In each of these you are directly involved and go home with either a full stomach or a unique and self-made souvenir. If you are looking for tours instead, read this article: 10 tours in and from Hoi An for your bucket list

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 *.

10 must try Workshops in Hoi An Overview

• Lantern Making Class
• Woodcarving Workshop
• Calligraphy Class
• Jewellery Workshop
• Leather Workshop
• Embroidery Workshop
• Bamboo Workshop
• Coffee Making Workshop
• Cooking Class
• Pottery Workshop

I put the prices in the same currency I was quoted. Most days it will change slightly based on the current exchange rate. Take the price as a guide rather than a fact. That said: All of these “10 must try workshops in Hoi An” are worth their money, even if the price increased somewhat.

Lantern Making Class

Internationally Hoi An is probably best known for three things: The yellow buildings of the old town, its tailors and the hundreds if not thousands of colourful lanterns all over the city. You can’t walk down even one street without seeing several of them. Buying one as a souvenir is the first thing that will come to your mind, but why not make your own in a Hoi An Lantern Workshop?

Making the lantern is a great experience and you leave with a unique souvenir (because you made it!) and 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!

Where: The Lantern Lady
Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: around 8€ p.P. depending on the size of the lantern

More details on the lantern making class here: Hoi An Lantern Workshop

Woodcarving Workshop

If you are interested in handicrafts, as well as experiencing the culture of a country through their art and artforms a woodcarving workshop is something you should consider doing while you’re in Hoi An. You don’t only get to see stunning traditional and modern works of art (Hulk vs. Wolverine) made by Woodcarving, you also get to make your very own piece.

Woodcarving is a centuries old craft, but has been adapted by the young generation to appeal to modern interests.

Where: Woodart Vietnam
Điện Phong, Điện Bàn, Quảng Nam 560000, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: 550.000 VND p.P.

More details on the woodcarving workshop here: Woodcarving Workshop in Hoi An with Woodart Vietnam

Calligraphy Class

Nothing is as important for and as closely intertwined with culture as writing, since language is the primary tool for expression and writing is the lasting form of it. Writing and culture influence each other constantly and it is often the clearest record of every part of life over thousands of years. Writing connects us directly to the cultural heritage of a country and its people since speaking, writing and reading are integral to everyday life.

At the museum of Folk Culture in Hoi An you can take a Vietnamese Calligraphy Class.

After the class you get to take your attempts home and a small calligraphy art by the teacher as a gift as well.

Where: Museum of Folk Culture
33 Nguyễn Thái Học, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: 500.000 VND p.P.

More details on the calligraphy class here: Vietnamese Calligraphy Class in Hoi An

Jewellery Workshop

While there are many jewellery shops in Hoi An it feels more special, to me, to be directly involved in the process of creating a unique piece of jewellery for yourself. At Lotus Leaf Fine Art & Jewellery you can take part in a jewellery workshop in Hoi An and learn from a master who has worked on this craft from a young age, with a focus on local materials, traditional methods and inclusion of people with disabilities.

They work mainly with silver and local gemstones and materials. I made a ring here.

Where: Lotus Leaf Fine Arts & Jewellery
395 Cửa Đại, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam 51314, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: starting from 1.000.000 VND p.P. depending on the size of the jewellery you’re making

More details on the jewellery workshop here: Jewellery Workshop in Hoi An

Leather Workshop

At Blue Lotus Leather you can get unique leather goods, from wallets over purses to travel bags and even guitar cases.

They also offer different types of workshops with different time frames, depending on what you want to make. I choose the “express” one, because I didn’t have time for a longer one. During my workshop (where I was all by myself!) I made a leather wallet for cards and paper money.

Where: Blue Lotus Leather
69/3 Đ. Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam 51300, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: 26$ p.P. for the express class (2 hours)
The basic, intermediate and advanced workshops range from 45 – 196 $

More details on the leather workshop here: Leather Workshop in Hoi An

Embroidery Workshop

Handcraft in Vietnam is still a very popular branch of work and artisans spend years mastering their craft. While some stay close to traditional designs, others have modernised. Embroidery is still done the same way today as it was done hundreds of years ago: With a needle and a thread, stitching a design into a cloth that is held in hand or clamped into an embroidery hoop.

At Hop Handi you can take part in an embroidery workshop in Hoi An you can try your hand at this ancient craft, with a design of your choice. As modern or traditional as you want it to be.

Where: Hợp Handi
16 Trần Quý Cáp, Cẩm Châu, Hội An, Quảng Nam 51000, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: 500.000 VND p.P.

More details on the embroidery workshop here: Embroidery Workshop in Hoi An

Bamboo Workshop

The Taboo Bamboo Studio is located in Cam Thanh village, roughly 6km from the Old Town of Hoi An. If you rent a scooter or a bicycle you’ll be there in no time, while travelling through the rice fields and less busy streets of Hoi An.

Tan and his family have been in the bamboo business for three generations. Tan, the current owner, made it his mission to maintain this traditional craft by combining modern design with new technologies and opening up the workshop for tourists and groups as well, teaching the next generation about these age-old techniques.

Where: Taboo Bamboo Workshop
Thanh Tam Dong – Cam Thanh – Hoi An, Trần Nhân Tông, Cẩm Thanh, Hội An, Quảng Nam 51000, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: 33€ p.P.

More details on the bamboo workshop here: Bamboo Workshop in Hoi An – Crafting a bamboo lamp

Coffee Making Workshop

In Vietnam, one drink stands out above all others: Coffee. At this coffee workshop in Hoi An you learn more about the countries coffee growing industry, the coffee roasting process and how to make three of the most famous Vietnamese coffees:

1.  Phin Coffee
2. Egg Coffee
3. Coconut Coffee

Where: Coffee Making Class*
10C Bà Triệu, Phường Cẩm Phổ, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

Sữa Cafe
108 Ly Thuong Kiet, Son Phong, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan:13,50 € p.P.

