Hanoi Cultural Workshops have quickly become a favourite weekend and after-work activity among young people. From shaping clay at pottery studios, crafting traditional conical hats, and designing delicate silver jewellery, to joining hands-on cooking classes or learning the art of coffee making, each workshop offers its own unique and memorable experience. If you’re looking to try something new and creative, these Hanoi workshop spots are sure to inspire you to sign up at least once. These workshops offer travellers a hands-on way to experience traditional crafts, food, and daily life beyond sightseeing.
Hanoi is more than just ancient temples, buzzing street life, and world-famous food. It’s a city where traditions are kept alive through craftsmanship, passed down through generations. One of the best ways to truly connect with Vietnamese culture is by joining a local workshop, where you don’t just watch but create, taste, and learn.
Whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple, or with family, these workshops offer unforgettable memories and meaningful souvenirs. Here are the top 7 workshops in Hanoi you absolutely shouldn’t miss when spending time in Hanoi.
Want a seamless experience? Most of our Vietnam Tours combine Hanoi highlights, cultural workshops, food experiences, and must-see destinations across the country – perfect for first-time visitors who want depth without stress. Let us help you design your perfect trip to Vietnam
1. Pottery Workshops (Bat Trang Ceramic Village)
Just 30 minutes from Hanoi Old Quarter lies Bát Tràng Ceramic Village, which is one of Vietnam’s oldest and most celebrated craft villages, with a history spanning over 700 years. For centuries, its master potters have supplied fine ceramics to royal courts, temples, and households across the country. Even today, the village remains a living museum where tradition and daily life intertwine.
Walking through Bát Tràng feels like stepping back in time. Narrow lanes wind past family-run kilns, ancestral homes, and workshops where the scent of clay and wood-fired ovens fills the air. Skills are passed down through generations, and each piece of pottery reflects not only technique but also the soul of Northern Vietnamese culture.
What you’ll experience:
- Learn traditional pottery techniques from local artisans
- Shape your own bowl, cup, or decorative piece on a spinning wheel
- Paint and glaze your creation
- Explore Bat Trang village, local ceramic markets and the Bat Trang Pottery Museum
Why it’s special:
Bat Trang ceramics were once supplied to royal families for centuries. Taking part in this workshop gives you insight into Vietnamese craftsmanship, learn about the history and be away from the city crowds.
Best for: Families, creative travellers, culture lovers
Duration: 2–3 hours
Daily Budget: 600,000 VN ($22)
2. Ring Making Workshop (Vietnamese Silver Craft)
Vietnam has a rich history of handmade silver jewelry, particularly among ethnic minority communities. In Hanoi, you can join a ring-making workshop led by skilled silversmiths and master all the skills from measuring sizes, silver sawing, modelling, and welding.
What you’ll experience:
- Learn basic silverworking techniques
- Choose textures, engravings, or symbolic patterns all
- Design and craft your own silver ring under the guidance of the instructors
- Bring home great yet personal memories of Vietnam with you
Why it’s special:
Learning about the history of Vietnamese jewellery and leaving with a meaningful, handmade souvenir – far more personal than anything bought in a shop.
Best for: Couples, friends, creative travellers
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Reference Price: 1,000,000 VND ($40) per session
3. Conical Hat (Non-La) Making Workshop
The Nón Lá, Vietnam’s iconic conical hat, is far more than a simple accessory – it is a powerful symbol of Vietnamese identity, resilience, and everyday beauty. Worn for centuries by farmers, market vendors, and even poets, the Nón Lá represents a life lived in harmony with nature. From shielding wearers from tropical sun and rain to appearing in traditional dances and art, this humble hat tells the story of Vietnam itself.
Crafted by hand using palm leaves, bamboo frames, and delicate stitching, each Nón Lá requires patience, precision, and skill passed down through generations. In the past, making conical hats was a communal activity in villages, where families would gather to prepare leaves, shape frames, and share stories as they worked.
What you’ll experience:
- Learn how Non La are traditionally made
- Shape bamboo frames and stitch palm leaves
- Decorate your hat with simple patterns or calligraphy
Why it’s special:
This workshop gives you insight into Vietnamese daily life and symbolism, and the hat you make is light enough to take home. Our trips to the Vietnamese countryside include spending time with local families and making your own conical hats. Check our suggested tours to Vietnam, or you can always request your preferred activities
Best for: First-time visitors, families
Duration: 3-4 hours
Reference Price: 800,000VND (USD 30) cheaper when you go in a big group
4. Son Mai (Vietnamese Lacquer Painting) Workshop
Sơn Mài, or Vietnamese lacquer painting, is one of Vietnam’s most sophisticated and deeply symbolic art forms. Rooted in ancient craftsmanship and refined through centuries of royal patronage, lacquer art reflects the country’s philosophy of patience, balance, and harmony. Traditionally used to decorate temples, palaces, and ceremonial objects, Sơn Mài later evolved into a respected fine art practiced by master artists.
