Situated right by the bank of a romantic river, just about one and a half hour driving from Hanoi, Tho Ha village is becoming a more and more popular destination for tourists who wish to discover the rural life and ancient architecture of Vietnamese people.

While it used to be a busy pottery village before the 1980s, after the demand for pottery going down Tho Ha village had changed into making rice papers or dry pancakes. Until now, they still keep the traditional lifestyle and old houses, old temples, pagodas going. The village is also the creative inspiration for many painters, filmmakers… to visit and produce hundreds of masterpieces. Upon entering the village via a ferry across Nhu Nguyet River, you will see lots of 1 x 6ft. bamboo grids each covered with sheets of rice paper. The grids are leaning against exterior walls, horizontal supports about 5ft high, and along passenger ways. You will come to visit a house of a local family in the village. Here the host will introduce you the process of making rice paper. One interesting thing is that people move the grids from one location to another as the gelatinous rice sheets dry out; and no one measures moisture content with an electronic device; rather, it is all done by experienced eyes. Afterwards, it will be time to visit the next destination: Dinh Bang village, located in Bac Ninh province of Red River Delta, 17km from Hanoi. Dinh Bang communal hall is one of the largest, finest and picturesque village communal houses in Vietnam. You will get to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then have a small talk with the locals to get deep understanding about the local life here. After short break, it will be time to on the bus back to Hanoi.