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Overview of the Peking Opera Experience at Taipei EYE

• Taipei EYE
• Pre-show Experience
• Peking Opera
• Monkey King Fights the Skeleton Demon
• Where to book the Peking Opera Experience at Taipei EYE

Taipei EYE

The TaipeiEYE calls itself the “Home for Authentic Traditional Chinese Performing Arts, Where Eye-Opening Cross-Cultural Encounters Continue in Taiwan”. It first opened its doors in 1915 when the businessman Koo Hsien-Jung bought the Danshui Club from the Japanese business circle, had it renovated, and renamed it Taiwan New Stage. The theater was destroyed during World War II. In 1989 the son of Mr. Koo founded the C.F. Koo Foundation to promote Peking Opera. In 1998 the Taiwan Cement Building was completed. Mr. Koo was the Board Chairman of the Taiwan Cement Company,

In September 2002 the TaipeiEYE had its grand opening in the Cement Building.

Pre-show Experience

At the Taipei EYE many activities happen before the show. Like at many landmarks, museums and viewpoints in Taiwan there is a stamp station. There are stamps that are Taipei EYE themed, others show masks and makeup from some of their shows.

There is face-painting, mainly for children, but when I did it two older Japanese ladies got one, too. I got a selfie with them as well, but since we only communicated via facial expressions and gestures I couldn’t ask if they were okay with me sharing it here.

At one end of the lobby was a photo booth with costumes where two staff members helped with costume selection and fitting. They will also provide character introductions and simple posture demonstrations that are in line with the costume and accessories you are wearing.

Next to the elevators was a woodblock printing station where you could print a red dragon and phoenix (signature emblem of TaipeiEYE) on white xuan paper or door guardian designs of figures from Taiwanese folk traditions in black ink on red xuan paper. You can hang the papers up with magnets during the show and pick them up once dried to take home afterwards.

Before the show some of the performers prepare inside the lobby to give guests insight into what goes into the preparation for the stage.

One plays the Pipa. It’s a plucking instrument that can be dated as far back as the Qin and Han dynasties in China. It is used as a solo instrument during the show.

At a table two other performers apply their stage makeup (容妝), the one in the front is painting his face to play one of the monkeys that follow the Monkey King Wukong.

There was also a table for Lianpu colouring.

Several of the masks used in these shows were printed on white paper and there were many coloured felt tip markers.

On an instruction sheet you could find six different examples of masks to colour from, or make your own.

On other days there are other experiences as well as the ones I mentioned above, such as Chinese paper cutting and traditional Chinese opera hair and headdress styling demonstration.

Peking Opera

Peking Opera (京劇) was listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. Peking Opera describes a performance art that incorporates singing, reciting, acting, martial arts and music on traditional instruments.

Monkey King Fights the Skeleton Demon

The show they were showing was called the “Monkey King Fights the Skeleton Demon”. The story originated from a chapter of the novel The Journey to the West, one of China’s four great classical novels from the 16th century, but was adapted to a stage show for Peking Opera. It contains dancing, singing and acrobatics.

In the story Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang (red) travels through the mountains with his three disciples: the Monkey King Sun Wukong (yellow), Zhu Bajie a formerly divine being that was exiled to the human realm and was birthed by a sow so that he now looks like a pig-human and Sha Wujing, another banished deity. The White Bone Demon detects Tang Sanzang’s presence wants to eat his flesh to become immortal.

While the monkey king is away from the group looking for food it transforms into a beautiful young woman, claiming to bring food to the nearest monastery. Zhu Bajie is hungry and wants to accept her food. When the Monkey King returns to their camp he sees through this facade and attack the demon, driving it away. It leaves behind a fake corpse.

Zhu Bajie accuses Sun Wukong of murdering her for no reason. The demon shows up again, this time in the from of an old woman looking for her daughter. Once again the Monkey King attacks her and the other three try to stop him. Eventually he kills the old woman as well. Once again a fake corpse is left behind. Again Zhu Bajie and Monk Tang think he killed an innocent.

The third time the demon shows up as an old man, pretending to look for this family. This time monk Tang even places himself between the demon and the Monkey King, believing the old man to be innocent. Once again Sun Wukong gets past their defences and defeats it. This time it is too much for Monk Tang and he recites a spell that punishes the Monkey King, then he dismisses him. The now trio continues their journey while Sun Wukong returns to his home, not without telling Sha Wujing to protect their master.

In the story version of this Peking Opera the White Bone Demon manages to capture monk Tang. Sun Wukong gets wind of this and disguises himself as the white bone demons mother to infiltrate her ranks. Just as she is about to take a bite out of him he transforms back and the two fight. Meanwhile Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing fight her demon henchmen. The battle seems to go in favour of the villains when the Monkey Kings monkeys show up to joint he fight.

The White Bone Demon fights against the monkey warriors and it is one of the most acrobatic scenes of the show. It ends with a fight between the two main characters and the liberation of monk Tang, who accepts Sun Wukong back as his disciple.

The show is translated with real time subtitles in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and English.

Where to book the Peking Opera Experience

Der Beitrag Peking Opera Experience – Taipei EYE erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

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To reach it you follow the main promenade until you reach Cát Tiên street. Follow it until you reach the viewpoint where you can go down to Cat Co 1 Beach to the left. Past the hotel resort entrance to the right you can go down stone stairs. From there you turn right and reach the start of the rock trail.

When the trail is empty, like it was for me you might get lucky and meet some of the local wildlife. Cat Ba has many different types of insects. Beetles and butterflies frequent flowers, leaves and the shady crevices between stones. Salamanders can also be found if you find the time to stay still so these shy animals show themselves long enough for you to admire them before they disappear into the grove.

Eventually you will reach a high point from which you can see the Hôtel Perle d’Orient Cat Ba – MGallery. Less pretty of a sight, but you can just look to your left

Eventually you’ll reach Cát Cò 3, a public beach. It marks the end of the beautiful trail. Footpaths will take you back to the centre, with construction on your left past Lepont bungalow and eventually along the newly built project by Sun Group Cát Bà.

The entirety of the trail will take you no longer than an hour if you go slow and enjoy the views on the way. Just be sure to apply sunscreen and wear a hat, since there is no shade whatsoever along the path.

Der Beitrag The prettiest trail on Cat Ba erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

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Once again I stayed at An Homestay Cat Ba, the best accommodation on the island. Right next to it is Tam Vegetarian Hidden Restaurant, which is run by the same family. Tam is, in my humble opinion, one of the best cooks in Vietnam. If vegetarian or not, you’ll love the Vietnamese food here.

But to get to the topic: One morning Quyen, Tams husband and former tourist guide, took me to the northern part of the island before sunrise. We drove along the Cat Ba Island Cross-Island Road (Đường xuyên đảo Cát Bà) and it was beautiful. The forests left and right of the road were exuding mist and the birds were singing.

We got to the Northern Pier of Cat Ba just before the sun rose above the limestone mountains of Ha Long Bay. Some boats were moored close to the bay. They had no guests on board and all engines were shut off, leaving the bay in silence.

Right after sunrise some people arrived at the pier and got into boats, driving out into the bay, either to one of the small cruise ships or further out, past the first row of limestone mountains, probably to go fishing.

Once the sun had risen the light changed and revealed a breathtaking view of Ha Long Bay from Cat Ba Island.

