Does travel, traditional dress, textiles and tribes sound like the fashionable

adventure you’ve been dreaming of? Well dream no more because Haute

Culture’s Textile Tours are here!

Haute Culture Textile Tours aim to provide creative, hands-on, cultural

experiences for women who love to learn all things fashion and textiles, in a

time when traditional identities are being rapidly assimilated by modern

civilisation.

● Are you passionate about/obsessed with fashion, textiles, traditional

dress, colours and patterns from foreign lands?

● Do you long to travel off the beaten path to experience the real culture

of a country?

● Does learning new skills directly from hill tribe artisans excite the

living bejesus out of you?

● Do you want to expand your textile skills to design and make more

unique projects for yourself or your business?

If you answered a big fat YES to one or more of these questions then Haute

Culture Textile Tours are probably the unicorn of adventures you’re going

to want to embark on!

Visualise yourself travelling to remote mountainous villages to learn

colourful textile techniques from women whose traditional dress is still

used to communicate their cultural identity, social status and stories from

their hill tribes history.

Our textile tours are designed to immerse you in the culture of their cloth.

Not only will you have one of the best experiences of your life, you will

finish your Haute Culture Textile Tour with a bag full of handmade projects,

fingers full of new found skills, and a camera bursting with memories you

created with some of the most endangered artisans on the planet.

Starting and concluding in Hanoi, this 12 day fashion and textile tour of

Vietnam will take you and our group on a once in a lifetime adventure.

Driving through the country's magnificent mountainous regions, you will

visit hill tribe artisans to learn about, and participate in traditional textile

workshops such as; making jewelry and weaving with the Lao Lu,

embroidery and embellishments with the Red Dao, sewing with the Ha Nhi,

and batiking your own bag with the Black Hmong. This tour includes rural

homestays and shopping excursions to remote hill tribe markets for an all

encompassing experience you’ll never forget.

Vietnam is one of the most unique and authentic countries in Southeast

Asia. With over 54 ethnic minority groups, the beauty and diversity of

Vietnam’s culture and landscape won’t fail to astound you. However,

Vietnam is rapidly changing and so are it’s people.

Increased access to technology, media and mass produced goods is making

the world a smaller, more generic place. Younger generations of indigenous

ethnic groups are now exposed to a new way of life and opportunities

previously unknown to their elders. In a world where first impressions

count, some of these people strive to fit in, so they can earn their place in

the new world.

As a result, traditional visual identities through dress are beginning to

evolve or become extinct. This makes Vietnam a priority destination for

anyone passionate about textiles and ethnology before these unique people

start to dress like everyone else .

Originally from the UK, Donna has lived all

over the world and worked in the fashion and

textiles industry since the age of 15.

Obsessed with all things colorful and unique,

Donna moved to Southeast Asia in 2013 after

selling her vintage textiles business to work as

a full time fashion lecturer in Vietnam. Her

curiosity, adventurous spirit and passion for cultural fashion led her to

travel Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan,

South Korea, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in search of sewing stories to

share with her readers at Hauteculturefashion.com.

Donna has no fixed address but considers Vietnam her home—when she is

not on one of her fashionable adventures around the world.

Donna will lead all Haute Culture group tours alongside representatives

and tour guides from our partnering tour companies.

HANOI – MU CANG CHAI – TAM DUONG – Y TI –

SA PA – TA PHIN – BAC HA – HANOI

Day 1 Wednesday: Welcome to Hanoi – Hanoi (Meals provided: Dinner)

● Arrive in Hanoi after international flight, pick up and private transfer from the

airport to your hotel.

● Afternoon visit to the celebrated Vietnamese Womens Museum.

● Welcome dinner and introduction to the itinerary.

Day 2 Thursday: Experience Vietnamese Culture – Hanoi (B, L, D)

● Breakfast at the hotel followed by a guided tour of the outstanding Vietnam

Museum of Ethnology. ● Free time or optional walking and shopping tour of Hanoi’s historic old quarter

and Hoan Kiem lake.

● Group dinner at a traditional Buddhist restaurant followed by a performance of

a Mother Goddess ceremony. Recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of

Humanity by UNESCO in 2017, Mother Goddess worship is a colourful cultural

fusion of religion, myth and legend. Spirit mediums embody the ancestors

through dance, song and elaborate costumes hoping to bring good luck, health

and success to devotees.

