Vietnam Art Tour

Vietnam Art Tour

Be captivated by the variety of tradional Vietnamese art styles and workshops you will attend.
Rub shoulders with local artists before creating your very own masterpieces to take home.
Soak up the history and culture while letting your creative juices flow as you sketch various locations.
Network with local artists and curators as these experts showcase the art scene of Vietnam.

Itinerary

Day 1: Hanoi arrival

Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
Xin Chao! Welcome to Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi, one of Asia's most enchanting cities, full of culture, history and the engaging contradictions of a rapidly developing and deeply traditional society, You are greeted in Noi Bai airport by your guide and driver for your transfer to the hotel.
Enjoy dinner at either the famous Bun Cha restaurant where Obama Visited or a warm home after dinner.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skylark Hotel

Day 2: Art & Culture of Hanoi

Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
We will start our journey in Vietnam with the Temple of Literature, dedicated of Confucius was built in the 11th century. It was the first university in Vietnam and students still come here to burn incense. You will find a peaceful atmosphere tinged with incense smoke, and sunken lotus ponds populated by fish and turtles.
You will have the opportunity here to peacefully sit for 30-minutes as you capture the beauty of the temple of Literature by sketching this monument and it's surroundings in Charcoal. Stroll along the Pavements of Hanoi to the Vietnam Museum of fine arts. It's solid introduction to the Vietnamese art world, this museum has 2 sections: one displays the decorative arts and sculptures, carvings of the Vietnamese in the past; the other displays the Vietnamese lacquer ware and paintings, sculptures in the late modern period
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skylark Hotel

Day 3: Roots of Vietnamese art

Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
Dive with us into the fantasy world of Vietnamese water puppetry. This art originated from the Red River Delta and has developed through the ages. What many people see as a simple 1-hour representation is actually one of the richest and most iconic arts in Vietnam. Today, we have pulled some strings to open for you the doors leading behind the scene. We travel to one of the villages where everything started. A place where water puppetry is deeply rooted and where locals have been preserving the art in its traditional form. Meet the artisans who make the puppets out of wood, as well as the puppeteers who give them life. Attend a private show and enjoy lunch with the troupe.
This afternoon, we will continue our journey to seek the roots of Vietnamese art pieces. Our first destination of today is But Thap Pagoda, built under King Tran Thanh Tong (1258-1278). The pagoda is famous for its masterpieces of Vietnam traditional architecture, woodcarvings, amazing stone tower and all above of that is the unique Guan Yin statue with a thousand arms and eyes. At this pagoda, you will also learn about the influence of Buddhism in Vietnamese religious life. Go a bit further to the East to reach Dong Ho Village is famous for its long-preserved art of woodcut painting. Dong Ho folk painting uses woodcut prints depicting the daily activities and religious practices of farmers in the Red River Delta. Meet Mr. Nguyen Dang Che, one of the few remaining artisans specializing in Dong Ho folk painting and his studio to learn more about the procedures of carving and printing these paintings, and learn about the local folk tales represented in the paintings

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skylark Hotel

Day 4: Lacquer Art

Stop At: Hanoi, Hanoi
Wake up early today and enjoy a hearty bowl of Pho for breakfast on the street before strolling around Hoan Kiem Lake. You may want to bring your charcoal & paper with you to capture the landscape of the lake or a moment of the Hanoi morning. After that is time to discover the special Vietnamese lacquer technique. Meet an enthusiastic lacquer artist in a small studio with hundreds of lacquer paintings; you'll hear a short introduction of Vietnam lacquer art history. He will help you to distinguish Vietnamese lacquer from that of China & Japan, and clearly demonstrate the 3-step process of lacquer painting. Using the lacquer techniques you have just learnt, you can try your hand at creating a lacquer painting (size 30cmx30cm), from drawing and painting to adding materials like seashell, mother of pearl, eggshell, gold leaf or silver dust. It’s a fantastic hands-on experience for your creative side. This workshop will last the whole day and once the artist has finished with the final touches of grinding and polishing, your artwork will be delivered back to you in Hanoi.
Depart Hanoi around 4pm for your evening flight to Hue.