On the way back we drove through Cát Hải, a small village in the north of the island.

When we got back to the homestay Tam had breakfast ready (though the homestay usually doesn’t come with breakfast included).

There was seafood soup (since I am not vegetarian), with lots of tofu, spring onion and squid.

For fruit Tam had gotten Star Apple and Mangosteen from the market as well as sour plums from their garden.

To drink there was a can of Sapa tea.

Der Beitrag Sunrise on Cat Ba erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

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Overview of a perfect trip to Hanoi

• Where to stay in Hanoi
• Must-try foods in Hanoi
• Must-see museums in Hanoi
• Free things to do in Hanoi
• What to do in Hanoi
• Day-Trips from Hanoi
• Tips for your Hanoi trip
• TLDR, show me a map with everything important

Where to stay during your trip to Hanoi

Similar to pretty much everywhere in Vietnam, Hotels and AirBnBs can be both high-quality and affordable choices. Of course, there are also Hostels, which are mostly frequented by young backpackers and are great if you are one and want to meet like-minded people. But for everyone who is a bit older, chronically ill or just wants more privacy these are my favourite options:

The Old Quarter* is the best district to stay in, in Hanoi, since it is walkable, most sights and attractions are there, as well as great food and delicious coffee.

I stayed in a room at Wecozy Nội Miếu, with my own bathroom and a communal kitchen, several times over the years, most recently in 2026. The room was spacious, the bed was comfortable, the filtered water from the kitchen was a big plus, but above all it was clean and quiet, despite being in the most busy district of the city.

They have a second building near the famous Hanoi Train Street: WECOZY HANOI – Railway Side, The Old Quarter* with many different rooms and apartments to rent.

Must-try foods on your trip to Hanoi

The main reason I wanted to go to Vietnam in the first place was the food. During the time I was there, I tried something new every day. This is my list of must-eat foods in Hanoi: What to eat, where to eat it and how much money to plan for food in the budget (spoiler: it’s not a lot).

I linked all of the mentioned foods in the map at the end of the blogpost!

Xôi xéo is sticky rice with shaved mung bean, chicken fat, crunchy fried onions and pork floss. It’s delicious and fills you up for the entire day without making you feel stuffed. It was my favourite breakfast I had in Hanoi by far!

A Bánh mì is the perfect sandwich. Nothing more. Nothing less. You get a crispy baguette with different fillings. The one you get at most places has liver paté, fried pork, cucumber, carrots, coriander, chilli and soy sauce. My favourite was a pate and egg Banh Mi at Banh Mi Paté, a street food cart in the Old Quarter. It’s perfect for a quick snack, for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And it’s great to take on day tours if you’re not sure how much food is included!

Phở is Vietnam’s de facto national dish, a delicious soup with savoury broth, rice vermicelli, herbs, and beef strips. It’s delicious, it fills you up, it hydrates and especially when it’s cold (or raining) outside it’s the perfect meal. A famous spot in Hanoi “Pho 10” has even gotten a Michelin Star in 2023.

Bánh Rán are Vietnamese sticky rice doughnuts with mung bean filling and either coated in sesame, covered with sugar or drenched in honey or in the case of Bánh Rán Mặn filled with pork meat and wood ear mushroom. They are heavy but delicious street snacks. Be on the lookout for scammers selling days-old ones in baskets. The place I tagged on the map belongs to an old couple who have been selling them for years and fry them fresh several times a day.

Bánh Cuốn are a special kind of pancake, made by steaming a slightly fermented rice batter on a cloth that is stretched over a pot of boiling water. These thin rice pancakes are often eaten with fish sauce, fried shallots, and cha lua (Vietnamese pork sausage). They go great with a light beer.

Bún chả is a Vietnamese dish that became very famous when then US-President Obama ate it in a small restaurant in Hanoi. This soup like dish has of grilled fatty pork in a savory-sour sauce with young papaya inside, served with rice noodles and greens.

Egg coffee is made from egg yolk, sugar, coco powder and Vietnamese Phin Coffee. Cafe Giang is supposedly the birthplace of egg coffee when it was invented in 1946 by Mr. Nguyen Van Giang. Today egg coffee can be found at almost every café in Hanoi. The most “instagrammable” version of egg coffee is undoubtedly served at the two establishments of eggyolk coffee.

Banana Fritters or Bánh Chuối are bananas, battered and deep fried. They go incredibly well with a delicious dessert-like drink called coconut coffee, made from sweet slushy coconut ice cream, topped with espresso.

When you go to the hawker stall I linked in the map: Be decisive, but friendly. Don’t wait in line, you will never get food. Go to the front, get one of the ladies attention with a smile and a wave, point at the banh chuoi, show her how many you want, give her the money, get the food, leave. Then enjoy your snack with a coconut coffe in the cong cafe nearby.

Our plate of Bún đậu had of vermicelli rice noodles, fried tofu, boiled pork leg, rice pork cake, intestine/blood sausage, fermented shrimp paste, greens and herbs. We also got green tea and chewing gum on the side, because if you eat the fermented shrimp paste your breath will smell horrible.

Travelling is an adventure. Food should be too. The fermented shrimp paste is not for everyone, but you’ll never know until you try it. Also if you are with a Vietnamese person they will love to watch your expression as you eat it.

Tranquil Books & Coffee

One more hidden café in Hanoi is Tranquil Books & Coffee. If the hustle and bustle of the train street cafes is not your vibe, or you just want to relax with a good book, come here. Walls off books line this cafe, which has more rooms than you might initially think. And if you don’t want to read – their wifi is strong and free. They also serve more than coffee and my house-made grapefruit lemonade was delicious.

The Matcha Tokyo Ha Noi

Wile it doesn’t have the variety in Matcha like Nagocha The Matcha Tokyo Ha Noi uses real Matcha for their drinks and is located conveniently for tourists just up the street from Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

De Beurre

Looking for good croissants in Hanoi? Look no further than De Beurre. They make delicious and flaky croissants and other puff pasty based pastries. I went for a vanilla cream-strawberry croissant and a Matcha croissant.

Phở Cuốn 31

You can eat Pho at many places in Hanoi and while the “original”, meaning a soup, is delicious, there are more takes on the famous dish. At Phở Cuốn 31 you can eat Pho in spring-roll form, with the Pho noodles in the shape of a sheet acting as the rice paper and the filling is what you’d usually find inside the broth. Delicious! However I missed some of the spices and it was quite dry. Another dish is the deep fried Pho where the Pho noodles are cut into squares and deep fried into delicious fluffy pillows of dough. The contents of the broth are also pan fried and the “soup” part is reduced until even one spoon full packs a punch of flavour. Easy to tell that that one was my favourite.

Workshop 14

Workshop14 is a small bar near the West Lake with “botanical garden” vibes – immaculate. When a friend took me there they had a barkeeper from a bar on Bali serve up some of their special drinks menu, which was delicious, but it also means that I can’t really speak on their normal menu. My friend, who is from Hanoi, assured me they are high quality as well.

Xôi khúc

This savoury snack / meal was introduced to me as “a Hanoian’s favourite hangover food”. Perfectly timed in the morning. Neither of us had a hangover, but it was still delicious. Sold by street vendors, often from the back of a bicycle or scooter this banana leaf is filled with sticky rice, mung bean paste and fatty pork meat. You can get it with a small bag of salted and roasted sesame and peanuts to add to your taste.

