Our drawing session is designed for beginners and travelers who want a calm, creative break during their trip. What makes this experience special: • Real art guidance from friendly instructors, not a “paint & sip” party • Hands-on learning with pencils, charcoal, and simple still-life objects • Relaxing, quiet environment ideal for solo travelers, couples, or friends • A meaningful Hanoi souvenir — take home your finished artwork • Expat- and traveler-friendly English-speaking instructors • Small groups for focused, personal attention It’s a simple but memorable way to connect with Hanoi’s creative side.