All to keep you smiling - Offered Vietnam Visa Arrival - We accept credit cards payment online quickly and security.

Day 01: Hanoi - Bac Ninh.

Tour No. 1: Phu Lang pottery village - But Thap Pagoda – Viem Xa village
You can join with us for a visit to the pottery village  by the Cau River, the But Thap pagoda in the Northern Vietnam and the village of Quan Ho music in one day.
7:30: Departure from Hanoi to the Phu Lang pottery village.
9:00 to 10:45: You are greeted by the village’s leaders.
10:45: Depart for Phu Lang, But Thap pagoda.
11:30 to 12:30: Lunch with local specialties.
12:30 to 1:15 p.m: Visit But Thap pagoda.
1:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Visit the soy bean paste household and buy products.
14h00: Leave Dinh To village for Viem Xa.
2:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.: Visit the Cung Temple .
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.: Enjoy and exchange Quan Ho folk songs.
4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Watching Khuc cake making process
16h30: Leave for Hanoi
17h30: Arrival in Hanoi

Tour No. 2: The Phu Lang pottery village – Viem Xa Village
This tour will take you to the pottery village on the banks of the river Cau. You will have the chance to enjoy the traditional music of Quan Ho.
8:00: Departure from Hanoi to the Phu Lang pottery village.
9:30 to 11:30: Greeted by village’s leaders.
11:30: Leave Phu Lang Village for Viem Xa village.
12:15 to 1:30 p.m. Lunch with local specialties.
1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.: Visit the Cung Temple
2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Enjoy traditional music.
15.30-16.00: Watching Khuc cake making process
16.00: Leave for Hanoi.
17.00: Arrival in Hanoi.

Tour No 3: Phu Lang Pottery- Dinh To Soy bean paste/ But Thap Pagoda

This tour will bring you the special feelings about a beautiful pottery village on the bank of the romantic Cau river. Visit the fullest sculpture masterpiece on wood and stone in Vietnam- But Thap Pagoda. Enjoy local specialities and visit soya bean paste household in Dinh To.

8am: Leave Hanoi for Phu Lang Pottery Village

9.30- 11.30: Visit Phu Lang Pottery Village

Welcome and brief introduction from commune leader

Visit Giang or Khanh Pottery household- Specializing in production of spiritual and housewares ceramic

Visit Minh Pottery household- Specializing in production of art ceramic

Visit Thanh Pottery household- Learning and practicing ceramic production.

11.30: Leave Phu Lang for Dinh To Soya bean paste Village/ But Thap Pagoda

12.30- 13.30: Lunch- Enjoy local tradition food ( banh duc, banh tro, porridge…)

13.30- 14.15: Explore But Thap Pagoda

14.15- 15.30: Visit Soya bean paste household and buy Soya bean paste products

15.30: Leave Dinh To for Hanoi

16. 15:  Say goodbye to guests in Hanoi.

Tour No4: Viem Xa Ancient Quan Ho folk song- Dinh To Soy bean paste/ But Thap pagoda

This tour will take you to Kinh Bac- a lyrical and humane culture with passionate Quan Ho folk melodies. Visit the fullest sculpture masterpiece on wood and stone in Vietnam- But Thap Pagoda. Enjoy local specialities and visit soya bean paste households in Dinh To.

8am: Leave Hanoi for Viem Xa Ancient Quan Ho folk song village

9.00- 9.45: Visit Communal House, “Cung” temple, “Ngoc” well, Quan Ho Ancestor Lady temple

9.45- 10.45: Enjoy and exchange quan Ho folk song

10.45- 11.00: Watching Khuc cake making process, buying Khuc cake and souvenirs

11.00: Leave Viem Xa for Dinh To Soy bean paste Village/ But Thap pagoda

11.45- 12.45: Lunch- Enjoy local tradition food ( banh duc, banh tro, porridge…)

12.45- 13.30: Explore But Thap Pagoda

13.30- 14.15: Visit Soya bean paste household and buy Soya bean paste products.

14.15: Leave Dinh To for Hanoi

15.00:  Say goodbye to guests in Hanoi.