More details on the coffee workshop here: Coffee Workshop in Hoi An at the Sữa Cafe

Cooking Class

Cooking classes are a great way to connect with local culture and people and will be in my must try workshops anywhere . First we visited a local market, then made Central Vietnamese dishes such as Banh Xeo, fried spring rolls, fried chicken, omelette and fried morning glory. The food was delicious and it was a great way to meet like-minded people.

Where: Villa Hoa Vừng
Thôn Võng Nhị, Xã Cẩm Thanh, Hội An

How much Budget to plan: 19€ p.P.

I had booked this cooking class here here*.

More details on the cooking class here: Basketboat Tour and Cooking Class in Hoi An

Pottery Workshop

At the Thanh Ha Pottery Village the ancient craft of pottery is still practiced today as it was centuries ago: with terracotta clay taken from the nearby riverbeds and small kilns to bake the pottery in the backyards of small village houses.

You can take a boat from the Old Town to the pottery village, it takes about half an hour and costs about 150,000 VND for one person (depending on haggling skills more or less).

Where: Thanh Ha Pottery Village – V7GX+VM8, Phạm Phán, Thanh Hà, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

How much Budget to plan: 70.000 VND admission fee p.P. + 50.000 VND to buy something from one of the craftsmen and women to do some pottery with them

Map of 10 must try Workshops in Hoi An

Tours in and from Hoi An for your bucket list

In each of these you are directly involved and go home with either a full stomach or a unique and self-made souvenir. If you are looking for tours instead, read this article: 10 tours in and from Hoi An for your bucket list

Der Beitrag 10 must try Workshops in Hoi An erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

This is an overview of my trip to Hanoi so you can plan yours easily!

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 a perfect trip to Hanoi

• Where to stay in Hanoi
• Must-try foods in Hanoi
• Must-see museums in Hanoi
• Notable Places to visit for free on your trip to 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 AirBnB 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 there are 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. 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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

You can read more about my experience and which cocktails I recommend 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 passwort that is 123456789 is about as safe as no password at all. So if you need to acess payment info or any sensitive data, better do it via mobile data on an E-Sim. I have had good experiences with airalo* in the past, since you can pick the plan that fits your needs best.

Hire a student guide for your Hanoi trip

Student Guides contact them through Trip Advisor* for the first trip, rate them, then when you enjoyed the tour, book directly since TripAdvisor takes over 20% commission. And they are happy about gas money since what’s left of the 5€ is usually a fee for connecting the students to tourists and they will pick you up and drive you around.

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 Space 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.

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 A perfect trip to Hanoi erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

Ho Chi Minh City, previously called Saigon or Sài Gòn had a name change after the end of the US-Vietnam war in 1976. With Saigon having been the seat of the south Vietnamese government the US influence is very obvious here and the city is very different to other big cities in Vietnam like Hanoi and Da Nang. With its size and international influences on the city it felt more like “the”a capital” than Hanoi did.

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 *.

Trigger warning for human cruelty the gallery under the “War Remnants museum” paragraph.

Overview of a trip to Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon

• Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City
• What to do in Ho Chi Minh City
• Places to see for free in Ho Chi Minh City
• What to eat and drink in Ho Chi Minh City
• TLDR, show me a map with everything important

Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City

I listed several options here, from renting a room aroung 25€ per night to luxury hotels starting at 150€ per night. With each I listed to pros of the different accommodations.

Christina’s – Hotel & Café* is an affordable choice, with clean, modern rooms and lofts, with ensuite bathrooms, balconies and comfortable community spaces like a rooftop terrace, working space and a kitchen right in District 1 of HCMC. I stayed with them in Hanoi in 2019 as well and can wholeheartedly recommend them. You have your privacy as a solo traveller without breaking the bank, but can still meet people in the community areas.

Leiden Homestay & Cafe* is located as ideally as Christina’s, in the middle of everything you should see that I listed below. It is a little more expensive, but the rooms are also more spacious.

M Village Nguyễn Văn Thủ* is perfect for longer rentals as some rooms come with a kitchenette and are similar to serviced apartments.

Mai House Saigon Hotel* is the mid range choice, more expensive than renting a room, but also with the amenities of a hotel: a rooftop pool, room service, a concierge, gym and breakfast options.

For a more luxury experience choose La Siesta Premium Sai Gon* or New World Saigon Hotel*. Both are located near the centre and they are on top of several lists of the best consumer voted hotels in Saigon.

What to do in Ho Chi Minh City

Even though it is not the current capital city of Vietnam Saigon has had as much of a rich history as Hanoi, maybe even a more turbulent one. Within the city and it’s surrounding areas you can find many well curated museums as well as places of historical and cultural importance.

Museum of Ho Chi Minh City

The Museum of Ho Chi Minh City is located inside the Gia Long Palace. When the impressive baroque villa was built in 1890, during the French occupation, while south Vietnam was still known as “Indochina”, to house the Museum of Commercial Trade.

During and after 1945 the palace had many different designations, from housing governmental and military headquarters of the Japanese, US and south Vietnamese to becoming the official residence of the Premier of the State of Vietnam, then later the temporary residence of the Prime Minister.

It became the “Ho Chi Minh City Revolutionary Museum” after the country was unified in 1978 and renamed to its current name in 1999.

Parts of the former palace and museum are in disrepair, but I hope with Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City becoming one of the top travel destinations in Asia they will recieve the funding to improve on it in the future.

History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City

The History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City doesn’t only cover the history of the city (as the museum mentioned above does), but rather of the country and neighbouring cultures, from the prehistoric period to the Nguyễn dynasty that ended in 1945.

Independence Palace

The site has seen French occupation (twice), Japanese occupation, the “Republic of Vietnam”, a coup d’état and not one but two wars that were decided right on its doorstep. If only walls could talk…

The building you can visit today was built in in 1962 to replace the old palace, which had been destroyed by dissident nationalist south Vietnamese fighter pilots. It was once the home and workplace of the president of the Republic of Vietnam until the end of the Vietnam war. Today you can visit it as a museum and learn about the life and politics of the time between 1868 and 1975.