Habakuk Fine Coffee & Bistro

Habakuk is a more fancy café south of the French Quarter in Hanoi during the day and a european cuisine restaurant by night. They recieved the Michelin Bib Gourmand for their food, but I am not here to tell you about the food. I only had a coffee here. A Latté to be precise, with the espresso inside made from coffee beans that had been fermented in a whiskey barrel. As an avid whiskey lover I was delighted with the distinct whiskey aftertaste of an otherwise alcohol free drink.

Chè Nhà Suvy

Chè Nhà Suvy, sells different types of Vietnamese chè. Pictured below are chè khúc bạch (cream and green tea jelly cubes and longans in lightly sweet syrup) and chè bưởi (pomelo skin, mung beans and coconut milk) on the right. Both tasted great, but I couldn’t get on board with the consistency of the orange one, so I finished the green one instead.

refined. Specialty Coffee

They have several locations throughout Hanoi that all use their own roasted coffee beans. At the refined. Specialty Coffee location I visited the coffee bar is on the second floor of the NoConcept clothing store. You have to walk through the store to reach the café.

The coffee bar actually has bar vibes. Dark surroundings and furniture, nice glassware and bar stools lining the counter. The coffee is strong, the beans are great and in perfect sizes to take home. I recommend their Robusta and Phin+ beans, they are my favourites.

Maison Marou

Maison Marou produces chocolate from Vietnamese cacao beans, sourced from their network of small farmers, and other ingredients sourced in the country. At their Maison Marou Flagship Hanoi you can learn about the whole bean-to-bar production, taste their chocolates before you decide to buy chocolate or chocolate truffles, chocolate ice creams and even baked goods with their chocolate – oh, and hot chocolate as well! I had a dark hot chocolate and a two-chocolate filled cream-puff with a crunchy outside.

To meet my friend I also bought Mekong Honey Pralines and Pho Spices Pralines. We both were of the opinion that the honey ones were the better choice. Though the pho spice ones were also an experience.

Must-see Museums on your trip to Hanoi

Like most capitals of the world, Hanoi has a lot of museums to show off the country’s history, culture and traditions. They might not be the top spot on everyone’s to-do list while in the city, but even if you’re just here for a day or two you should try to incorporate at least one of these into your itinerary.

Temple of Literature

The Temple of Literature was the first university in the country, founded in the year 1070. Now it’s the museum in Hanoi that attracts the most visitors every year. This is a must-see for everyone who wants to learn about history, education or the history of education in Vietnam.

I was lucky to go here with a guide who was able to tell me about the history of the building and the traditions people still follow, but you can also get an audio guide.

Museum of Ethnology

To get a comprehensive overview about Vietnam and it’s people, as well as the different minority groups and the origin of traditions all in one place visit the Museum of Ethnology. You’ll need 3 – 5 hours for this museum, it has an amazing audio guide, two buildings and an outdoor living-museum area!

Vietnam National Museum of History

This museum covers the history of Vietnam from prehistoric times the different ruling dynasties, the French colonial regime, the war to drive out the French, the founding of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam up to the Vietnam-US war and the unification of the country.

Not only the exhibits inside the museum are interesting, the building the museum in located is interesting as well. It was built during the French colonial rule of Vietnam and originally served as the archaeological research institution of the French School of the Far East.

Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum

The National Fine Arts Museum of Vietnam in Hanoi is one of the best curated fine arts Museums you will ever see. It also has a super modern audio guide that works directly on your own phone with an app you can download on their free WiFi, with a pair of headphones you can lend for free (or use your own).

Vietnam Military History Museum

Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City have big military history museums, showcasing the war with the USA. While the fighting happened all over Vietnam, the two cities were the major players in the war with Hanoi being the capital of the Vietnamese Communists and Saigon (now Ho Chi Min City) being the capital of the Americans in Vietnam.

The military history museum in Hanoi is divided into several exhibitions. One is about the war effort, one about notable people who fought in the war and what they did, one about Ho Chi Min and then there are two changing ones. Outside of the main buildings, but still on the museum’s grounds, you can find an old fortification which you can climb, to see how people lived and worked who defended the city, as well as several planes, tanks, boats and other military machinery. 

2026 Update: The Vietnam Military History Museum moved to a new campus at Km6+500, CT03, Xuân Phương, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Maison Centrale – Hoa Lo Prison

Maison Centrale, otherwise known as Hoa Lo Prison, “Hell on Earth” by the Vietnamese prisoners during French colonialism or sarcastically “Hanoi Hilton” by imprisoned American soldiers during the Vietnam War, is a prison complex turned museum. I recommend this for everyone who wants to learn from history so the horrors of the past may not be repeated.

Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long

When you look up “Imperial Citadel Hanoi” most pictures will be of the Đoan Môn gate, but said gate is only one part of the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among other places, it also includes the flag tower and an archaeological site at 18 Hoàng Diệu Street. Those ruins were discovered in 2008 and belong to the former imperial city. The digging site is still being worked on, but it is open to the public. The compound is right between the National Assembly Building and the Ministry of Defence.

Inside the citadel, you can also find house D67, which was used during the war between 1954 and 1975 as the military headquarters of the People’s Army of Vietnam. The rooms look untouched from when they were in use (and are a great way to escape from the heat of the city).

Vietnamese Women’s Museum

The Vietnamese women’s museum is a very interesting one. Sure, a lot of it is propaganda, especially the entire floor about the war, but at the same time it gives a fascinating overview about:

• The role of women in the ancients tribes of Vietnam
• The role of women, a few handpicked ones in particular, during the Vietnam war
• Changes in women’s clothes over the centuries
• Vietnamese princesses and emperors’ wives and their impact on the country
• The religion or cult/sect/religion that worships „Mother Nature“

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum

As a Vietnamese friend of mine put it “You wait for an hour to see a dead body for 15 seconds.” Of course, it isn’t as simple as that, but that’s an interesting way to look at it. I did not go inside the mausoleum itself, but I did spend several hours in the gardens and on the grounds of the mausoleum. In the gardens, you can see several hundred different plants from all over the country, as well as the one-pillar-pagoda, a famous small pagoda in the middle of a lake.

Ancient House

One of the remaining ancient houses of Vietnam, this living exhibition offers a glimpse into the past of the country. It is often quite full, so make sure to get there super early in the morning or go here with a guide who knows when the big tourist groups have passed through already.

Again, I was lucky to go here with a guide who could tell me about the history of the building, the traditions you can see inside and the meaning of several architectural specifics. I recommend this approach, as there are no plaques or explanations inside and you would miss a lot of the cultural specifics.

Hanoi Police Museum

As one of the newest museums in Hanoi the Police Museum was entirely empty when I visited. Not a single person in sight, neither visitor, nor staff. Some exhibits cover the development of police forces in Hanoi during different decades, others showcase the various uniforms used by the police force from the past till today. In the middle of the ground floor you can find the most modern exhibit on the most recent developments and plans for the future.

Notable Places to visit for free on your trip to Hanoi

Hoàn Kiếm Lake, adjacent to the Old Quarter is a small lake in the middle of the city. The streets around the lake are turned into a pedestrian zone every weekend. Around the lake families, students and seniors enjoy the spot of nature to sit, play or for exercise. In the middle of the lake, on an unreachable island stands the Turtle Tower. For many years large turtles called the lake their home, but sadly the last one was found dead sometime after 2015.