Tour No 5: Phu Lang Pottery Village

This tour will be amazing address fo visitors who are interested in pottery art and would like to pratise as pottey artists. Phu Lang is famous for its pottery products with distinctive eel-skin enamel covering.

8am: Leave Hanoi for Phu Lang Pottery Village

9.00- 9.15: Welcome and brief introduction from commune leader

9.15- 9.35: Visit Phu Lang Pagoda

9.35- 10.10: Visit Giang or Khanh Pottery household- Specializing in production of spiritual and housewares ceramic

10.10- 10.30: Visit Minh Pottery household- Specializing in production of art ceramic

10.30- 11.15: Visit Ngoc Pottery household- Visiting and buying ceramic products.

11.15- 12.00: Visit Thanh Pottery household- Learning and practising ceramic production.

12.00- 13. 15: Enjoy lunch with potters

13.15- 13.45: Buying souvenirs

13.45: Leave Phu Lang for Hanoi

15.30: Say goodbye to guests in Hanoi

Tour No 6: Viem Xa Ancient Quan Ho folk song

This tour will take you to Kinh Bac- region of “flat palm hat with fringes and unique doors”. Let’s enjoy with us to visit that countryside- Diem Village, birthplace of the Quan Ho folk songs.

8am: Leave Hanoi for Viem Xa Ancient Quan Ho folk song village

9.00- 9.45: Visit Communal House, “Cung” temple, “Ngoc” well, Quan Ho Ancestor Lady temple

9.45- 10.30: Visit “Gather house” of Quan Ho singers Enjoy and exchange quan Ho folk song

10.30- 12.00: Enjoy and exchange Quan Ho folk songs

12.00- 13.45: Enjoy quan Ho lunch

13.15- 13.45: Watching Khuc cake making process, buying Khuc cake and souvenirs.

13.45: Leave Viem Xa for Hanoi

14.45: Say goodbye to guests in Hanoi

 Tour No7: Dinh To Soy bean paste - But Thap Pagoda

The first stop in Dinh To is But Thap pagoda, one of the finest architecture pagodas in the North of Vietnam. You will have opportunities to enjoy the traditional foods, simple but very subtle.

8am: Leave Hanoi for Dinh To village

8.45- 9.20: Visit Dong Ho traditional picture village

9.20- 10.20: Visit Soy bean paste household and buy Soy bean paste products

10.20- 11.20: Visit But Thap Pagoda

11.20- 12.20: Lunch- Enjoy local famous food (banh duc, banh tro, porridge…)

12.20: Leave Dinh To for Hanoi

13.00: Say goodbye to guests in Hanoi

The information on the sites of Community- based Tourism in Bac Ninh province

Diem Village- homeland of Quan Ho folk songs.

CUNG PAGODA

Cung Pagoda- Pearl Well is the first stop for any visitor to Diem village, a location widely considered as the birthplace of the centeries- old Quan Ho folk song genre. Village elders believe that the genre reached its peak of sofitiscation in Kinh Bac, the former name of Bac Ninh province, due in part to the pure water used by villages from the pagoda’s Pearl Well.

A local legend claims that during the reign of king Ly Thanh Tong (1054- 1072), one night his queen saw a light while sleeping, and from that light, two yellow carps appeared and stated his desire to become a human. Sometime later, the queen bore two beautiful  and intelligent princesses, named Ngoc Dong and Thuy Tien.

At that time Kim Linh mountain by Diem village was a very primitive place, full of wild beasts. The two princesses asked the king to protect the area, and he did so with military and supplies. The princesses themselves came to help with the effort, overseeing the military supply warehouse built into the foot of Kim Linh mountain. One fine spring day, they kneeled down towards the capital  and bowed to the king, asking him to let them stay permanently in the Kim Linh mountain area, in Diem village.

