Start with pickup from your hotel in Hanoi and take a 45-minute car ride heading north-west of Hanoi to Van Phuc Silk Village. This well-known village is traditionally associated with silk weaving in Ha Dong. Located on the bank of Nhue River, the village of Van Phuc has a 1000-year history of silk weaving and this practice remains a rich tradition to this day. Take a peaceful stroll and enjoy the sights and sounds of a traditional Northern Vietnamese village, with communal houses, fish ponds, and ancient banyan trees alongside modern houses. Then, visit the families for whom silk production is a way of life. Watch as you learn the stages of producing handmade silk: from spinning and glueing, through weaving and completion of the silk wares. Visit the shrines of the village where the first masters are worshipped. The patterns are symmetrical in appearance and soft to the touch. Most patterns are designed and drawn as per the emulation of objects, animals, and other shapes. You can also shop for silk products at reasonable prices before heading back to Hanoi.