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Skylark Hotel

Day 5: Hue Heritage and People

Stop At: Hue, Hue, Thua Thien - Hue Province
Hue was Vietnam’s last feudal capital, and today is your insider day trip to the Hue Imperial Citadel, the best-preserved remnant of a vast citadel and royal quarters that once existed on the site. Here you can see the ravages of time and war on what was the carefully designed capital of the Nguyen Dynasty. Built in the early 19th century by armies of conscripted labourers under Emperor Gia Long, the citadel was surrounded by a ten kilometre moat, and earthen walls formed the outer perimeter. We exit the citadel and move on to the boat pier to visit a local garden house where your host will welcome you with hand-made ginger jam and tea before enjoying some traditional dishes of Hue; you can even join in setting up the home meal if you wish. After a delicious home hosted lunch, you then veer off the common path and go for an easy cycling ride around the village to explore the daily local life in the peaceful countryside.

Next spot is Tu Duc Tomb, a sprawling compound cantered on a lake and several waterways, and including numerous separate memorials connected by pleasant walkways. Head back to the city to Dong Ba Market to take photos of Hue’s daily life.

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight in Emm Hotel Hue

Day 6: Modern Art of Hue

Stop At: Hue, Hue, Thua Thien - Hue Province
Today we will reach out for art pieces and significant artists of Hue in modern period and modern times. We start with Le Ba Dang Art Centre. Le Ba Dang was an artist best known for his densely textured mixed-media paintings of moulded pasteboard, limestone, and pigment on burlap or canvas surfaces. He perfectly fused the cultural influence of Europe and the Orient in his poetic visions articulated in watercolour, sculpture and lithography. Continue walking along the Perfume River to Diem Phung Thi Art Museum. Diem Phung Thi was a world class sculptress who was famous for creating her own 7 modules in sculpture. She had her first exhibition at age of 46 years and almost instantly soared to fame in France in 1966.
In the afternoon, we will visit the famous Truc Chi Art centre. "Truc Chi" is the art of making objects from imprinted bamboo paper. This contemporary art combines the tradition of paper manufacturing with new techniques and creative processes. You will have the opportunity to learn about the process of formation and development of Truc Chi, and admire this creative new expression of Vietnamese culture. You will now have the opportunity to pick up the "water pen" and create your own masterpiece from bamboo paper, or a picture frame (20cm x 40cm) from raw materials. By the end of the day you will have a series of our own creative artworks (20cm x 40cm or 30cm x 40cm) to take home with you to remember this wonderful artistic tradition.

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Emm Hotel Hue

Day 7: Poetic Trail Of Ho Chi Minh City

Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City
This morning is at leisure until we take the flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The very first place to visit is Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum; it is the major art museum in the South of Vietnam. The museum itself was the private residence of Hua Bon Hoa - one of the wealthiest in Saigon in early 20th Century. The museum is indispensable for those who are keen on Vietnam arts and culture with its abundant collections.
Today, we will take a trip to visit some galleries, studios to be inspired the latest trend of art in Saigon. This evening you will have the option to continue discovering this vibrant city (its nightlife and street food) from the back of a Vespa scooter (at additional charge) or enjoy leisurely sun downers from a local rooftop bar.

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Le Duy Hotel

Day 8: Creation and Celebration

Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
With a brush in one hand or whatever medium you choose and a glass of wine in the other, facing the canvas and releasing your imagination and letting your inspiration flow to create an art piece of your Vietnam experience. This is a full day of fun artistic classes for all - no matter your painting level.
This evening we will enjoy a final cocktail party at a local studio. Here we can share our memories with each other and mingle and network with some local artists.

Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight ion Le Duy Hotel

Day 9: Saigon departure

Stop At: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The day is free at your leisure until transfer to Tan Son Nhat International Airport for your departure flight. We wish you a pleasant flight!
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.