In 1975 after the end of the US-Vietnam war it was renamed to Reunification Convention Hall. Today both names are used frequently.

The Independence Palace is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Ho Chi Minh City, read more about why I think that here: Visiting the Independence Palace in Saigon

War Remnants Museum

While you can find a military museum in any bigger city in Vietnam the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City is of a different caliber. The museum expands over several floors and buildings, as well as a fenced in courtyard with military equipment. Several permanent and temporary exhibitions range from the First Indochina War, up until the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.

Internationally the museum is considered controversially. As for my own opinion: everything government funded is by definition propaganda. That is no reason not to visit and expand your horizon and knowledge to then form your own opinion.

Ten Thousand Buddha Temple

The temple is four stories high, but hidden at the end of an alley so it is usually not frequented by tourists. The walls of the temple are covered in thousands of small Buddha statues, while two big ones reside in the middle. Behind them is a giant statue of a plant bud, surrounded by local folklore characters depicting good and evil.

Places to see for free in Ho Chi Minh City

Cafe Apartments – This nine-storey apartment building was built in the mid-1960s to house military and government personnel and it did for many years. The transformation into the building it is known as today, filled with small cafes and shops didn’t happen until the 2010s! Today only the stairways remind of us of the original purpose of the building.

Saigon Central Post Office – A remainder of the French colonial period of southern Vietnam / Indochina, this impressive old building is still in use as a post office today! A lot of the inside is covered by souvenirs and advertisements for tours and events, but the ceiling, floors and some walls still tell of the splendor and exclusivity it once had.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon – Finished in 1880 (1895 when you include the towers) this cathedral was built to give French colonists an area of worship and spread the catholic belief within the colony. All building materials were imported from France: the outer bricks are from Toulouse, the original floor tiles from Marseille and the stained glass windows from Chartres! Nowadays a lot of it has been replaced (because, oh wonder, a European building style doesn’t last in tropic climate)

Tan Dinh Church – Also known as the pink church for obvious reasons is another catholic curch in Saigon worth a visit. The inside is also pink!

Cà Phê Đỗ Phủ – This cafe harbours a secret in its basement: During the Vietnam war it served as a hideout and shelter for the Viet Cong operating within South Vietnam’s capital. Communist sympathisers met here, weapons were stored, some of which you can still see today. Since it was a secret hideout the basement isn’t easy to access, you have to walk through a wardrobe and trap door!

Nguyen Thien Thuat apartment blocks – These apartment blocks, some of the oldest still standing in Saigon, were built in the late 1800s, during French occupation. Today they are as much of a marvel as they once were, but for different reasons. Every block is like it’s own little village, with families of five and more staying in two bedroom flats, living above shops, schools, cafes, workshops, businesses and markets. As with other old apartment blocks in the city, the future of this part of history is uncertain.

Ho Thi Ky Flower Market – This market, made up of several streets and alleys, as well as hundreds of flower shops and stands with thousands of flowers and flower arrangements is one of the oldest flower markets in Saigon. The streets are breathtakingly colourful and the smell of the flowers covers up the smell of the city for the most part.

Củ Chi Tunnels

The Củ Chi Tunnels, originally built during the French occupation and later enlarged and used more extensively during the Vietnam war can be visited at two locations Ben Dinh and Ben Duoc. Both are relatively close to Saigon.

The two locations are very different from each other: Ben Dinh is the more touristy one, while the area around Ben Duoc is much larger and more extensive. I recommend visiting the tunnels with a local guide*, to get background knowledge and historical facts about the tunnels and their importance in the Vietnam war.

If you want to read in more detail about the tour, click here: Cu Chi Tunnels – Tunnel systems of the Viet Cong

What to eat and drink in Ho Chi Minh City

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

Bò Né from a streetvendor in an alley at Hẻm 36 Trần Hưng Đạo. Bò Né translates to sizzling beef, which is exactly what it is. Beef, sausage, pate and an egg, served on a sizzling hot cast iron pan, served with banh mi bread, veggies and greens. This is my favourite south Vietnamese breakfast!

Bún thịt nướng, rice vermicelli, spring rolls, sliced veggies, peanut sauce, pig skin crackers around Binh Tay Market.

Sticky rice from a food stand at Phùng Hưng market. When I was there they were at the end of the market, on the corner to another street. You can choose your toppings. During a food tour I got to try all of them, my favourite ones were quail egg, pork floss and mung bean paste.

Dim Sum at Há Cảo Kiều Ký, also near Phùng Hưng market.

Grilled banana in sticky rice, with coconut cream “Chuối Nếp Nướng” from a streetvendor at 378 Võ Văn Tần. This was my favourite lunch. It has the perfect portion size, is located between many of the things you’ll want to see in Ho Chi Minh City and isn’t too heavy.

Of course you can also have many different Bánh Mì in Ho Chi Minh City. My favourite was the standard one at Bánh Mì Hồng Hoa (it is the more touristy one, but my stomach was feeling much better than after the one at Bánh Mì Huynh Hoa, which was the most gigantic Bánh Mì I’ve ever seen.). Close by is another street vendor selling the popular sandwich as well called Bánh Mì 37. Since it was close to my homestay I also stopped at Bánh mì Bùi Thị Xuân quite often, especially in the mornings before tours.

If you are vegan, or just want to try Vietnamese food, but vegan, you can eat at Vị Quê Kitchen. Their mushroom Bánh Mì was delicious and not more expensive than one from a streetvendor. The fried tofu had an amazing texture as well, but I couldn’t really get on board with the cilantro dipping sauce.

After meeting a family from Mumbai in the History Museum they recommended me a restaurant with authentic and absolutely amazing Indian food: Baba’s Kitchen Restaurant. Since it will be some time until I can get to India to eat there I went and wasn’t disappointed. You should definitely try their Paratha with your meal.

In the evening hours the area around Turtle Lake turns into a street vendor hotspot so you can try many different meals in one spot.