With the train passing through this narrow street, filled with colourful houses, shops and cafés the Train Street in Hanoi is a highly frequented Instagram-Photoshoot location.⁠ ⁠The cafes have been completely shut down before and now there are barriers in some places. Maybe the train street will one day return to the bustling spot it became famous as, but with how many people try to get as close to the moving train as possible to get the perfect shot, I seriously doubt it…

At its construction during the French colonial occupation of Vietnam / French Indochina Long Biên Bridge was one of the longest bridges in Asia. Today half the bridge is still original, with rustic (and rusting) metal pillars carrying the structure. It is still used as a railroad, but also by pedestrians and motorcyclists.

St. Joseph’s Cathedral was one of the first structures built by the French colonial government and is the oldest church in Hanoi. After the colonial period, the catholic church in Vietnam was persecuted, priests arrested and its assets and buildings seized. The church is not in a great state, but it was not destroyed either and since 1990 mass has been held here again.

Explore the Old Quarter! This hub of commerce reminds of the Hanoi of old. Tiny shops, cafes, workshops, hostels, homestays, restaurants and much more line the small maze like streets and alleyways. There is something to discover every step you take!

Along the Phùng Hưng street a Vietnamese-Korean street art project has turned a former railroad bridge into an outdoor gallery of street art murals depicting cultural and historical scenes from everyday life drawn in many different styles.

What to do in Hanoi

Embroidery Workshop Hanoi

The traditional embroidery workshop is not the first time I did an embroidery workshop in Vietnam, the last was in Hoian. But the two workshops could not have been more different. At Tân Mỹ Embroidery the workshop is secondary to their main shop, which has been specialising in embroidery for generations. We started with a short introduction of the history of embroidery in Vietnam, its uses and meanings. How, especially in war times, an embroidered handcerchief was sometimes the only thing a soldier had to remind them of home – personal and yet light and small enough to be carried everywhere.

I got to choose what I wanted to embroider and went with flowers, since it became a present for my grandmother. My instructor helped me through the process of picking fitting colours, showing me the stitches and making sure there was always enough yarn left to go. While we worked she told me more about the history of the house, the embroidery profession and how most of the shops she knew growing up were not in business anymore. I am glad they opened up their doors for workshops, especially when it means preserving this art for the next generation(s)!

Once my own piece was done she handed it off to a member of staff to turn the flat cloth into a small bag, with my flower perfectly centered on it. Meanwhile I got to explore all the embroidered art on the upper floors. They looked like paintings!

You can book the workshop here on GetYourGuide*.

Silver Smith Workshop

Always on the lookout for unique things to do and more things to learn while travelling, I stumbled upon a silversmith workshop in Hanoi. In the silver crafting village Dinh Cong, about 30 minutes from the Old Quarter of Hanoi, held inside a community house, this workshop takes you back to the time when Hanoi was still called Thang Long (1010 AC).

More on my experience at the workshop here: Silversmith Workshop – Hanoi

Traditional Watercolour Workshop

Watercolor painting is an art form that creates artistic representations using a real-hair brush on rice paper. Traditionally the pictures are focused on nature and natural elements. In this workshop we learned the basic techniques of watercolour painting and how to draw a certain flower.

Thang Long Water Puppet Theater

Water puppetry in Vietnam dates back to the 11th century and has survived to this day. In the Old Quarter Hanoi you can see this age old tradition live at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. The music and story are in Vietnamese, but you don’t have to understand the words to understand the story.

Dao’s Care

You might have heard of Thai Massages, but Vietnamese Massages are equally as amazing. At Dao’s Care near the West Lake, you can take a medical herbal bath, based on the herbal baths of the Dao tribe, or get a massage by one of their visually impaired masseurs. They are really talented with their hands and will have you leaving the place feeling refreshed, but also kind of mushy. It’s perfect after a long day of walking or an exhausting tour day!

Go Bar Hopping in Hanoi

Hanoi has a very innovative cocktail scene, with many bars dotted over the city and the beer street where most tourists like to get tipsy off 1€ beer. There are some bars that stand out over others, such as The Haflington, Nê Cocktailbar and the Rabbit Habit in the Old Quarter as well as the Bar Dinh Rooftop Bar & Lounge which overlooks the West Lake and Workshop14, also at the West Lake.

You can read more about it here: Bar hopping in Hanoi – Vietnamese cocktail innovations

Visit the NAGOCHA Matcha House

Day Trips from Hanoi

With it’s location in the centre of northern Vietnam Hanoi is the perfect starting point for day trips (or even two-day trips). Since there are numerous tour providers and guides it is important to do your research before booking your day trip so you won’t get scammed on your trip to Hanoi.

Ha Long Bay

On top of my list of places I wanted to see during my trip was Ha Long Bay; the Bay of the Descending Dragon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 2000 limestone mountains emerging from emerald water.

Its a 3-hour drive from Hanoi to Tuan Chau Marina, from where most Ha Long Bay cruises start. We were about 45 people on a boat similar to the one in the left picture. Every tour has a set of stops across the bay, like the Incense Burner Islet (featured on the 200.000 đồng note), Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave and TiTov Island.

Despite several things being less than ideal on the tour to Ha Long Bay I went on, I would still say a visit is more than worth it, but I would recommend two days instead.

Ninh Binh

The province Ninh Binh is located south-west of Hanoi. The two main excursion locations are the ancient capital of Hoa Lư and Tam Cốc, which are part of the Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hoa Lư was the capital of Đại Cồ Việt (today northern Vietnam) until 1010. Its location, surrounded by mountains and rivers was perfect to defend it, but less perfect for trade.

During the Ninh Binh day trip I went on we cycled from Hoa Lư to Tam Cốc, where we had lunch with a local family, then visited a cave next to a Buddhist monastery and finally came to our last stop: the bank of the Ngô Đồng River where we boarded a sampan and paddled through the limestone mountains and rice fields locals also call “dry Ha Long Bay”.

Tips for your Trip to Hanoi

Bottled water is your best friend

The water from the tap in Vietnam is not drinkable. To avoid dehydration in the tropical climate you have to drink enough though. So get bottled water and keep one bottle on yourself at all times.

Get an E-SIM

While public WiFi is widespread in Hanoi, as well as free wifi at cafés and restaurants, none of it is very protected. A password that is 123456789 is about as safe as no password at all. So if you need to access payment info or any sensitive data, better do it via mobile data on an E-Sim. I have had good experiences with this e-sim from klook* in the past, since you can pick the plan that fits your needs best. From one day to 30 days, from 500 MB per day to 50 GB or even unlimited data. They have the three biggest mobile carriers in Vietnam to pick from and it’s super easy to activate in the klook app.

Grab VN

Upon arriving in Hanoi you’ll quickly realize that the best way to discover the ins and outs of this bustling city is on the back of a motorbike with a local. It’s also the best way to get from point A to point B.

To avoid scams, simply download the Grab VN App to your phone, set up a profile and add a payment method. Now you can book rides wherever and whenever and always see upfront what your ride will cost you. It also works for food deliveries.

