Nom and Bat Trang villages (full day)

30km away from Hanoi to the east, the Nom village- the old village of Van Lam district, Hung Yen province - still retains ancient beauty. The center of the village is a beautiful architectural complex consisting of common house, and an ancient well and banyan tree, the typical feature of the northern villages.

08:00: Leaving Hanoi for Nom village, an ancient village in Hung Yen province which is located just 40 km from Hanoi center.

The village dates back more than 300 years and retains many ancient architectural buildings, natural scenery also local customs. Your discovery of Nom village starts at the village market, a rural, very simple and ancient market. The market of Nom village opens on the 1st, 4th, 6th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 16th, 19th, 21st, 24th, 26th, 29th of the lunar months. The market is also active on other days but less crowded. You can take the opportunity to sit down and enjoy some kinds of village cakes.

Continue to the famous Nom pagoda built in 1680. The pagoda houses 122 clay statues of Buddha and deities of all sizes. Each statue features lively facial expressions and gestures. Take a leisurely walk to explore the pagoda’s beauty with the centuries-old rock towers, peaceful ponds, shady green trees and stone bridges.

Then, you go over the typical stone bridge to reach the village center, the bridge is about 2 meters wide joined by the whole blocks of stone and 9 arches carved dragon heads. This is a unique and rare bridge surviving intact after 200 years.

In the village center, you will see a monument system including the village temple (also known as Tam Giang temple), the different family temples anciently gathered around the village pond. Perhaps what is impressive and respect worthy the most in the village is the way that rural life, rustic and honest, has remained virtually intact despite recent rapid urbanization. Visit the village temple, chat with the guard and you will discover more about the village life and culture.

Continue to Bat Trang village where you will enjoy your lunch in an old colonial house.

Then, walking along the ceramic alley, you can stop in the workshops specialized for vases and decor. Then, visit the house of one of the most famous pottery artists of Vietnam, where you will have the opportunity to admire his precious artwork that made this house become the first family ceramic museum of Vietnam. After that, visit the porcelain market where you can see thousands of authentic products and you can do some shopping.

Continue discovering the ancient village of Bat Trang by traveling through narrow lanes, with many workshops and family temples. You will also visit the old town hall dedicated to the Genius Protector of the village (Dinh Lang).

Back to the city center at the end of the day.