Bò Lá Lốt is one of my favourite street vendor foods, because you can almost always safely eat it. Minced beef is wrapped in Betel leaves and grilled. It’s good with rice vermicelli, herbs and rice paper, but honestly it’s also great on it’s own.

Sugarcane juice is a delicacy you can find all over Vietnam. Often with street vendors who freshly grate the sugarcane to extract the juice. It is usually served with ice and Kumquat, to cut through the sweetness. Despite being made from 100% sugarcane it is not too sweet.

The most delicious lemon ice tea at a cafe with immaculate vibes at S’mores Saigon. Also try the Oolong Latte and Creamy Drip Coffee.

A wonderfully decorated cafe with delicious drinks is Tonkin Cottage Coffee and Eatery. This cafe in the middle of an apartment block is a quiet oasis within this bustling city.

While Cong Ca Phe can be found all over Vietnam there is another coffee chain in HCMC that really stood out to me: Cheese Coffee. I loved their Salt Coffe and Golden Boba Crepe Cake. This was my favourite Cheese Coffee location, it is great for people watching and editing your pictures while enjoying your coffee and cake. But there is another location that really stands out: Cheese Coffee – 15 Pasteur. The interior is beautifully decorated and very different from the other locations.

Boba, made to your specifications (ice level, sugar level, boba level) at KOI Thé. My favorite was the one close to the Cafe Apartments.

The best thing to do in a new city, in my opinion, is taking a food tour with a local guide (not a travel office tour) to taste the best food spots. I went on a Breakfast Food Tour in Saigon with Saigonhappytour. They introduced me to some of the foods shown above and showed me where to get my favourites in this huge city.

Map of my trip to Ho Chi Minh City

How to read the map: In the first layer light blue are museums and places of historical importance, dark blue are buildings of religious or cultural importance. In the second layer light green are restaurants, dark green are street vendors and orange are cafes. 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 Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon by clicking here.

Der Beitrag Ho Chi Minh City – Top travel destination in Asia erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

When I booked my accommodation in Hoi An on AirBnB I was recommended things to do in the city. One of them was a bamboo workshop in Hoi An at a bamboo workshop. (You will read bamboo workshop a lot in this article, I apologise in advance.)

At first, I didn’t book it, mainly because I didn’t know how much time I would have in Hoi An, but also because I wasn’t sure how I would ever get anything home I made. It seems like that is a common problem because some people who completed the workshop left what they crafted. To be upfront: I did end up buying a big suitcase for the journey back home. Not only because of this workshop, but it did play a part in the decision.

I am really glad I decided to book the workshop though because it turned out to be a great experience.

The Taboo Bamboo Studio

The Taboo Bamboo Studio is located in Cam Thanh village, roughly 6km from the Old Town of Hoi An. If you rent a scooter or a bicycle (some places offer free bicycles) you’ll be there in no time, while travelling through the rice fields and less busy streets of Hoi An. I would advise against going there with a Grab Taxi, since it won’t be a problem to get there, but you will most likely not be able to get a Grab to take you back to the city.

When you step through the wooden… – excuse me, the bamboo archway of the taboo studio it feels like stepping into a different world, or a different time. While the streets around the workshop are full of concrete and stone the houses (made from bamboo) are surrounded by plants (mainly bamboo) and the main colours are green and brown instead of grey.

I was welcomed with an understanding smile and the reassurance that it wasn’t an issue that I was late. Then I was invited to visit their house(s) and see all kinds of furniture, decorations and a lot of different household facilities they have created out of bamboo: toys, boxes, chairs, tables and even a sink!

Oh and of course the house is built from bamboo as well. I felt like a kid in a toy shop!

When I asked if everyone else was already in the workshop area I was met with confusion. That’s when I found out I was the only tourist there. A recurring theme during this trip.

The workshop itself looks very basic and quite cluttered at first, but when you take a closer look you notice that everything has its place and that the tools they have are perfect for their purpose.

My teacher told me about Tan and his family, the founders of this workshop. They have been in the bamboo business for three generations. Tan, the current owner, made it his mission to maintain this traditional craft by combining modern design with new technologies and opening up the workshop for tourists and groups as well, teaching the next generation about these age-old techniques.

As for the tourist side of things: The bamboo workshop certainly is a unique thing to do. That doesn’t mean that the craft itself isn’t traditional.

Crafting a lamp in the bamboo workshop in Hoi An

You can see the crafting process from left to right in the gallery below.

Step 1: Choose a design.

Step 3: Drawing the design on the bamboo with a pencil.

Step 2: Cut a piece of bamboo off a long bamboo tube with a hand saw.

Step 4: Drill holes of different sizes into the bamboo using the industrial standing drill (bamboo doesn’t splinter as wood does, so the drilled holes are very clean)… I did accidentally break the thinnest drillbit… luckily that was just after Tan had arrived and they replaced it, reassuring me that they wear out over time.

Step 5: Use a jigsaw to cut out the lotus flower design. I needed a lot of help with the one because I just couldn’t hold the saw steady.

Step 6: Sand down the outer layer of the bamboo with a sanding machine. I did try but again needed help as I was barely able to hold the sanding machine while it was going.

Step 7: Flame the design. This is done to make the design stand out in colour.

Step 8: Sand down the bamboo by hand.

Step 9: Spray the bamboo with varnish.

Then you repeat the 8th and 9th steps.

Step 10: Insert a base with a lightbulb into the bamboo tube which turns it into a lamp.

Step 11: Use a soldering pin to burn your name / date / anything-you-want-to-write into the bamboo

While sanding down the bamboo my teacher and Tan sat down at the table with me. My teacher was working on a bamboo bird, telling me how the bamboo animals are his sons’ favourite toys. Tan was working on electric parts, setting up lightbulbs on bases and connecting said bases to wires.

Knowing all the steps, the drawing talent, the precision and the sheer strength that is needed to complete just one lamp makes me appreciate the work that goes into creating things from bamboo even more.