At that very moment, the two princesses took the form of two golden carp, and the place where they kneeled down  transformed into a semi- circular well, which is now known locally as the Pearl Well. To commemorate the two princesses, local villagers built a temple on the foundation of the military supply warehouse, and named it Cung temple. The reverence people have for Cung temple can be discerned in the popular saying: “one can make pilgrimages in nine directions, but it is not as holy as lighting an incense at Cung temple”.

The two carp still exist today and have become a holy symbol in the heart of every Diem villager. Leganes may only be legends, but the renown of Diem village’s Quan Ho singers is undisputed. The silky long hair of Diem village’s girls is reputedly because they wash it in the pure water of the Pearl well and the men of the village remain proud of their delicious tea, which they brew using the same well water.

DIEM VILLAGE’S COMMUNAL HOUSE

According to village records, the communal house was built at the end of 17^th century to worship the spirit Tam Giang. This is one of the most famous pagods in the Kinh Bac region, known for its traditional architecture.

The Diem village’s communal house is worth noting for its uniquely carved wooden frame around the altar, located in the middle chamber, and is regarded as a national treasure. The altar frame measures a giant seven metres in height, with four consecutive layers depicting a fairy riding a dragon and a bird holding a lantern, a dragon and girls admiring flowers, and a rich tapestry of dragon, clouds, lotus, bamboo, animals and human. The whole structure is gilded, with every detail carefully decorated. Almost all northern communal houses have such altar frames, but none compares with Diem village’s extravagance, and the carving reflects the highly sophisticated wood craft found in the Kinh Bac region.

The altar in the Diem village’s communal house is lacquered and gilded. The console table features carved dragons, while the valance layers are decorated with images of dragons, clouds and flowers. But the altar also contains other carved images, including those of beautiful village girls, revealing that Diem artisans in the past were inspired by daily life, aven when decorating solemn places like temples.

Diem village’s communal house also holds other valuable antiques, such as an incense burner and a carved set of local rolls of honour, praising those who contributed to the nation.

VUA BA TEMPLE

The Vua Ba temple is dedicated to worship “Vua Ba”- an ancestor of the Quan Ho tradition- and is a very attractive destination for any tour of Bac Ninh. The temple was built long time ago, and features a carved wood frame with a curved tiled roof.

According to folklore and historical documents, Vua Ba was the daughter of the Hung Dynasty king. When she was at marriageable age, her father held a takraw ball contest, whereby the one who managed to catch the ball could marry the princess. Unfortunately, the princess was not pleased with the winner, and she asked the king to allow her an entourage of 50 to embark on a spring excursion. But she and her entourage were swept by strong wind and rain to Viem Trang hamlet- today’s Diem village. Appreciating its charming character, she decided to stay and explore the area, and taught the farmers about planting mulberry, raising silkworms, weaving and planting sugarcane for molasses. She also composed songs and taught the people in the village a unique style of singing, which is known today as Quan Ho.

When she died, the villagers built a temple, chose the 6^th of February in the lunar calendar (the day she set off on her spring excursion) as a burning incense festival to remember her. When she first arrived at Diem village, three takraw balls from the contest to choose her matealso drifted along. So whenever there is a drought, the Diem villagers would play a game of takraw to ask for good weather.

Nowadays, Vua Ba temple is a place where Quan Ho singers gather to sing folk songs. They continue to sing in the old style, and perhaps as a tribute to their ancestral queen, custom forbids the marrying of male and female singing partners. Instead, they borrow the Quan Ho melodies to convey their loves and wishes.

 QUAN HO GATHERING HOUSE

Let’s take a look at this traditional Quan Ho Gathering house in Diem village.

In the past, Quan Ho singers were locally known as Quan Ho groups. These group would meet after a long day of work in the evening to practise singing Quan Ho. There were many Quan Ho groups, divided into male and female sub- groups. Following the Taoist principle of yin and yang, the Quan Ho male group of one village would befriend the Quan Ho female group of another village, and vice versa.

These Quan Ho groups, besides directly serving the cultural activities of the community, such as processions and rituals, would also visit and sing through exchanges among groups. Therefore the paired Quan Ho singers stretch beyond blood relations to connect village together. This is also an unique feature of Quan Ho.