Working Spaces Hanoi

All Day Coffee has strong and stable free WiFi, as well as good aircon. It’s a modern two story cafe in an industrial style. While working you can try different modern takes on vietnamese coffee, selfmade lemonades and tea-drink creations like Earl Grey Hot Chocolate. They also have two bookshelves with books you can read while you’re there, sipping on your tea.

tanquil Books & Coffee has many different rooms, some small and others big and lined with books. Upstairs shoes are not allowed. They have outlets all over the place and many differen types of tables to work at.

Habakuk has excellent coffee, strong Wifi, clean toilets and cool, large rooms. Perfect for working for hours of working.

The Journal Things

At some point I was so fed up with all the AI slop in souvenir shops that I only went into shops that had already been reviewed by other people as actually selling human designed and human made things. One of these shops is The Journal Things. From the street it’s only a single wooden door with a red bow on it, then you climb a small flight of stairs and enter the sales floor. They had many things to choose from, enamel pins, stickers, magnets, postcards, keychains, posters, notebooks and more! In the end I bought three magnets of Vietnamese food and coffee, two enamel pins and several sheets of stickers for my travel journal.

Map for your trip to Hanoi

How to read the map: The orange ones are the restaurants and street food, the green spots are cafes, the blue are spots to visit I mentioned above and the reds are everything I couldn’t categorise. You can open the menu on the top left and choose the layers of the map.

You can save the map to your Google Maps for your trip to Hanoi by clicking here.

Der Beitrag Perfect trip to Hanoi – 2026 Update erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

This post contains affiliate links to things like tours and hotels. These help me earn a small commission at no additional charge to you. Every affiliate link is marked with a *.

Overview of the Knife Making Workshop in Hanoi

• Location
• Knife Making Workshop
• Where to book the original Knife Making Workshop in Hanoi

Location

The Knife Making Workshop in Hanoi takes place in Da Sy Village, a prestigious forging village with a long standing history. Today it has long become part of Hanoi, but its crafting spirit remains. During the wars of the past Da Sy was a main supplier of weapons for the Vietnamese military, but when peace finally returned to the land they shifted production to agricultural tools, machinery parts and kitchen utensils.

Mrs. Sinh’s family has been in the blacksmithing business for generations and together with Beyond Backstreet they created this workshop to bring traditional forging to travellers in an immersive way. It took them a few years to perfect it, since forging and mastering techniques takes time. Today everyone can learn basic technics of handmade forging and make a knife of their choice in just thirteen steps (give or take).

Knife Making Workshop Hanoi

These are the steps to make a knife you’ll do in the workshop. Some take more strength than others, some are more complicated than others. However I have been told that the ones I found more complicated others found easy and vice versa Ignore the tape around my hand, it has nothing to do with the knife making workshop, I injured my hand the day before (and still managed to make the knife!).

Step 1: Choosing which shape the knife should have

I went for a cleaver-like kitchen knife, since those are my favourite kind of knives to use during cooking.

Step 2: Whittling the knife handle

Whittling is the “process of repeatedly shaving slivers from a piece of wood¹“. With it you are shaping the knife handle. The knife you get for this process has a long handle, using the leverage to make it easier.

Step 3: Drawing the knife shape onto the metal

Step 4: Cutting the metal after heating it

To be able to cut the metal you need to heat it up until it becomes soft. Then one person holds a sharp metal wedge in the correct position while the other hammers it with a heavy two-handed metal hammer to thin out the metal. Once it is thin enough it can be broken off.

Step 5: Flattening the metal

To make a proper knife the side where the blade is going to be has to be thinner than the other side. For this the entire knife is heated in fire until it glows, then it is hammered until it reaches the desired thinness.

Step 6: Shaping the end into a sharp tip that goes into the handle

Once it had reached an acceptable shape Mai took me to the side to tell more more about the villages and the families history while snacking on apples and baked dough. Mrs. Sinh kept hammering it to make it even sharper.

Step 7: Sharpening the knife on a motorized grinder

Afterwards I had to sharpen the blade of my knife on a motorized grinder. That’s the part where sparks fly! It is less hot than it looks and you wear heat-resistant gloves during it. This step took a long time as you have to sharpen both sides in small sections and test in between.

Secret Step

At this point Mrs. Sinh applies her families secret liquid on the blade to harden it. Every family has their own recipe.

Step 8: Shaping the handle to fit metal reinforcement

After the grinding it was time to shape the tip of the handle. A metal ring is wrapped around the wood to enforce it, but for that the wood needs to be trimmed enough to fit said ring.

Step 9: Sanding the handle

To make the handle nice and smooth it is sanded by hand with course sandpaper, then once more with a finer grit sandpaper

Step 10: Browning the wood of the handle in the fire

Once the handle is smooth to the touch you can choose to keep it as it is or to brown it in the fire. The fire burns the outer surface into a protective layer that blocks water, rot, and pests at the cost of making the wood itself slightly weaker as a whole.

Step 11: Fitting the knife into the handle

The sharp tip of the knife we shaped earlier is then hammered into the reinforced handle. For this the knife is held by the blade with metal tongs and slammed down on a wooden block repeatedly

Step 12: Sharpening the knife on a limestone block

Once secure inside the handle the knife is sharpened one last time on a limestone block

Step 13: Trying out the finished knife

Finally it is time to test out the knife! It sliced through paper like butter, no pressure or sawing movement needed.

Where to book the original Knife Making Workshop in Hanoi

You can book through a form on their official website: www.hanoiknifemaking.com, or message them via WhatsApp or E-Mail, they have all their contact options listed there.

Since I know some people are weary of single business websites, they also have a listing on GetYourGuide*. This is the original. Many copycats have popped up since then, some are even using the same pictures, but they are not in any way affiliated with or connected to this company.

Der Beitrag Knife Making Workshop in Hanoi erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

Over the years I made many lanterns, the first in 2022, the last just earlier this year in 2026.

Making the lantern is a great experience and you not only leave with a unique souvenir (because you made it!) but also with a new appreciation for all the colourful lanterns all over the city and the people who make them. If you are worried about how to fit a lantern into your luggage: IT FOLDS!

Overview of the Hoi An Lantern Workshop

• The Lantern Lady Workshop
• How to make a lantern
• 2026 Lantern Workshop Update
• Workshop details and where to book

The Lantern Lady Workshop

The Lantern Lady has her Hoi An Lantern Workshop in the ancient town of Hoi An, near the Precious Heritage Museum. During my first two visits the workshop took place in fenced-in and corrugated sheet metal roofed courtyard. This year it in its stead stood a proper house! I am so happy that her hard work paid off in this way!

You can choose the shape or your lantern and the size. Based on your size choice you then pick your fabric. There are a lot more choices here, both in silk colours and in patterned fabric! And they change with the time to give returning visitors new options.

You’ll then be instructed on how to make your lantern. Several people walk between tables to help during the process, but you aren’t monitored constantly and can talk leisurely with everyone else at the table while crafting.

I met a few cool people here who also travelled alone or as a couple and we exchanged tips for our respective travels and our time in Hoi An. When you are travelling alone I recommend taking part in workshops to meet people who are interested in learning about local crafts and culture as much as you are.

How to make a Hoi An Lantern

First, you choose the shape of the lantern you want to make. Then you choose the silk or patterned fabric for your lantern. My favourite lantern to make is the medium sized traditional Hoi An shaped lantern.

