Review Author: W

Review Date: 27 feb 2026

Review Body: This was so much more fun an inmate than your larger shows. We not only saw the show but how the puppets were made. This gentleman is a seven generation puppeteer and his wife is also very active in the show. Being able to see all the old puppets his family used was a treat and you can also purchase puppets direct from him if you desire. His show was quite fun and his puppet scooter/road safety program was a hoot to see.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tony

Review Date: 29 apr 2026

Review Body: Visiting the water puppetry theatre was a real treat. I started with a walk down a maze of alleys and climbing up 4 flights to a small theatre in the house. The puppeteer and his wife but on a lovely show with hand carved puppets. In today's world of 3D movies and CGI and was really nice to step back in time to a simpler entertainment. One can only hope that their children pick up this tradition so that its not lost

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Joe

Review Date: 29 okt 2025

Review Body: A great visit to a cultural production. I visited Mr. Liem as a private visit. A wonderful experience. The show itself is amazing, but Mr Liem was also taking me on a journey through 7 generations. His art starts by designing the puppet, cutting the wood, creating the puppet and its moving parts all through the show. A very unique experience, you don’t usually see in the more touristy puppet shows.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Vinh

Review Date: 29 mei 2026

Review Body: I expected the standard show. Was very pleasantly surprised instead to be taken to the home of the puppeteer. His house is at the end of several alleys but opened to a delightful experience. He shared his families history of puppet making, provided us with an up close puppet show on the fourth floor of his home, and then spent time with us in his workshop. Very special indeed!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Amanda

Review Date: 29 sep 2025

Review Body: A cultural production of water puppet show that is very enjoyable. Appreciate the skill behind it all. Didn’t realise this until end of show and the talented puppeteers allow me to try it. It’s heavier than you can imagine and they must be pretty strong to be able to swish around the water smoothly.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Juliana

Review Date: 29 mei 2026

Review Body: It was a great opportunity to learn about this fascinating form of art! I’m so glad to have been able to join in! 🙏🏻👏🏻🪷

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mita

Review Date: 29 mei 2026

Review Body: We really enjoyed the session on water puppet. Informative and fun.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Penelope

Review Date: 29 jan 2026

Review Body: Mr. Liem follows the path of six generations before him in learning the art of water puppetry. He makes his own puppets, and has many made by his father and grandfather. He created a mobile stage and pool so that he can present water puppet shows at schools and other locations, besides his home theater. We were able to talk with him and his wife, through our guide/interpreter, and see a room full of old and new puppets. The show would have been even better if there would be an explanation of the story that was being played out by the puppets.

Review rating: 4

Review Author: sam and george

Review Date: 23 jan 2026

Review Body: We had the most fantastic morning with Ngoc and her family. It was fascinating to have a hands on experience learning the traditional art of making tofu and to see the tofu being made and sold at market within an hour is really special! We have also taken away valuable information for what to look out for for authentic tofu back in the UK! We both had a chance to make the tofu ourselves and eat a whole fresh block - as vegans who have eaten a lot of tofu in our lives this was by far the best we have ever tasted and to understand how much of a staple tofu is in Vietnamese life was inspiring! We shared many stories and heard a lot about local life - visited the market, ate snacks and lots of tofu before a huge hearty breakfast back at Ngoc’s home where we felt so welcomed - like old friends! We got to visit a local family who changed over from traditional hand making tofu to using machines to see the evolution of where it is going! We wished we could have stayed longer and the whole experience has been a highlight in our trip to Vietnam so far! can not reccomend the early start enough! go early so you get to see the bustling markets and the kind women working there who welcomed us and showed us their skills! Thankyou so much Ngoc - we hope your buisness takes off and you find your tofu way! thankyou so much for everything especially the gift of guava leaf tea and your peanut skin salt addition to our rice - a new favourite 🙂

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jay

Review Date: 07 feb 2026

Review Body: One of the most memorable and meaningful experiences I had in Hanoi. This wasn’t just a workshop — it felt like stepping into someone’s home and daily life in the most genuine way. The journey itself set the tone: taking a small local ferry across the Duong River alongside morning commuters made everything feel grounded and real. Once we arrived, we were welcomed into the home of a lovely couple who have spent their lives preserving the traditional craft of tofu making. Their workspace was humble, authentic, and full of history. Watching the process unfold — from soaked soybeans to fresh tofu — gave me a whole new appreciation for the craft. I especially loved the hands-on portion, where I shaped the tofu curds and pressed them into individual blocks. Don’t let the simplicity fool you — it takes more technique than you’d expect to create blocks like the masters. Soon after, Ngoc and I visited the local market to pick up ingredients to cook with our freshly made tofu. We returned to her home, where she shared more stories and perspective while we prepared a simple tomato tofu soup. It was humble in nature but incredibly wholesome, made even more special knowing the ingredients were locally sourced. For tourists and first-time visitors to Hanoi, this is a wonderful way to connect with the culture, appreciate sustainable food traditions, and see beyond the Old Quarter. It’s absolutely worth it — and Ngoc will make sure of that.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: JL