Knowing all the steps, the drawing talent, the precision and the sheer strength that is needed to complete just one lamp makes me appreciate the work that goes into creating things from bamboo even more.

My thoughts on the Bamboo Workshop:

If you want to learn more about a traditional handicraft of Central Vietnam, while also creating a truly unique souvenir, this is the thing to do. Sure, some people will prefer to sit at the beach and drink a mimosa, but you can do that anywhere. To connect to a place and its people you have to immerse yourself in the local culture. You don’t have to have any woodworking skills to take this workshop!

Bamboo Workshop in Hoi An – Booking Details

All materials and tools you need are included in the price of the workshop. People of all skill levels in handiwork are welcome and they help you finish a project of your choice.

Starting times: 9 AM and 2 PM, but they also offer varied times upon request.

Address: Thanh Tam Dong – Cam Thanh – Hoi An, Trần Nhân Tông, Cẩm Thanh, Hội An, Quảng Nam 51000, Vietnam

Booking: You can book here on TripAdvisor* or here on Viator*

Greet them from me if you do!

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Lotus Leaf Fine Art & Jewellery

This small jewellery store outside of the old town in Hoi An is run by Hoa Luu Van and his wife Trâm since 1998. They sell creations from different metals and include many different materials, ranging from gemstones over stones to seashells.

They focus not only on the local sourcing of their raw materials but also on the impact their business has on the lives of people. They teach and employ people with disabilities in order for them to live normal lives.

Handicrafts are uniquely qualified as an employment field for people with different disabilities, as it is a very hands on job. Hoa, who had Polio at a young age is a great example for this and a great role model for young people.

Even if you are not interested in a workshop (although then I am confused why you are reading this) you can find some great jewellery here.

Jewellery Workshop

I came to the Jewellery Workshop in Hoi An with a clear idea: To make a ring that matches with the necklace pendant I had made at the silver smith workshop in Hanoi two months prior.

Before deciding on a ring design I looked through the jewellery they had on display, then went through several of their rings with Trâm to choose the best width for my design choice. I airdropped her a picture of the geometric shape I wanted to do and she printed several of them in different sizes.

Then I went to work on a piece of silver with Hoa. First I torched it until it started glowing and we hammered it until it was straight. Then I used a small saw to cut out a strip of silver that would eventually turn into a ring. Hoa measured my ring finger and marked on the silver how long it would have to be to wrap around it. Afterwards the smaller strip of silver was pressed into a bed of tree resin to fixate it and I carved “Hoi An 2024” into it as an inscription.

Carving / hammering the sign into the silver was the most important, but also the most nerve wrecking step, as it is very specific, very small and I had also never done it before. I was very thankful for the help from Hoa, who is a master at his craft.

Once the carving was done we bent the ring into ring-shape and welded the ends together. Afterwards I filed the sides of the ring down with a metal file, then Hoa finished the sides with a small angle grinder. Once the sides were smooth the ring got a bath in a boiling chemical solution to get rid of the matting coat on the outside.

After the bath I used a glass file to make the outside of the ring even more shiny. As the last step the ring was thrown into a tumbling machine to turn every millimetre of it super shiny.

While the ring was tumbling I looked around the shop at the other jewellery and homeware they sell.

My thoughts on the jewellery workshop in Hoi An

While there are many jewellery shops in Hoi An it feels more special to be directly involved in the process of creating a unique piece of jewellery for yourself. It would also be a great couples or friends activity where you make something for each other.

Hoa and Trâm are lovely people and you feel well taken care of during the workshop. From giving you advice about how to realize your design on a piece of jewellery to setting up a fan and providing iced coffee or lemonade for hydration during the workshop.

The price depends on the piece of jewellery you want to create. To make my ring it cost me about 37€ which is a very good price considering you don’t only pay for the time of a master artisan, but also the material you are using, in this case real silver.

You can inquire about the workshop via phone number +84 905 484 068 (from a VN number or with an E-Sim for Vietnam*, this won’t cost you extra and it’s the most direct way) or via @lotus_leaf_jewelry_ on Instagram or @lotusleafgiftstore on Facebook, book with them, then pay cash the day of.

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Hoi An Hidden Gems for Early Risers

I was picked up at 4:30 AM and even though I had informed the family I was staying with about that the front door and front gate were both locked. Not wanting to wake up the families grandfather sleeping in the front room I had to find a way to sneak out of the house.

When my driver and I arrived at the meeting point we weren’t the last ones, as two other travellers had had to climb over the fence of their hostel to get out at this time in the morning. Once everyone was there Ha introduced himself as our guide for the morning. Then we went on our way through empty streets, each on the back of a motorbike.

Noodle Factory

The first stop on the tour, at about 4:45 AM, was a Cao Lầu noodle factory. Well “factory”…

This over 200 year old workshop and only a hand full other workshops make all the noodles for the famous and well loved dish of Hoi An. Everyone who has been to Hoi An knows Cao Lầu, but almost nobody knows how the noodles of this famous dish are made.

I have a video up on Instagram where you can see that every step is done by hand and only small batches of noodles get steamed at a time, despite these few places supplying the noodles for the entire city every day!

This is a part of Hoi A most people don’t get to see (around the time we visited they were half way done already), but I’m grateful I did. So much hard work and dedication goes into keeping the spirit of Hoi An alive.

Hopefully they can either find a successor or these families manage to industrialize the process, as the younger generations don’t show much interest in the craft at the moment. Which is understandable, since it’s hard work and earns barely enough to live off. But without these workshops and the knowledge passed on through generations a part of Hoi Ans identity will be lost forever.

Fish Market

As the sun began to rise we drove a ways out of the main city of Hoi An, towards Duy Hải. Since the journey took about 25 minutes the main run of the fish market was already over, but some fishers were still coming in with their catch. All around the market the fresh fish and seafood is sold right off the boats.

Before we went to the next stop we stopped for a Banh Mi on the side of the road.