After choosing four strips of silk or printed cloth they iron them for you to remove any wrinkles. Next you apply glue to the bamboo lantern skeleton. Applying the glue to the bamboo stakes is relatively easy, but applying the correct amount in an even way is complicated. Once the glue has dried just enough you are shown how to set and stretch the fabric to cover the stakes. At first, I was worried it would rip if I pulled it too tight, but the silk can take a lot of pulling. For your first lantern(s) I would recommend choosing silk as the patterned fabric is a lot more finicky.

The entire skeleton of the lantern has to be covered in silk, but there is a special technique to it, to make sure that once it’s done the overlays aren’t too visible. The second side you cover in silk is the one opposite the first. Only then do you cover the two remaining sides and finally cut off all overhand as closely to the stake as you can – without cutting the strings holding the lantern together.

I don’t know if it sounds easy from what I wrote here, but I thought it would be. Or at least easier than it turned out to be the first time. With every lantern you make it gets easier.

Once the lantern is covered you glue thick cardboard strips covered in the same (or a different) fabric around the top and bottom of the hanger to cover up the crooked fabric cut-offs.

In the last step you choose a tassel for the lantern base. Adorned with the tassel the lantern is done and left out to dry a bit more before you can fold it to bring it home.

2026 Update – Hoi An Lantern Workshop

Another visit to Hoian, another Lantern Workshop, or rather two this year. Once again I went back to the Lantern Lady to craft a Hoian Lantern. In total I made five lanterns during three visits in six years!

This year I made a red one for my other grandmother and a green one for my sister in law. However I also dragged several people I met during my time in Hoian here to make a lantern as well. Making a lantern is just one of the things you HAVE to do when you’re in Hoian. No matter how artistic- or crafting-inclined you are!

All the lanterns I made over the years and one from a friend I dragged with me to the workshop this year – from left to right:

1. Medium sized traditional Hoi An shaped lantern in red silk with a gold tassel – for myself
2. Small diamond shaped lantern in turquoise silk with a turquoise tassel – for my parents
3. Small round one with a red and flower patterned lantern and a red tassel – for my grandmother
4. Small diamond shaped one with a colourful pattern and a red tassel – for my grandma
5. Large top heavy lantern with green cloth with a bird pattern – for my sister in law
6. my friends lantern

Hoi An Lantern Workshop – The Lantern Lady Details

Starting times: Any time between 9 AM and 7 PM.

Address: 3/6, Đ. Phan Bội Châu, Hội An, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam. Search The Lantern Lady on Google Maps.

If you are visiting my site with everything but the strictly necessary disabled you won’t see the availability window above, so here is the simple link to the Lantern Lady’s workshop on GetYourGuide*

Der Beitrag Hoi An Lantern Workshop – 2026 Update erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

Overview of where to buy souvenirs in Hoian

• Souvenir Shops in Hoian
• Workshops where you can make or buy souvenirs
• Museums where you can also buy souvenirs
• Map of where to buy souvenirs in Hoian

Souvenir Shops in Hoian

Art stamp Engrave shop

As the name suggests this shop specialises in carved stamps and engraved chopsticks. They have many different chopsticks you can choose from and engrave them with a name, or a date, or both. The stamps they sell are unique and are carved to the shape you like. I bought a stamp here that was carved based on a picture of my parents dog and it came out so well!

-> 1st picture in the gallery below

Mountain’s Color 3 Hoi An Handmade Shop

If Sapa is on your list or you already bought souvenirs there, skip this one. However if you are interested in handcrafted bookmarks, Sapa lanterns (different to Hoi An lanterns), wallets or even a backpack made from hemp – this is the place for you! They get most of their things from the ethnic minorities living in the mountains in northern Vietnam and have explanations on how most things in the store were made. Staff is very friendly, there are fixed prices on everything and no pressure to buy!

-> 2nd picture in the gallery below and post picture

Hart Hoi An

At Hart Hoi An you can find old tea sets, swaths of handwoven cloth and hand-loom-woven brocade as well as jewellery and upcycled home decor. Ideal if you want to avoid buying something entirely new when there is already so much stuff on this planet.

-> 3rd picture in the gallery below

La Kao Teahouse

At La Kao Teahouse you can’t just do a tea tasting or drink many different Vietnamese teas, they also sell teas for you to take home. I picked my favourite ones from their seasonal collection from their shelves on my tray and once I was done they packed it for me and wrote down instructions for all the teas.

-> 1st and 2nd picture in the gallery below

Reaching Out Teahouse

In the back of the Reaching Out Teahouse you can find a workshop where artisans with disabilities craft jewellery, while at the front you can buy take-away sizes of the handmade cookies they serve along their teas and coffees.

-> 3rd picture in the gallery below

FeFe Roastery

While there are many roasteries in Hoian the beans at FeFe Roastery were my favourite to bring home so far, so they get my recommendation for this years post. Here you can buy Vietnamese Coffee Beans, freshly roasted in Hoian.

Alluvia Chocolate House

At Alluvia Chocolate House in Hoian you can buy Vietnamese Chocolate. You can try the chocolates they sell by grabbing a small piece from their tasting box with metal tongs. While the standard size is one bar of chocolate you can also pick and choose many different ones in smaller sizes to put into one of their truly beautiful gift-boxes. The only problem? You’ll want to eat it long before you get home… My recommendations are the lime chocolate, the mango chocolate and the matcha-white-chocolate.

-> 1st picture in the gallery below

SOI handmade

At the store of SOI handmade you can buy handmade things from many different crafters. They got together one day and decided one shop would make more sense than if every single one of them had their own. Here you can find jewellery, crocheted things, embroidered clothing, soap and much more! And since they are close to one of the beaches of Hoian it’s a great stop on your way.

-> 2nd picture in the gallery below

Nightmarket

While a lot of stands at the Hoian nightmarket sell the same things (not just similar, but the exact same! DO NOT BUY THERE unless you want something mass produced), some places still sell handmade things. One of my favourite stands was one with hand-painted handheld fans. The best ones to buy are those where you can see the seller paint new ones right in front of you. There are stands with handpainted fans, handpainted pictures (calligraphy and watercolour), handpainted Hoian lanterns and handpainted conical hats.

-> 3rd picture in the gallery below

Workshops where you can make or buy souvenirs:

ECODENIM

Here they make new things from old jeans: Backpacks, wallets, fanny packs, etc. Inside the small shop you can browse their items, look at art they make from jean-scraps or even make your own if you are interested!

-> 1st picture in the gallery below

Lotus Leaf Fine Art and Jewellery

At Lotus Leaf Fine Art and Jewellery you can make your own ring, pendant or bracelet during a jewellery workshop or peruse their collection of silver jewellery with inlays of local materials and precious stones. In 2024 I made myself a ring at a workshop and in 2026 I bought I beautiful delicate Ginko Leaf necklace from this shop.

Jewellery

-> 2nd and 3rd picture in the gallery below

Taboo Bamboo Studio

While I made my own bamboo lamp at Taboo Bamboo Studio you can buy one from their store as well, with many designs to choose from and the possibility of ordering a custom one as well. Next to bamboo lamps they also sell bamboo jewellery boxes with engravings (I went with a lotus flower one), bamboo animal sculptures and many more things. Even if it is just to look around this place is well worth a visit!