Day 3 Friday: Mu Cang Chai with the Hmong – 276km (B, L, D)

● Breakfast at the hotel followed by a scenic drive into the mountain range of Mu

Cang Chai. ● Lunch on route.

● Arrive in Mu Cang Chai, meet with our Hmong hosts who will introduce and

explain their traditional dress and textiles techniques.

● Hmong batik lesson, where you will decorate a canvas tote bag with Hmong

motifs using natural bee’s wax, before dyeing your fabric with homemade

indigo paste.

● Dinner at our homestay, where we will spend the night.

Day 4 Saturday: Tam Duong – 127km (B, L, D)

● Breakfast at our homestay.

● Spend the morning seeing the results from the previous days Hmong Batik

lesson.

● Take a short trek around the village’s stunning rice terraces, meeting more

Hmong locals and seeing their way of life.

● Lunch with our hosts.

● Travel to the township of Tam Duong, arriving in the evening in time for dinner

at the hotel.

Day 5 Sunday: Tam Duong with the Lu– 30 km (B, L, D)

● 9am start to visit the local Lu village where our host Kieng will introduce and

explain her traditional dress and textile techniques to you before giving you the

opportunity to try supplementary weft weaving and teach you how to make your

own Lao Lu jewellery!

● Lunch on with hosts.

● Continue with workshop.

● Return to hotel for dinner.

Day 6 Monday: Y Ti – 170km (B, L, D)

● 8am Breakfast at the hotel.

● Drive to the frontier town of Y Ti via Vietnam’s highest road highway 4, giving

you breathtaking views over the clouds as we pass waterfalls, tea plantations

and pretty hill tribe hamlets.

● Lunch on route.

● Check into our dormitory guest house (the only accommodation available in

this remote part of Vietnam).

● Free afternoon to enjoy short nature walk before having dinner in the local

restaurant.

Day 7 Tuesday: Y Ti with the Ha Nhi – (B, L)

● Breakfast at the guest house.

● Meet the elusive Ha Nhi women who will share with us the spiritual significance

of their children’s hats, before letting us study their traditional dress and

elaborate hair pieces.

● Participate in a Ha Nhi textiles workshop using their traditional cording and

couching technique.

● Lunch with our hosts.

● Drive to Sa Pa through the national park, enjoying more spectacular views. We

will make regular stops on route for photo opportunities.

● Check into our hotel in Sa Pa town where you can enjoy a spot of luxury and

some home comforts for two nights.

Day 8 Wednesday: Sa Pa town (B)

● Breakfast at the hotel.

● Enjoy a free day to walk, shop, eat, relax and indulge in some much welcome

Vietnamese/European comforts in this former French colonial hill station

town, also home to the enterprising Black Hmong and Red Dao hill tribes.

Day 9 & 10 Thursday & Friday: – Ta Phin (B,L,D)

● 8:30am departure to Ta Phin Red Dao Village, 10km outside of Sa Pa town.

● Check into Red Dao homestay.

● Meet Ta May, San May and friends, who will be your embroidery and

embellishment teachers for two days.

● Take a one hour hike up to Tamay’s house, enjoying the magnificent views as

you go. Tamay’s house can only be reached by foot as the road is to rocky to

carry passengers on a motorbike.

● Make your own Red Dao inspired purse by combining designs from the

traditional dress and children’s hats. Purses have been pre-sewn by Tamay’s

mum, so all you have to do is sit and stitch with the help of our teachers.

● Lunch with our hosts.

● Walk back to our homestay in Ta Phin village.

● Enjoy the famous healing Red Dao herbal bath (optional).

● Enjoy a traditional Red Dao dinner and some rice wine with our hosts.

● The following morning you can repeat activities from the previous day, or you

can have free time to explore the village yourself and relax.

Day 11 Saturday: Ta Van (B, L, D)

● Breakfast at our homestay in Ta Phin Village.

● 20km drive to Lao Chai village in Muong Hoa valley where we will learn about

traditional hemp weaving process used by the Black Hmong hill tribe.

● Lunch in a local Black Hmong restaurant.

● Drive to Bac Ha town where we will arrive the night before the famous Flower

Hmong market.

● Check into hotel.

Day 12 Sunday : Bac Ha market (B, L)

● 8am visit to the famous Bac Ha market, two hours before the tourists from Sa

Pa arrive. Enjoy your final shopping spree alongside the kaleidoscopic, bead

encrusted, Flower Hmong ladies.

