In the final weeks before New Year 2010 and the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, many travel agencies have prepared tours emphasizing cultural events . . .

A young tourist takes a shine to ceramics at Bat Trang Pottery Village.

From the southern and central regions, there are longer tours to Hanoi, Do Temple, Ha Long Bay, Tuan Chau Island, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Tam Coc Grotto, Co Loa Imperial City and Hung Temple.

For international tourists, Hanoitourist is offering ten different tours that cover Hanoi and its craft villages and old streets, religious relics, Ninh Binh Province, Hanoi Bay and the Red River.

Saigontourist is celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi with a three-day tour called Thousand Year Way of Thang Long at VND2.1 million, a five-day tour called Back to the Root at VND3 million, a four-day tour called Hoa Lu Ancient Capital-Trang An at VND4.2 million, a four-day tour called Attractive Cat Ba-Surprised Hạ Long Bay at VND4.2 million, a four-day tour called Hanoi Past and Present at VND3.1 million and a seven-day tour called Impressive Sapa-Mysterious Halong Bay at VND4.7 million.

All tours include not only scenery and ancient historical relics but also fun folk games and lessons to make ceramics and bamboo and brocade crafts. Tourists also have the chance to taste indigenous specialties such as sweet lotus soup and green rice sticky cake and to hear traditional singing.

VietNamNet/SGT