Fish Sauce Factory – Hidden Hoi An

Not far from the fish market we visited a fish sauce factory. Fish sauce or “Nước mắm” is very popular in Vietnamese cuisine. During the production the fish is first left to ferment with lots of salt (roughly a 1:3 ratio) in concrete tubs, covered with roof tiles. These tubs cover the entire front yard. Once the fish is fermented (between 4 and 6 months) it’s transferred into large wooden barrels in their warehouses. The weight of the fish presses down and the fish sauce is naturally extracted over months by a small hollow stick at the bottom of the barrel.

After the extraction is completed the sauce is boiled and filtered, before it gets filled into different sized bottles. This entire process, from fish to fish sauce, can take up to 12 months.

Coffee Roastery and Repair

At around 7 am we arrived at Cavalry Coffee. Now, Cavalry Coffee isn’t the only coffee roastery in Quang Nam, by far, but they are the ones everyone calls when they need repairs done on their roasting machines. The owner and founder Lê Văn Lương (in the picture on the bottom left) build his coffee roasting machines by himself (because ordering them from abroad is incredibly expensive).

After learning about the roasting process we got an explanation about the favorite Vietnamese coffee “Cà phê phin”, tried it by itself, then got to choose what kind of speciality coffee we would like to drink. I went for salt coffee.

Our group caused amusement, because one of the Australians was so tall that he could load the roasting machine without any aids.

Fish farms

As a more sustainable option compared to excessive fishing some people have started fish farms. They focus mainly on the most popular fishes people like to eat in Hoi An and around to supply them to bigger hotels, restaurants and resorts. The families owning these fish farms live on the river, right next to their farm (picture bottom left).

Straw Mat Weaving

After the coffee our guide took us to the house of two sisters who do traditional straw mat weaving. These two sisters work and live together, weaving mats from coloured straw. They will be the last generation in their family doing so since only one sister has had a child and they moved to the city.

Straw mats take a long time to weave and don’t sell for much, especially since most people have turned towards modern mattresses to sleep on instead.

Straw mats were often used by people in flooding areas since they dry and can be replaced relatively easily compared to a thick, stuffed mattress. As these two women live close to the river their house floods regularly, up to the height of the tiles.

Rice Wine Distillery

The last stop on the tour was a local rice wine distillery. This family operates a small workshop style distillery where they produce rice wine. The owner also has an extensive collection of rare rice wine, which he offered us to try after explaining the process of rice wine making.

First the rice is cooked and mixed with yeast powder, then heated in an industrial oven. Afterwards it gets stored in buckets to let it ferment for a few months. Once fermented the now alcoholic rice water mixture is distilled in a pot-still-like contraption, then filled into jars with various additions to give it flavour.

Some of the additions (like seahorse, scorpion and cobra) are also believed to have medicinal properties: Usually connected with strength, fertility and stamina. We got to try shots of over 15! different rice wine varieties. My favourites were honey, Vietnamese ginseng and coconut.

Of course when you drink with locals you inevitably learn their version of “Cheers!”, which is “Một, Hai, Ba, Dzô!” in Vietnam (literally: “one, two three, drink”).

After about five hours exploring the hidden Hoi An that most people don’t get to see, we were dropped off at our hotel or homestay again. Ha makes sure to support local crafts people and artisans with his tours and shows his passion for his country and its culture. This tour really gave a unique insight into the rural life in Hoi An, the people behind the city, so to speak.

Hidden Hoi An – Tour Details

You can book the experience on AirBnB and see all available dates: Hoi An Hidden Gems for Early Risers (no *, because it’s not an affiliate link).

Or, if you don’t want to give AirBnB the 30% commission, you can book directly with Ha Nguyen on WhatsApp under +84 707 886335. Greet him from me if you do!

Der Beitrag The hidden Hoi An most people don’t get to see erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

I honestly didn’t even know that you can get (custom) leather goods in Hoi An. In my head it was all tailors. Even once I got there, I didn’t really realize it until the bag I brought from Germany literally fell apart while I was using it and I had to get a new one.

Equipped with my new bag I looked up leather artisans in Hoi An and found the Blue Lotus Leather Workshop, who offer workshops for different skill levels and time scopes.

Making a leather wallet

After the stitching is done the ends of the waxed thread are melted to stop the thread from unravelling. Then glue gets applied to the sides to seal the edges of the leather. Finally you add a button to it, I went for a press stud / push button.

After the workshop we spend some more time talking and I got to try her favorite snack: Young Mango with chili salt, while finishing my tea. My teacher told me that recently she had had an accident, had to go to the hospital and now can’t do most of the crafting anymore. Thats why she teaches now. Which brought us to the subject of “you make plans for your life – but then life happens”. But that’s a topic for another day.

Details of the Leather Workshop in Hoi An

All materials and tools you need are included in the price of the workshop. People of all skill levels in handiwork are welcome and they help you finish a project of your choice.

There are different types of workshops with different time frames, depending on what you want to make. I choose the two hour one, because I didn’t have time for a longer one. During my workshop (where I was all by myself!) I made a leather wallet for cards and paper money.

Starting times: Depend on your choice of Workshop. The two hour one is flexible!

Address: 69/3 Phan Chu Trinh, Phường Minh An, Hội An, Quảng Nam 51300, Vietnam

Booking: You can book the two houe one here on Viator*. You can also follow @bluelotusleather.workshop on Instagram to see more of their work!

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History of Indigo Batik in the Hmong tribe

Before the workshop started, Sue (the homestays owner) explained the process and how the Hmong started with Batik: The people who went into the forest to collect honey came across forests of Indigo and got caught in wax and indigo, which turned their clothes black. When their clothes were washed the wax came away and the original white colour was left on those pieces of cloth, while the rest turned blue. The Hmong people thanked the bees for this discovery and to this day patterns of bees are drawn onto the traditional dress.