Review Date: 22 jun 2026

Review Body: Super heartfelt experience! Highly recommended for any foodie or anyone who wants to see the real heart of Hanoi, not the touristy stuff. One of our fave bits was just getting there! You meet 15 mins outside old quarter and take a little local ferry across the river, with locals swimming all around you. It's only five minutes on the water, but it just felt really local like a real adventure! Then you watch one of the last families still making tofu entirely by hand (they're the 3rd generation doing this, and the last family in the village doing this by hand still). We tasted the fresh soy milk and tofu, then learnt to make it ourselves. The tofu was soo yummy. Far tastier than anything else we ate in Hanoi (or anywhere else!!) because you can really taste the soy. In most places the tofu doesn't taste of anything and you use it to mop up sauces. But here you get to taste real tofu that's so tasty, it's the star of the show. The tofu makers only speak Vietnamese, but our host Ngoc speaks great English and translates everything. You can see how much Ngoc cares about preserving Vietnamese food traditions and helping the villagers preserve their way of life. Afterwards Ngoc takes you to her mum's place nearby and cooks for you. We had fried tofu with herbs and handmade noodles from the next village. So yummy!! It was really heartfelt and lovely. Highly recommend for families, solo travellers, couples, anyone really!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: W

Review Date: 12 nov 2025

Review Body: Tofu can be plain but this tour is not. Ngoc is an excellent guide, I learned a lot about tofu making, and even got to make and eat my own! The tofu and soymilk taste different and very fresh compared to store-bought - I was surprised actually by the difference. The family was kind and patient and were happy for me to take photos and videos and try out the different processes. It's located in a town across the river from Hanoi, so you start the day meeting at a ferry pick up (one of my photos is of the ferry pick up spot so you know you're in the correct location). It's very casual, no signage or office or anything like that, just a simple boat that goes back and forth. While you wait you can watch people swimming in the river and working out. Hardcore! I did the tour before my flight home at 1230pm, and took a grab to the airport. Took about 15 minutes for the driver to pick me up and about 30 minutes to airport so it worked very smoothly. Highly recommend doing it! Even if you don't eat much tofu it's still a very interesting experience.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Dolly Jain

Review Date: 17 jan 2026

Review Body: An Unforgettable Journey into Hanoi’s Tofu-Making Soul What an absolute gem of an experience! Located in the heart of Hanoi, this hands-on tofu-making workshop with a kind-hearted husband-and-wife duo felt like stepping into a living piece of Vietnamese heritage. Ms. Ngoc has curated this workshop with them and welcomed me with genuine warmth, sharing stories of their lifelong dedication to preserving Hanoi's last traditional handmakers, keeping the tradition alive one soy bean at a time. From soaking the beans to pressing the curds, every step was thoughtfully guided, making it accessible yet deeply immersive. The zero-waste approach blew me away: every scrap repurposed, nothing discarded. And the tofu we made? Hands down the best I've ever tasted—fresh, silken, bursting with pure flavor that no store-bought version could touch. This isn't just a class; it's a soul warming reminder of sustainable living and cultural roots. If you're in Hanoi, don't miss it—book here: Your taste buds (and heart) will thank you! Thank you, Ms. Ngoc. ♥️

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gaëlle

Review Date: 20 aug 2026

Review Body: What an amazing morning! Getting to see the whole tofu-making process and trying my hand at it was really cool. It's impressive that they still use the traditional technique, passed down through generations. Ngoc was so sweet and knowledgeable, and I liked hearing her explain not just the tofu-making but also her own story, how she came to organize this experience. She's genuinely striving to offer an authentic glimpse into Vietnamese life while supporting sustainable values, and it's the kind of experience that really stands out from the usual tours. It took us to a part of Hanoi I wouldn't have otherwise seen. I loved that she also brought us to the market and to another family's house that uses machines to make tofu, such an interesting contrast to observe. Being invited into Ngoc's home to share a meal she'd prepared for us was a really special touch. Go as early as you can. I got to enjoy an amazing sunrise on the boat ride there!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rob