-> 1st picture in the gallery below

Hop Handi

Embroidered notebooks, tote-tags, hairclips, wallets, mini-mirros and much more is sold at Hop Handy in Hoian. I did an embroidery workshop here and made my own notebook and ordered a custom one for a friend. Then I bought a green hairclip with an embroidered sunflower for my sister-in-law.

-> 2nd picture in the gallery below – picture by Hop Handy

Thanh Ha Pottery Village

In the Tanh Ha Pottery Village you will find many pottery shops, some at which you can do a pottery workshop and in general more than you can ever shop at. Some specialise in tableware like cups and plates, others in vases and decorations. Some sell whistles and others incense holders. When you like pottery you will find something here! My advice is to compare prices

-> 3rd picture in the gallery below

Not just plastic

Not just plastic produces sunglasses from recycled plastic, which they collect in the greater Hoian area. They have different types of frames and lenses and you can try them on at their workshop space in Hoian. You can also learn about the process in more detail here if you’re interested.

-> 1st picture in the gallery below

Meadows Handmade Leather Workshop

At Meadows Handmade Leather Workshop (previously blue lotus leather) you can do a leather workshop and make your own thing, or buy one-of-a-kind leather wallets, leather purses, leather backpacks, leather weekender bags and more! They also make custom orders and have a streamlined process with check-in points to make sure you are getting exactly the piece you want.

-> 2nd picture in the gallery below – Picture by Meadows Handmade Leather Workshop

Experiential Carpentry Village

At the Experiential Carpentry Village on Cam Kim Island you can do a mini woodcarving workshop or buy handcarved wooden items. From bigger sculptures, like the Japanese temple bridge famous in Hoian, a Buddha statue or an animal carving, to small sculptures and carvings and even dishes and cutlery. I bought a small wooden elephant, because I love elephants.

-> 3rd picture in the gallery below

Nhang sạch Phố Hội

At Nhang sạch Phố Hội you can take part in an incense making workshop and buy several different types of incense and infused oils. I prefer their incense, because I can be sure it is made from high-quality natural ingredients, without any synthetic fragrances or chemical binders. And the agar-wood-infused-oil roll-on works wonders to keep my headaches in check, since it has a cooling effect when applied to the skin.

-> 1st and 2nd picture in the gallery below

Khu Dệt Chiếu Kim Bồng

At this traditional workshop you can learn how to make your own straw mat (I wrote about it in my post about Cam Kim island), or buy a woven straw mat, woven straw rug or woven straw tote bag.

-> 3rd picture in the gallery below – picture by them

Museums where you can also buy souvenirs:

Folk Museum

Inside the museum of folk culture in Hoian you can do a Calligraphy Workshop. If you don’t have time, or aren’t interested but still want to hand a beautiful piece of Vietnamese Calligraphy or traditional Vietnamese Watercolour Painting in your home you can buy them at the small gallery off the side of the inner courtyard.

-> 1st picture in the gallery below, you can see it behind the workshop group

Precious Heritage Museum

At the museum shop of the Precious Heritage Museum you can buy Photo Books about Vietnam with photographies by Réhahn, who is also the person behind the museum and everything inside. If a book is too much for you they also sell posters, postcards and high quality photograph-prints.

-> 2nd picture in the gallery below. You’ll find the museum shop is directly after entering the building, the museum begins behind it

CSO Gallery

As is the main focus of the CSO gallery it’s museum shop also offers ancient coins, stamps and books for sale, as well as memorabilia related to The Tale of Kiều.

-> 3rd picture in the gallery below, the museum shop is outside in the courtyard in a streetvendors cart on good-weather days and in the roofed section of the courtyard during rainy days

Map of where to buy souvenirs in Hoian

How to read the map: Light Purple are Shops where you can buy souvenirs in Hoian, dark purple are shops where you can buy edible or drinkable souvenirs in Hoian. Orange are workshops where you can make or buy souvenirs in Hoian and dark blue are museum shops where you can buy souvenirs in Hoian.

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This post contains affiliate links to things like tours and hotels. These help me earn a small commission at no additional charge to you. Every affiliate link is marked with a *.

Overview of Pottery Workshop Hoi An – Thanh Ha Pottery Village

• Thanh Ha Pottery Village
• Thanh Ha Terracotta Park
• Pottery Workshop

Thanh Ha Pottery Village

Thanh Ha Pottery Village is one of the most long-standing craft villages in the area around Hoi An – located at the banks of the Thu Bon River, a prime spot for gathering clay. References to Thanh Ha Pottery Village can be found as early as the 16th century. In the 17th and 18th century the village flourished and grew exponentially, thanks to its close proximity to Faifo port (the former name of Hoi An used by European traders while it was an important international trading port from the 15th until the 19th century). It was even exported across the oceans and reached Japan, China and the Netherlands.

Today many people in the village still produce products from clay, from bricks and tiles for ancient houses in Hoi An to household objects, decorations and even instruments. The streets are lined with colourful shops and pottery lovers will find many things to bring home.

Thanh Ha Terracotta Park

Inside Thanh Ha Village is Thanh Ha Terracotta Park, a museum about pottery with a park attached to it. The exhibition inside covers the history of pottery in Vietnam and the differences between pottery villages all over the country – differences in clay and colours, differences in cultural influences, etc.), complete with wall-to-wall pictures and examples of their work.

The park features miniature versions of important and famous buildings from all over the world – all made as pottery! While you bask in the sun you can explore the gardens and find miniature versions of the leaning tower of Pisa and the colosseum of Rome, the pyramids of Giza, Sydney opera house, Taj Mahal, St. Peter’s Basilica from the Vatican, the capitol building and Statue of Liberty from the USA, Angkor Wat temple from Cambodia, the Temple of Literature from Hanoi and many, many more!

Inside the village many places offer pottery workshops, though the scope and quality varies greatly. It is important to consider what you want form a workshop before you book it. Is it just the experience of shaping clay? Do you want to make something that you can take home? Do you want to make something you actually want to use, like a mug or a bowl that needs to be glazed to be food safe? Is it important that the workshop is accessible for children?

I have linked several different ones here (on GetYourGuide*) you can peruse and wrote about the potter workshop I picked and why, as well as my experience during the workshop in the second half of this post.

Pottery Workshop Hoi An

I knew I wanted to make an aroma diffuser where a tea candle sits underneath a bowl that carries water and essential oil. Which meant that it had to be fired and glazed to withstand the heat safely. I contacted several workshops… who told me this was not possible, especially since I had never done any kind of pottery before. Then the people from the incense workshop put me in contact with Lê Văn Nhật pottery. They told me we could do it, as long as I had 10 days or more left of my stay in Hoi An, which I did.

The first steps of the pottery workshop were shaping the two parts of my aroma diffuser. The bottom part alone took me 20+ tries. But I did it in the end! They helped me smooth out the opening after cutting it, but the round parts are all me. Then came the bowl. Even though it is much simpler in shape it still took me over ten tries of finishing it, but it being not quite right, and starting over.

Then the finished pieces had to dry for several days, before the were fired for the first time in the kiln. A kiln is a special oven that gets hot enough to dry and harden pottery. Some families in Thanh Ha Pottery Village have their own, others share community kilns.