● Lunch on route.

● Drive back to Hanoi.

● Check into hotel.

Day 13 Monday: Hanoi (B)

● Farewell breakfast at hotel.

● Option to extend your stay or check out (must be booked in advance).

● Transfer to airport.

● End of tour.

All items listed in the itinerary are subject to change.

The concept is simple, social, inspiring and important.

1: To provide Haute Culture’s creative readers with the opportunity to travel

with Donna to learn unique textile techniques from some of the world’s

most fashionable artisans.

2: To operate as a social enterprise by providing mentorship, employment

opportunities and financial investment to the artisans we work with to

encourage and support the continuation of their beautiful crafts.

Haute Culture Textile Tours commits to investing 50% of our profits into

our social enterprise programs.

Tour leader: Donna Bramhall

Tour operator: Asia Plus Tours

Starting & Ending Point: Hanoi

Dates: Tour 1: September 19th–1st October 2018

Tour 2: October 10th–22nd October 2018

Tour Cost: £1890 Plus 4% Paypal transaction fee.

Single Person Occupancy: £225

★ 5% discount for being a Haute Culture Email Subscriber.

★ 5% extra discount if you book your tour by November 30th 2017.

★ 5% extra discount based on friends or couples booking together and

sharing a twin room.

★ 10% for returning customer.

The maximum discount available per person is 15% off the total price per

tour.

The price includes;

● Local English/Vietnamese speaking guide.

● All transport, permits, sightseeing entrance fees, workshops, materials, textile

equipment and excursions listed in itinerary.

● Accommodation as per the itinerary (eight nights in twin room and four nights

in shared room at homestay).

● Meals as per the itinerary (12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, nine dinners).

● Drinking water.

● Airport transfers in Hanoi.

Not included in the price;

● International/domestic flights.

● Travel insurance (compulsory).

● Vietnamese visa.

● Early check in or late check out at the hotel.

● Meals and drinks not included not listed.

● Alcohol.

● Spending money.

● Tips.

● Extra activities.

Arrival/Departure Details

You need to arrive into Hanoi on the first day of the tour or earlier. The tour will

properly start at 1:30pm on Day 1 when we head to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum,

so you will need to be well rested and ready to enjoy the day’s activities. If you do

arrive early, we can arrange additional accommodation for you in Hanoi depending on

your budget and we will also be able to organise a private pickup from the airport for a

basic fee. Donna will be in Hanoi one week in advance and will be on hand to give

suggestions on what to do and where to go. For those who wish to remain in Vietnam

once the tour is over, please let us know if you need any assistance whatsoever in

terms of travel ideas and/or planning and we would be more than happy to help you

organise the remainder of your stay!

Transportation

Private transportation in a mini bus will be provided throughout the duration of the

tour unless otherwise stated in the itinerary.

Equipment

No fancy equipment is necessary. We will send out a packing list and some suggestions

to all participants in the coming weeks. Waterproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes,

small back pack, sleeping bag liner, reusable water bottle and head torch are

recommended.

Visas

Your visa must be organised in advance of your departure to Vietnam. Most airline

operators will require to see a Vietnamese visa in your passport (obtained by your

countries local Vietnamese embassy) or an acceptance letter before they let you board

the flight. This process can be done online and is relatively easy depending on your

nationality. We can provide advice on this.

Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory. Participants must purchase insurance before the tour

starts. Participants will not be allowed to participate of any of our tours without

providing us with their policy details. We will provide recommendations in advance of

the departure date.

1. Complete the booking form attached at the bottom of this document and email it

to donna@hauteculturefashion.com with the subject “Booking Vietnam 2018”

as the title, and specify in your message TOUR 1 or TOUR 2.

2. A non-refundable deposit of £380 is required to secure your place. Payments

can be made via Paypal using Donna@hauteculturefashion.com email address,

or via bank transfer upon request.

3. The final balance minus any discounts you have accrued will be due by the close

of business at 23:59 GMT on 1st August 2018.

Be quick because there’s only 10 spaces available per

tour!

*Please note: When transferring money via PayPal, kindly select the “I’m sending

money to family or friends” option in order to reduce the fees charged. Thank you! (If

you don’t have a PayPal account, just email Donna on the same address and we can

arrange a bank transfer).