Indigo Batik Workshop

To create the pattern you first have to melt wax over a small fire and flatten the cloth with a hot and smooth item to turn it into a smooth canvas – although it is not made from canvas, but from hemp. I could choose to learn how to create the traditional symbols and patterns of the Hmong or do my own design. I chose the traditional one. If given the chance to learn a tradition that has been carried on for generations you have to take the chance.

It is very complicated at first since you have to make sure the wax is neither too hot nor too cold, you don’t have too much or not enough on your tracing tool. It was also hard for me to trace straight lines, which made me admire the skill even more.

Since Sue had broken her wrist a few days before my arrival her mother taught me, like she had taught her daughter and granddaughters before. She didn’t speak much English besides “Yes. No. Too hot. Too much.” but that was no problem at all since it was a very hands-on activity. And while the younger generations are happy that some… less body-autonomy-positive traditions are changing, it felt special to share in one that is still practised today.

Once the design is complete the cloth is dipped into an indigo dye vat. It has to be dipped, left to soak, hung up to dry somewhat, and then dipped again. This process has to be repeated a few times.

Finally (usually in the evening or the next day) the wax is boiled out of the cloth, a process that also sets the colour. Then it is hung up to dry, which takes a few hours, but can take several days, depending on the air humidity.

While the cloth was dying we had an enormous portion of fried rice for lunch and a Vietnamese Coffee.

Traditional Hmong Embroidery

After the cloth had been hung up to dry Sue’s daughter Mai showed me how to do a traditional flower pattern on a slip of embroidery cloth. It looked a lot easier than it was ^^

It took me almost 3 hours to do six of the other flower shapes. Mai told me that the Hmong girls start learning how to embroider by the age of eight, some even earlier.

In the end, when three tour groups had arrived and it was time for dinner she offered that she or her sister-in-law finish it for me. I thanked her and agreed. I don’t think I could have finished it in the next two days I was still staying with them either way.

Where to book the Hmong Batik Workshop in Sapa?

If you are interested in ethnic crafts and culture and are in Sapa I can recommend this workshop on Tripadvisor* (this is the exact workshop I did and described here, 6h including lunch and drink)! If you stay stay at her homestay, you can just ask about it once you arrive and pay in cash for a different price (without commission).

Or if you are staying somewhere else and are only interested in the batik you can book a similar workshop here with Sapaweather, 2 – 2.5 hours.

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La.kao Teahouse

From an inner courtyard at the end of an alley you enter La.kao teahouse through grand wooden doors with many windows. The ground floor offers a few seats and a bar area (as well as the establishments toilets) where the tea tasting takes place and the very occasional tour stops by. On the second floor is a seating area with several armchairs and place mats around low lying tables (see the post picture). It opens up onto a balcony overlooking the courtyard and invites to linger.

I spend a long time here (more than once), reading and drinking tea (specifically Aged Oolong from the southern Lam Dong Province) by the pot, while snacking on mung bean cubes.

Vietnams identitiy as a “tea country” is often news to foreigners, being known best for it’s coffee, food or recent history in Europe and Northern America. When you mention tea most people in the Western countries will think of China and Japan, not knowing that the tea culture in Vietnam has ancient tradition.

It started with ethnic (now) minority tribes taking care of more or less wild tea trees and had to overcome many challenges. The decades ling French colonialisation, the following revolution and communist-socialist republic, as well as the US-Vietnam war have left their mark on the country and it’s tea.

Tea tasting in Hoi An

I was recommended the the tea tasting at La.kao teahouse by a fellow female solo traveller from Europe whom I met on the train from Sapa to Hanoi. Since La.kao had opened it’s door right after I had left Hoi An in 2023 it became a now stop on my list.

On my first evening back in Hoi An I stopped by the tea house around 5:30 pm, with the plan of asking about the tea tasting, at which times and on which days I could take part, if there was a sign-up sheet, etc. As it turned out (as is so often the case) I could do the tea tasting right then and there!

It started by making a choice if I wanted to try three or five trees. Since I was by myself and had no idea how much tea I would get I picked three. Then I got to look through a small booklet with all the different teas they had on offer. I picked two and got recommended a third one by Mr. An Dang, owner and tea master at La.kao. All three teas were grown in provinces of north-western Vietnam.

The tea brewing and pouring is done by an expert so you can focus on the flavour and experience. Several pours are done for each tea to fully appreciate the development and changes in flavour and appearance.

First came the Green Snail Spring tea. It’s a green tea where only the bud and the first leaf that grow from the branch are used. It’s grown in the Ha Giang Province at the Chinese border and harvested from tea trees that are up to 600 old or even more ancient. It’s harvested in spring and the taste is reminiscent of that.

The first pour was almost translucent in colour, sweet in flavour and reminds of the first flowers of spring. The second brought out the teas bright green colour and even more of it’s aroma.

Second was the Dragon Tail white tea. The taste was slightly similar to the previous green tea, but also decidedly different, with more herbal notes – and while still sweet it was a different kind of sweet (I know, super descriptive, great adjectives).

The Dragon Tail tea is also grown and harvested in Ha Giang, only from trees growing wild in the mountains, at an altitude between 2.500 m and 2.800 m. The prevalent climate conditions (cold, windy) at these heights are the reason the tree leaves look more like scales than traditional leaves. The buds are harvested before they unfurl, then spread out to dry in the sun and finally dried in a kiln, before being packaged for tea. You can see the care that is taken with this special tea in the shape of the dried material that is used for brewing.

Third and last tea was a black tea: Putaleng Red Snow Shan. This tea from the Lai Chau Province (PuTaLeng is the name of the third highest mountain in Vietnam where the Shan Trees grow). The tea leaves are rolled into thin, pointed needles and keep this shape during the drying and roasting process. Once brewed the leaves unfurl back into their original form. The tea has a rich, reddish-brown colour and an intense smell and aroma. I would say it tastes fruity-bitter and like wood in the way a whiskey does.

In between the teas I got water to cleanse the palette and a sweet (but not too sweet) snack in the form of mung bean cubes. They taste similar to Halva (a sesame based oriental sweet treat), but are less chewy and melt on your tongue.