A few days later I got a text that my things were ready to be glazed. Since glaze looks very different in its raw form from the finished product I looked through their store until I found colours and finishes I liked. They took out the different colours for me and I covered the entire bottom piece in white glaze, before attempting to drip down a light green colour from the rim.

In all honesty I thought it looked atrocious and that I had ruined the work from before. They encouraged me to take a picture of the before, to have to compare to the finished product, since it would look vastly different after the firing. Then I painted the bowl part in dark green shiny glaze and left them to dry once more.

Another few days later they messaged me to notify me that the firing was finished and I could come over in the afternoon to pick my pottery out of the kiln. It came out very warm, but smooth to the touch, very different to the raw glaze. They helped me to grind-off the glaze overflow from the bottom with an electric rotary grinder and then I had my finished pottery!

Now at home it sits in my living room and I am using rosemary essential oil in it which I had bought in Hue.

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Not Just Plastic

Not just plastic is an initiative by Frantz Byrch Pedersen from Denmark, officially started in November 2023 in Hoi An. Hoi An has many hotels, cafes and restaurants, which all produce a high amount of waste, single use plastic being among the highest amount. There are concepts for reusing or switching to more environmentally friendly alternatives, but the plastic trash that is produced currently still has to go somewhere.

At their workshop you can see different bins, each with a designation of what type of plastic is supposed to be collected in it. Next to it are collection areas were the plastic is cleaned and sorted, waiting to be shredded. These steps are essential to have a good base for recycling. Not all plastic is the same and not all plastic can be turned into the same kind of new product.

Since it’s founding Not just plastic started to produce outdoor flooring, pallets, keyrings and sunglasses from recycled material collected in Vietnam. They work with 125 “plastic partners” (June 2026) for trash collection: schools, hotels and other companies in the greater Hoi An area. These local collection points enable them to cut down on collection time and sorting efforts by involving the local population and sorting everything right at the point where it is thrown away.

Sunglasses made from recycled plastic Workshop

I was able to visit their Not just plastic workshop in Hoi An in March 2026 and see the process for myself. Frantz was out of the country at the time, stuck abroad because of the US-Iran war, but he still made the visit possible through online communication. Once the plastic is shredded into small shreds it is stored by colour and plastic type. These can be mixed and melted, before they’re pressed into new shapes.

One example are sunglasses made from recycled plastic straws! The frame of the Naya Black Frame series (last picture in the gallery below) is stylish and because of the material it is very lightweight: Only 25 grams including the lenses! Other options include the Gaia frames, which are made from post consumer t-shirts and recycled plastic waste type #5 (straws, cups and lids). Or the Mana-re-run and Naya-re-run (post main picture, left pair of glasses), which are made from recycled plastic waste and recycled running shoes.

For athletes they have the Sapa v. 2.0 and the Sapa Re-Run Glasses (middle glasses in the post picture), which have more coverage in the lenses. The frames here are made from recycled plastic straws and recycled running shoes. In addition these frames are in themselves 100% recyclable, since there are no paint or metal wires added.

And if you like recycling, but want to avoid as much plastic as possible there is the Mana series: Mana Wood (post main picture, right pair of glasses) and Mana Coffee. They are made from recycled wood waste and coffee waste (from their own office and zero waste cafe) respectively, with a binding material.

The lenses they use come with UV protection (UV 400 CE Certified) and in a variety of different colours. Some have extra functions, such as being polarised or anti-blue-light. While they don’t produce the lenses themselves, the lenses are fitted into the frames directly at their workshop.

He also told me about their three workshops available to the public:

• Sunglasses Workshop – one hour workshop where you learn about the different plastic types, the process behind making sunglasses and then make your own shades
• Bracelet Workshop – half hour workshop where you make a bracelet from marine ropes, etc.
• Educational Workshop – half hour workshop about circular economy, including plastic types, plastic waste sorting, shredding and recycling

Whether you are interested in a workshop, or you are in the market for new sunglasses, consider messaging them to visit their workshop or buy a pair in their Not just plastic online shop (not an affiliate link).

I bought this pair of Naya sunglasses. They are made from plastic waste like bottles and recycled running shoes (the black and yellow specs in it).

That’s not all: For every product sold at their workshop or online they donate to the Giving Back Initiative, which has the main goal of providing clean drinking water.

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This post contains affiliate links to things like tours and hotels. These help me earn a small commission at no additional charge to you. Every affiliate link is marked with a *.

Luxi Eyelash & Spa

My go to for anything lash and eyebrow related. I got my first ever lash lift here and since then it has been on my list of institutions in Hoian I will visit at least once when I am in town.

Whether you are looking only for colouring, lifting or something more permanent like brow lamination or lash extensions, come here. The cleanliness and attention to detail are par none in this line of beauty treatments I have seen anywhere, Vietnam or Germany and the results are worth every cent.

The booking is done via WhatsApp (+84 905 665 617), or in person. You can also try on Facebook and Instagram, but I have only tried the first two options.

You can find them at 33 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Hội An Đông, Đà Nẵng, Vietnam

The picture of me is a before and after of brow shaping and colouring with light brown as well as lash lifting and -colouring in blue-black.

Ningy Spa

My first fisit to Ningy Spa was in 2024 and I went back again this year. My go-to treatments here are the Head, Neck and Shoulder Massage to prevent the headaches I keep getting and the Vietnamese Massage for 90 Minutes minimum.

A visit to the spa starts with a footbath and a bottle of water. If you aren’t sure what to do or you haven’t booked yet you can use this time to flip through their menu and choose your treatment. Or if you have already booked you can just lie back in their comfy chairs and relax. I went back in 2026 after I was here several times in 2024. I want to say it stayed the same, but instead it was even better!

Before the massage you change into spa clothes that are easier moved and still offer coverage for the parts that aren’t being worked on. The rooms are cool, but not cold and the aromatic massage oils are muted, which I love, since that means I won’t get a headache from the smells. It was great, not too strong and not too light, the massage therapist kept checking in with me throughout and afterwards I felt like a piece of dough that had been rolled out.

The owner and the staff are super friendly, very attentive and dedicated to their job. The location is clean, quiet and reliable. Not instagram-fancy, like some other places, instead the focus is on the treatments themselves.

You can find some of their offers on klook: Ningy Spa Treatments in Hoi An

Klook.com

Blue Gift Spa

Blue Gift Spa was initially recommended by my homestay in 2022. They offer pick-up or drop-off with a certain amount of spending and I opted for getting dropped off after my massage. I returned in 2026 to get my feet taken care of, from a pedicure to a foot and lower leg massage after days of walking. Pro Tip: The Foot Reflexology Massage hurts, but you will feel sooooo much better afterwards!

The spa itself is clean and quiet, especially during the day. You can also get recommendations on package bookings when you plan a full day here. I recommend to book ahead, especially when you want different services like manicure, pedicure and massage.

You can find some of their offers on klook: Blue Gift Spa Experience in Hoi An*

Klook.com

M Spa

If you are looking for that Instagram / TikTok / YouTube Shorts viral hair treatment for your Spa Day in Hoian: M Spa has you covered, with the Vietnamese hair wash & head massage. It is recommended for long hair and straight to lightly curly hair. There are other salons who specialise in curl treatment, which is important to differentiate if you want a satisfying experience.

Der Beitrag Spa Day in Hoian erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.