Each Quan Ho group consists of five persons. This number follows the principles of yin and yang, and the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water, as well as the closeness of the members of the group, like the five fingers of a hand. Five men correspond with five women. Those who participate in the rituals around Quan Ho activities and sing Quan Ho folk songs are well known to “play Quan Ho”.

The Quan Ho singers are named in order, from “Anh Hai” (the male who has most experience and the best singing voice) to “Anh Sau” (the youngest with least experience) in the male group. Quan Ho never allows the use of the singer’s first name. the title “Hai” and “Ba” are based on the talent of each singers. Thus, “Anh Hai” and “Chi Hai” are the most sophisticated artists, for men and women respectively. The head of each group is referred to as the “ maetro” and they establish and monitor the activities of the group. The maetro’s houses were used as gathering houses for meetings, singing practice or welcoming friends from other groups.

Diem is an old Quan Ho village, and it still retains many types of oratorio styles and unique Quan Ho practices. According to cultural experts, Quan Ho in Diem village carries the full sequence of Quan Ho game play. In the past, Diem village has nearly 20 Quan Ho gathering houses, and we can still glimpse into their evocative past, even if time has partly changed their appearance.

 QUAN HO SINGING

Although the exact origin of Quan Ho melodies and even the source of its name remain elusive, Quan Ho has been passed down through many generations and is regard as one of the most famous folk song genres in Vietnam.

Quan Ho is essentially repartee singing between men and women. The songs are performed as alternating verses between two women from one village  and two men from another one, with each pair singing in harmony. Quan Ho songs are drawn from poetry and folk sayings, often about love and are sung without any instrument accompaniment. There are four main singing techniques in Quan Ho: restrained, resonant, ringing and staccato. Singing Quan Ho not only requires a smooth voice and crystal- clear enunciation, but also the ability to vibrate and trill the voice.

Quan Ho has 213 melodic variations with more than 400 songs. Quan Ho singing takes different formats as appropriate to rituals, festivals, competitions or informal gatherings. The format of “Hat Canh” singing, for example, follows the highly ritualized customs of Quan Ho and maintains the full sequence, which usually lasts from 7 or 8pm till 2 or 3am. Quan Ho singing tends to become emotional as the night goes on, permeated with feelings and mediations about love, life and human fate. Singers are seemingly intoxicated and the most talent singing can be revealed. By 2 or 3 am, a light meal is served with rice wine. Guests will then sing goodbye verses, while the hosts will reply with songs to persuade them to stay. The singing session is drawn to a close with promises to meet again the same time next year.

“Hat hoi” or festival singing is another form of Quan Ho. This is cultural activity that involves the singing of Quan Ho at village meetings or festivals, when many Quan Ho groups attend and come together. They sing, make new friends, meet old friends and pray for luck and happiness. The artists sing to convey the meaning of their lyrics and the love of harmony; they are free to adapt and improvise their song selection. When the festival ends,  they are reluctant to part and sing songs expressing friendship bonds and sadness at departing.

With “Hat le tho” or worship singing, groups usually prepare betel, nuts, incense, candles and fruits as offering at the communal house. This group includes both men and women, who are warmly welcomed by the village elders. Although in the past women were not allowed to make offerings at the pagoda and temple, the female Quan Ho singers were permitted to do so. After the offering, they sing songs of blessings for peace, prosperity and long life before shifting into Hoi singing or Canh singing at home.

Like many Vietnameses, Quan Ho singers believe that there are spirits who can brings blessings to human kind and unite heaven and earth in harmony. “Hat cau dao” is a form of Quan Ho singing dedicated to this purpose and involves only female singers.

When singing, the artists have to keep their soul clean, so they stay at a pagoda for 2-3 days before, in preparation. These songs mainly feature wishes for favorable weather, a good harvest and peace.