My thoughts on the tea tasting in Hoi An

I like tea. A lot. So of course a tea tasting was right up my alley. Being able to choose which teas you want to try – and getting great recommendations when needed, I can only recommend this tea tasting in Hoi An to anyone visiting the city. It doesn’t matter if you are a tea expert yourself, or have no clue and want to broaden your horizon, you’ll find something here.

You not only get to try the teas, several times each, because each brew changes the taste, but also get to know the origins of the tea and stories connected to it, which are deeply ingrained in culture, tradition or personal experiences. I hope I remembered everything correctly ^^

Hoi An has many cafes where you can indulge in Vietnamese Coffee, but only two tea houses and both have a very different focus. At La.kao it’s all about the tea. During a tasting or with a whole pot on the second floor, you can explore or take your time with the tea.

Things to know about the tea tasting at La.kao

Der Beitrag Tea tasting in Hoi An – La.kao Teahouse erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.

Why go bar hopping in Hanoi?

When people talk about a pub crawl, I think about too many drinks around too many people, where the main focus is getting drunk. Meanwhile bar hopping, to me, means special drinks at selected places in good company or even alone. I have been informed that the two phrases are actually interchangeable, but for the sake of this blog post I will talk about moving from bar to bar with the latter intention.

Of course, if alcohol isn’t your thing there are many other things you can choose to do during a week in Hanoi.

Where to go bar hopping in Hanoi?

The Haflington

This bar, as many great locations in the old quarter of Hanoi, can be found at the end of several small alleyways. Fear not, though, as there will be someone out front to guide you! I have seen The Haflington used as a photo op on some luxury travel themed Instagram accounts, with it’s fantasy dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling and the glass roof, illuminated by a bar shelf that reaches up the entire height of the back wall.

The Haflington was designed with European natural history museums in mind. Even their menu is fancy, it reminds me of an old book, with golden lettering “A Guide to Fantastic Cocktails & Wonders” on the leather bound cover. They created their own signature drinks, but also offer the classics.

Cocktail: Song of the Birds – 290k VND
Rye Whiskey, Sweet Vermouth, Orange Juice, Lime Juice, Grenadine Syrup, Peychaud’s Bitters

Location: 94 P. Hàng Mã, Hàng Bồ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam

Nê Cocktailbar

Nê is treated as one of the “inventors” of modern Vietnamese cocktail culture. The bar opened in 2017 and it’s founder has even won an award for his Phở cocktail. The cocktail, as the name suggests, is inspired by Phở, Vietnams de facto national dish – a hearty beef soup. Watching the cocktail being made is an experience in itself, since the alcohol is set on fire and then poured through three stages in a tower-like contraption, specifically invented for this cocktail. It smells like Phở and is served in a bowl, together with a small dish that has the same additions you will see at every restaurant and street vendor serving Pho.

To build on the success of this first modern Vietnamese cocktail they created several more, inspired by other foods, herbs and regional fruits. One of theses cocktails is Áp Thổ, inspired by “Vietnamese pizza” – grilled rice paper with different toppings.

Cocktails: Phở – 260k VND
Gin, Cointreau, Cinnamon, Black Cardamom, Star Anise, Coriander, Sweet & Sour – it’s served with lime and chili, try it by itself first, then add the chilli and lime

Áp Thổ – 230k VND
Chicken Fat Washed Vodka, Elderflower Liqueur, Lemongrass Syrup, Lime Juice – it’s served with a slice of ricepaper pizza

Location: 3B P. Tống Duy Tân, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Rabbit Habit

Another bar hidden at the end of an alley, in the maze of alleys of the Old Town. This bar gives off the vibes of an 1890s US speakeasy. You have to ring a doorbell to be let inside, the stairs are lit up with candles and nothing else, most windows are covered with newspapers and don’t allow any light inside or outside. Dark and heavy leather couches surround dark wood tables.

Sitting at the bar you get the feeling that people here know each other, the barkeepers and customers are familiar with each other and you have barely any tourists making a scene or any loud noises. It truly feels like a cozy space away from home.

Cocktail: Cheesy Movie Night – 300k VND
Irish Whisky, Infused Caramel Popcorn, White Cacao Liqueur, Lime, Cacao Bitter, Salted Cheese and Butterscotch Foam – my recommendation: try it creamy!

Location: 4 P. Trần Phú, Cửa Đông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam

Bar Dinh Rooftop Bar & Lounge

On the 12th floor of the Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture you can find the Bar Dinh Rooftop Bar & Lounge. From this rooftop you have a great view over Ba Đình and the eastern part of the West lake. They do classic cocktails and alcohol free ones, as well as serving some select dishes and snacks. I recommend the Crème Brûlée and the Hanoi Corner cocktail.

Since this bar is close to the old town, where most of you who are reading this will be staying, this can be a perfect “last spot” to visit on your trip. To end it on a high note time your visit around 30 minutes before sunset.

Cocktail: Hanoi Corner – 250k VND
Grey Goose Vodka, Cointreau, Sweet & Sour Kumquat Mix, Fresh Orange Juice, Ginger, Lemongrass, Chili, Orange Peel – my recommendation: normal spice level, more sour

Location: 105 P. Nguyễn Trường Tộ, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam – inside the Le Jardin Hotel Haute Couture

Bar hopping in Hanoi – my experience

I went to most of these places (with the exception of the last one) with a friend and we had a great time. Of course this is something I’ll only recommend if you drink alcohol at all and while you can also enjoy your time and drink (maybe even spread out over several days) by yourself, as I usually do, I have to admit that exploring these places and making memories with another person was very special.

The cocktails I tried carried their heritage well and I am most certain that you won’t be able to get them outside of Vietnam any time soon. Despite their novelty they also tasted great, with a focus on each singular ingredient, which at the same time supported the overall taste when all came together.

Der Beitrag Bar hopping in Hanoi – Vietnamese cocktail innovations erschien zuerst auf Kaya Wanderlust.