This unique technique uses natural tree resin, layered repeatedly with pigments, gold or silver leaf, and eggshell inlay. Each layer must dry slowly before being polished by hand, a process that can take weeks or even months for professional works. The final piece reveals depth and texture unlike any other painting medium.
What you’ll experience:
- Learn the history of lacquer art in Vietnam
- Work with natural lacquer, pigments, and gold leaf
- Create your own small lacquer artwork
- Bring home your own creation to remind you of the great time in Vietnam
Why it’s special:
This is a rare opportunity to try an art form that takes years to master. Even a short workshop gives you a deep appreciation for Vietnamese fine arts.
Best for: Art lovers, slow travellers
Duration: 2–3 hours
Reference Price: 600,000 VND ($22)
5. To He Making Workshop (Traditional Folk Toys)
Tò He is one of Vietnam’s most charming and playful traditional art forms, deeply rooted in village festivals, temple fairs, and childhood memories. These colourful figurines, shaped from glutinous rice dough and dyed with natural pigments, have been crafted for centuries by folk artisans, originally as simple toys for children and offerings during celebrations.
Each Tò He figure tells a story. From animals and flowers to characters from Vietnamese legends and folklore, the shapes reflect rural life, seasonal festivals, and cultural beliefs. Historically, Tò He makers travelled from village to village, bringing joy to markets and communal gatherings, making this craft an important part of Vietnam’s living heritage.
What you’ll experience:
- Learn how To He are made and their cultural meaning
- Shape and colour your own figures (animals, characters, flowers)
- Hear stories about Vietnamese folklore
Why it’s special:
The Tò He workshop stands out because it preserves a rare and fading folk tradition that few travellers get to experience. Unlike mass-produced souvenirs, Tò He figures are entirely handmade, shaped in the moment, and filled with cultural symbolism. Every creation is temporary by nature, reflecting the Vietnamese philosophy of simplicity, joy, and impermanence.
What makes this experience truly unique is its intergenerational and interactive nature. You’re not just learning a craft, you’re sharing stories, laughter, and cultural exchange with local artisans who have often practiced this art since childhood. It’s a workshop that appeals to all ages, offering children fun and creativity while giving adults a deeper appreciation of Vietnam’s intangible cultural heritage.
Best for: Families with children
Duration: 1–1.5 hours
Reference price: 300,000 VND (USD 15)
6. Vietnamese Coffee Workshop
Vietnam is the second-largest coffee exporter in the world, and its coffee culture is truly unique. Learn more about our coffee culture.
What you’ll experience:
- Learn about Vietnamese coffee beans and roasting styles
- Brew traditional coffee using a phin filter
- Taste famous varieties like egg coffee, coconut coffee, and salt coffee
Why it’s special:
Coffee in Vietnam is slow, social, and deeply cultural. This workshop helps you understand why Hanoi’s cafés are such an important part of daily life.
Best for: Coffee lovers, solo travellers
Duration: 1.5–2 hours
Reference Price: 500,000 VND ($19)
7. Vietnamese Cooking Workshop
Vietnamese cuisine is a reflection of the country’s history, geography, and way of life – fresh, balanced, and deeply connected to family traditions. In Hanoi, cooking is not just about eating well; it’s a daily ritual shaped byearly morning market visits, seasonal ingredients, and recipes passed down through generations.
A Vietnamese cooking workshop tour invites you to step into this world. The experience often begins at a local market, where vibrant stalls overflow with herbs, spices, and fresh produce. Guided by a local chef, you’ll learn how to select ingredients the Vietnamese way – by scent, texture, and balance, while gaining insight into how food fits into everyday life in Hanoi.
What you’ll experience:
- Shop for fresh ingredients with a local guide
- Learn to cook classic Northern Vietnamese dishes (Pho, Bun Cha, Nem)
- Enjoy your homemade meal
Why it’s special:
What makes this experience truly special is its hands-on and immersive nature. Guided by local chefs, you’ll gain insight into regional cooking techniques and the stories behind each dish, many of which have been passed down through generations. Sharing the meal you’ve prepared together creates a sense of connection that goes far beyond sightseeing, leaving you with skills and memories you can recreate long after your journey ends.
Best for: Food lovers, couples
Duration: Half day.
Reference Price: 350,000 – 650,000 VND depends on the dishes.