Vietnamese traditionally believe in fate and that bad luck needs banishing. The “Hat giai han” form of Quan Ho singing is used for this purpose. Quan Ho singers, both men and women are invited to the house to sing overnight. People believe this will push away bad luck and bring joy back. There is also the “Hat mung” or celebratory style, which is used for such happy occasions as a house- warming or a birthday or the successful passing of an exam. The songs feature congratulations and praises of deep gratitude and the singing environment must be full of laughter and salutations, finally, “Hat ket cha” is another form of Quan Ho singing and ritual, used to mark the decicion of two villages to link together in friendship.

In recognition of this unique folk tradition, in 2009 UNESCO declared Quan Ho an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

QUAN HO COSTUMES

The style of Quan Ho performers reflects their hospitality. Courtesy is shown through the words they use, the sound of their voice, their behavior, their eye movements and the clothes they wear; all of which must be becoming of the Quan Ho tradition.

Male singers’ costumes comprise a five- panel tunic with a hard collar and wide hems. The tunic is usually longer than knee- level and worn with one or two shorter tops made of cotton or silk. The inner top is usually white while the long outer tunic is usually black. But the outer tunic is also double layered, with the black on top of a layer of green or lemon yellow fabric/ pants are cut traditionally with wide legs, most often in white or sometimes in cream. The men’s costumes also include wooden clogs, turbans, conical hats and umbrellas.

Traditionally, the female singers’ costumes are more complicated and can be put together by three or even seven layers of long tunics worn on top of one another. But sometimes they also simply wear a double layer tunic.

The women’s long outer tunic has five panels with button closures, in brown or black silk or gauze. The inner tunic is made of brighter colors to show through the outer tunic, from yellow to blue to green. Underneath the inner tunic is a small sleeveless blouse called “ao yem”, which functions traditionally as a Vietnamese woman’s undergarment. The “ao yem” is often either simply white or of a red hue, from pink to cherry to crimson. The collar of the “ao yem” captures the female charm and the different styles of collar can signify a woman’s age. An older woman will wear a split collar, whereas a younger woman will choose a round collar with trims. Female singers wear their tunics with long skirts rather than pants and they complement their outfits with colorful sashes.

Women usually style their hair to frame their faces, covering it with a kerchief. They also wear a traditional wide rimmed round hat made form palm leaves, which is decorated on the inside with butterflies, birds, phoenixes and flowers. Gold or silver jewelry completes the ensemble.

With their costumes, polite demeanor and beauty typical of the Quan Ho region, combined with their restrained, resonant, ringing and staccato voices, the Quan Ho women leave an unforgettable memory on visitors.

 QUAN HO MEAL

A Quan Ho mal is typically served on a round, wooden tray painted red. If there is “Hat Canh” after the meal, the singers are forbidden from drinking wine. During the meal, guests will enjoy the food first, while the host sits beside them and sings. After the guests finish, then the host begins eating and it is the turn of the guests to sit beside and sing.

Quan Ho people are known for their courtesy and elegance, expressing themselves through a speech that is rustic but nevertheless rich in poetry. Therefore, when inviting guests to enjoy a meal, members of the host group must individually provide an invitation and never as a group. The invitation is also issued with great courtesy, taking a form such as “ As New Year approaches and spring comes, you do not disparage our poor family and have come to visit. We can only offer you this simple country meal, and your enjoyment would bring us much joy”.

During the spring, every village in Bac Ninh province organizes a festival with their own specialties and unique offering for visitors.

 BANH KHUC, THE RICE CAKE OF DIEM VILLAGE

According to the elders of Diem village, nobody knows when “Banh Khuc”, a kind of traditional rice cake first appeared; they only know that it dated back a long time, and used to be offered only to special guests or during big festivals or holidays.

There are two types of banh Khuc: onion and bean. Bean- based banh Khuc also feature meat fat and pepper. These three ingredients are mixed and cooked together to become the inner part of he cake. Banh Khuc with onion is a little different. The onion must be the dried kind, with additional ingredients like mushrooms, pepper, herbs and chopped meat.

You shouldn’t miss an opportunity to enjoy a Banh Khuc when visiting Diem village. It offers a delightful taste and texture. Once you have tried these cakes you will be sure to want to return, and like everything belonging to Quan ho country, you will remember it forever.