Once we have received your payment and information we will contact you via email to

confirm your place on the tour.

If you have any questions at all about Haute Culture’s Hill Tribe Textile Tour of

Vietnam, please email them to Donna at donna@hauteculturefashion.com or Mr Long

at Longle@asiaplustours.com and we will be more than happy to answer them.

We look forward to hearing from you soon and hopefully having you join us on our

amazing fashionable adventure across Vietnam!

● Loves fashion, textiles, traditional dress, colours, patterns, travel and

culture!

● Wants to learn new things and step outside of their comfort zone.

● Understands that in order to exchange and experience life and skills

with remote cultures means that basic accommodation with simple

facilities such as a single bed, blanket, mosquito nets, and even the

odd squat toilet will have to be endured from time to time.

● Is open and accepting about the way people live their lives in

comparison to how you live yours.

● Does not require constant access to the internet.

Traveling solo? In need of a girl squad? Look no further, because as the

saying goes, “A stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet”!

We can promise you that it is far more empowering and inspiring to take a

trip by yourself than it is to stay at home waiting for that “someone” to

come with you!

Haute Culture invites and encourages solo women of all ages and ethnicities

to take that step and join us and the eight other fashion loving, textile

buzzin’, craft making women who will all be in the same proverbial boat

together!

On our tour you will get to spend most of your days sharing laughs and

stitches with all the other ladies in the group whilst still getting ample

opportunity to spend time alone if you wish.

Either way you can feel safe and secure that we are always there to support

you.

We will create a private Facebook group in advance for participants to get

to know each other before you arrive in Vietnam.

The definition of the word “Adventure” means, “An exciting or very unusual

experience”. Soft adventure means you will go off the beaten path but you

won’t be expected to complete any hardcore hiking for hours on end.

Sometimes exciting and unusual experiences do not run as smooth as silk.

At times there will be long bus rides along bumpy roads. We might

encounter a farmer with 500 goats that block our route forcing us to take an

alternative path, or a nature walk might require a unexpected traverse

downstream that could result in a muddy bum and wet feet, etc etc.

Important notice: All items listed in the itinerary are subject to change,

therefore an adventurous spirit, sense of humor, relaxed attitude and basic

(ie. if Donna can do it, anyone can do it) level of fitness is required for you

to get the most out of this tour.

Read our amazing participant

testimonials from Vietnam 2017 here!

Haute Culture Textile Tour Booking Form

Title / First Name / Surname Nationality Passport No. Issue Date Exp. Date Date of

Birth

1.

2.

3.

4.

Contact Address Emergency Contact Details Known Medical Conditions

Name: (state any non-swimmers here)

Relationship:

Address:

Any Medications Required

Tel. No. (home): Post/Zip Code:

Tel. No. (Mobile): Tel. No. (home):

E-mail: E-mail:

On all of our tours it is compulsory that you have travel insurance. This section can be completed at a later date.

Policy

Issuer

Policy

Number

Insurer

Phone No.

TOUR NAME Start Date Tour Price: No of people: TOTAL £:

1 Tour 1: Hill Tribe Tour of

Vietnam

19th

September 2018 - 1st October 2018

£1890

2

Tour 2: Hill Tribe Tour of

Vietnam

10th October 2018 - 22nd October 2018

£1890

Deposit: A non-refundable £380 per person is required at the time of

booking to secure your place. Tour cost £1890

All payments must be made via PayPal using the email address

Donna@hauteculturefashion.com

The final balance is due 42 days to be paid to the same account August 1st 2018 (6 weeks) before

departure. The full amount is payable immediately if your departure is in less than 56 days.

DEPOSIT

(non refundable) £380

Discounts (Maximum discount per person is 15%, which will be deducted from the final balance) If yes

discount

Yes or N/A

Discount 5% Haute Culture email subscribers £94

Discount 5% early bird booking (book before November 30th 2018) £94

Discount 5% two people booking and sharing a room together £94

Discount 10% returning customer £189

Total Payable:

Special Requests

(Diet, Food Allergies etc.)

Declaration

………………………………. …….……………

Signature (No.1) Date

I have read, understood, and accept the terms & conditions provided on the Haute

Culture Textile Tours, on behalf of all members of my party, by whom I am

authorised to make this agreement. I enclose the deposit (as detailed above), which

is non-refundable in the event of my cancellation.

Click here for

Terms and Conditions