Arrivals to Hanoi - Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi, Vietnam

NOTE we will collect you from the airport whatever time you arrive

Our hotel is in the Old City not far from Hoàn Kiếm Lake, try and fit in at least one 6.30 am walk to the lake – this is optional, but it is the best time of the day at the Lake.

All the locals are doing Tai Chi, dancing and having fun, go the first day and you will be hooked.

Breakfast.

We'll start with a planning session for what we want to do during the tour. 

We have a simple jacket shape that is easy to make and an excellent showcase for textile panels you might like to use for your jacket. For tricky patterns and you may need to finish at home.

Off to the Ethnological Museum to whet your appetite for Vietnamese Textiles.

After lunch we will there are a few cloth markets that need our attention. 

Welcome Dinner in the evening, let's celebrate our coming  journey.

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Leaving Hanoi we head North West to Bac Ha today, 

We will go for a village walk this afternoon, choosing a fairly flat path through rice fields, goats and buffalo grazing and villages going about their daily chores. 

We can hope to find the old women home at the house that makes Firewater getting supplies ready for tomroows regional market.

In Bac Ha itself after we book into our hotel  it is interesting to wander through town, check out the Ginseng shop and other local supplies.

We know a great textile dealer - she often has amazing old pices and rollls of newly woven cloths.

We can take a bit of time with Gillain to work on our Textile Journals tonight.

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Sunday market!

Up early to watch it all unfold, take your time, bargain for a treasure Or simply watch the locals. 

Buy some moonshine or just watch the old guys sampling the wares as Mum works. Their cheeks get rosier and some slowly drift sideways- haha.

We'll meet up for lunch and head back to Hanoi.

Evening free.

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Heading out to Mai Chou today, Mai Chou is a White Thai Minority area, you'll see lovely wooden stilt house and beautiful rice fields all around.

We are going to visit a Women's Self-Help group today, use their tables to cut out of jackets and getting sewing.

A short walk from our hotel is another dealer of vintage textiles- always interesting to see what she has.

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So much to do in this heavenly place!

Sunrise walk is very special amongst the rice paddies, optional but worth it.

First off we are heading over the hill to a Green H'mong village for a workshop using batik and indigo.

A delicious home cooked lunch and  then back to the workshop to finish off our jackets and work on our journals.

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We'll head back to Hanoi today.

Visit the Women's Museum in the afternoon - it is always much appreciated.

 It showcases the grit and determination of Vietnamese Women throughout the countries turbulent past.

Free evening.

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Stay on a Boat on Lan Ha Bay

Enchanting scenery of World Heritage listed Ha Long Bay area. 

Time to work on your textile journals, add stitch to your jackets or just chill out soaking up the view.

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We are visiting a grotto this morning, you have a choice of paddle yourself kayaks or a bigger boat and be rowed, always a fun experience.

Return to Hanoi and a free afternoon, 

Final session with Gillian before our Farewell Dinner.

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We will drop you to the airport Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi.

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• Fabrics are hunted for in the markets.
• Gillian will supply a kit to work on a textile journal
• We have a classic jacket - shorter or longer version in multiple sizes to use

Bring

• sewing scissors
• basic sewing kit - you'll be machining a jacket

Physical Fitness for Sightseeing 

You need to have the fitness level required for our sightseeing activities.

Our itinerary involves frequent disembarking and boarding of the minibus throughout the day.

Some of the monuments and markets we will visit are extensive so you need to be capable of walking several kilometres at a gentle pace and managing occasional flights of stairs or hills.