Review Date: 16 jul 2026

Review Body: One of the coolest experiences I’ve done in Vietnam, properly off the beaten track! We followed our guide, a former schoolteacher with excellent English, across the Red River by local boat, then down winding backstreets to a local family still making tofu by hand to sell in the market each day. I never appreciated the effort that goes into the production process and the complex flavours of truly fresh tofu. We tried it first hand and saw how small variations in pressure and technique influence the final product’s shape, texture and even flavour. This was followed by lunch at the home of our guide and her mother; another special and deeply personal glimpse into daily life in the city. Finally we went to our guide’s aunt’s workshop where we learned how to make Ao Dai, the traditional formal dress for Vietnamese women. A really cool half day of authentic Vietnamese insights.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nick Pan

Review Date: 21 aug 2026

Review Body: We had a unique experience in Hanoi. We made tofu by hand and also ate them. Found this wonderful experience via Seek Sophie. We met our guide at 7am and took a short ferry to cross the river. Took a small car pass a local village market before heading to the home of the tofu maker. After learning about the process and also the many decades of their experience, we then had a hand in trying to make tofu ourselves. It’s was August and really warm, the freshly made Tofu was also very hot, our hands had to manage freshly curdled tofu and pack it into shape with wooden tools. Fun. Unique fun experience. We then took the tofu we made and proceed to our guide’s home where they were cooked into a nice simple breakfast for us. Yum. I did not know freshly made tofu was so hugely different from those we buy from supermarkets. Now I gotta find more unique experience from this platform.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Max

Review Date: 29 okt 2025

Review Body: We booked the 5:00 am option and were the only group on the tour. Ngoc was shocked that we actually made it that early and went out of her way to give us the best experience possible. We borrowed some bikes from the artisans and rode around the village. We got to visit the market and learn from some of the other food vendors as well. The fresh tofu was delicious and most definitely the best tofu I’ve ever eaten! That said, this is much more than just a tofu experience, you really get a feel for the village life outside the touristy center or Hanoi. Also, for planning purposes: it’s mentioned that it may be difficult to catch a ride back to the city center from the village, this is probably true, but we did manage to get a grab directly from Ngoc’s home at the end.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Judi

Review Date: 18 feb 2026

Review Body: Ngoc is an incredibly warm & hospitable guide. Communication was excellent. We met up for the short local ferry ride to her village & all further transportation she arranged effortlessly via taxi including getting us back home again She offers a particularly unique view into everyday life in a relatively small community which very few tourists are lucky enough to see. All the locals we met on the day, from the local open air market to a family preparing food for a celebration were friendly & inclusive. We could participate in small ways & befriend these lovely people Ngoc prepared food for us & shared her life story. We cherish the memories & wholeheartedly recommend this tour as a way to really experience local life

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Cornelia Wendel

Review Date: 17 okt 2026

Review Body: This was an incredible experience from the minute my husband and I arrived at the ferry landing point early in the morning with the sun just beginning to rise. We were greated by Ngoc and she is such a kind engaging and knowledgeable person. She introduced us to her very special village world and was a brilliant translator and explainer in the tofu making experience. I definitely want to try this back home. The tofu tasting breakfast was delicious. If you are lucky and she has time to take you around the village do go along. We were so lucky in also having the opportunity of learning about rice wine and cane sugar juice making as well as the daily life in a village just out of Hanoi. Highly recommended!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Anjeline

Review Date: 22 feb 2026

Review Body: We had such a unique and special experience visiting a home-based tofu-making kitchen. We enjoyed learning about the process, chatting with our hosts, and of course sampling the fresh tofu and soy milk. We especially appreciated Ngoc's thoughtfulness, professionalism, and genuine warmth as our guide - she was organized and prompt in our communication, updated us about changes to the schedule and sorted everything out to make sure we would still have the full experience, and even welcomed us to her home for a meal and coffee. It was raining a bit on our visit so I would suggest that guests monitor the weather and bring umbrellas and waterproof jackets if needed, as some time will be spent outdoors.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Private Water Puppet Show Hands On Demo and Workshop

Itinerary Description: Welcome & Introduction (10 minutes): Meet the artist and learn about the history of traditional Vietnamese water puppetry and his family’s artistic legacy. Private Water Puppet Performance (30 minutes): Enjoy an intimate performance by artist Phan Thanh Liem, featuring a mix of traditional scenes and modern creations. Try Water Puppet Manipulation (10 minutes): Get hands-on with the puppets as the artist shows you the techniques used to bring them to life on water. Visit the Puppet-Making Workshop (10 minutes): Step inside the artist’s workshop to learn how water puppets are carved, painted, and finished.