Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop
Traveler rating
5.0/5
Based on 87 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop worth booking?
Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop is a 3.5-hour experience in Hanoi, Vietnam, from $50 per person. It scores 71 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended”, based on a 5/5 rating across 87 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 71 / 100
- Rating
- 5/5 (87)
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- From
- $50 per person
- Unleash Your Inner Blacksmith at Hanoi’s Knife Making Class. - Go visit traditional craft villages on the outskirts of Hanoi. - Meet and chat with locals. - You will go through all processes of making a simple knife.
What you get
About this experience
- Unleash Your Inner Blacksmith at Hanoi’s Knife Making Class. - Go visit traditional craft villages on the outskirts of Hanoi. - Meet and chat with locals. - You will go through all processes of making a simple knife.
What's included
Included
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- English Tour Guide
- Iron Material
Not included
- Lunch
- Tips
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Options you can book
Private Tour
Private Tour Pickup included
Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop
Pickup included
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Hanoi Day Trips
Know before you go
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 87 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Good for families
7 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
The guide
4 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
87 verified traveler reviews for Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Come for the knives. Stay for the stories. Leave with something that may or may not cut a tomato. 🔥🔪
Come for the knives. Stay for the stories. Leave with something that may or may not cut a tomato. 🔥🔪 About 40 minutes beyond the beautiful chaos of Hanoi lies a small village where the soundtrack isn’t scooters and car horns. It’s fire, hammers and steel. This is where generations of Vietnamese knife makers have been quietly practising an ancient craft — turning old car springs into kitchen blades, one red-hot piece of steel at a time. Our host, Minh, gathered us up and threw us straight into the action. No showroom. No glass cases. No “please observe the master while standing safely behind this line.” We were in. Hands-on. Dangerously enthusiastic. The family business has been forging knives for more than four generations, and Minh showed us the extraordinary range of shapes and styles they produce. We picked our blade shape. Selected our wood. Then headed for the forge. The raw material? Old car springs. Because apparently when your car finally gives up on life in Vietnam, its springs get a second career. We cut the basic shape, threw the steel onto a bed of extremely angry-looking coals and waited for it to reach that magical glowing orange that says: “Now hit me with a hammer.” And so began three hours of belting, banging, grinding and generally attempting to convince a piece of car suspension that it really wanted to become a chef’s knife. In between the hammering came the stories. Stories of the family’s history. Of the struggles of keeping a traditional craft alive. Of changing times. And of the astonishing reality that this little family operation can produce more than 250 blades a day when the orders are flowing. Meanwhile, two foreigners stood nearby producing something that bore a passing resemblance to a knife and would probably struggle to cut through a cloud. But we persevered. The handles were shaped. The blades were ground. Chips, blemishes and our various creative interpretations of “straight” were slowly removed. And somehow, unbelievably, the blunt, ugly piece of steel started to look like an actual knife. Then came the heat treatment. Another blast through the forge. Salt. And an oily quench. Hiss. The blade was born. Finally, the sharpening stone came out. A few more passes. A little more patience. And… Voilà. Two blades forged from old car springs, made by hand, with our own sweat, questionable hammer technique and a little help from four generations of Vietnamese craftsmanship. Three hours disappeared. Just like that. And that’s the thing about experiences like this. You don’t come here simply to make a knife. You come to step outside the tourist conveyor belt for a few hours. To sit amongst people who have spent their lives doing something that existed long before Instagram, TikTok and fast travel decided everything needed to happen immediately. You hear the stories. You feel the heat. You hear the hammer hitting steel. You make something with your own hands. And you leave carrying something that isn’t just a souvenir. It’s a memory. The world is getting faster by the minute. Everything is becoming automated, instant and disposable. But places like this still exist. People still pass down skills learned from their parents, who learned them from theirs. Four generations. One forge. One piece of old car spring at a time. So get off your arse. Take the road less travelled. Find these places. Meet these people. Have a go. You might make a knife. You might make something that looks suspiciously like a knife. Either way, you’ll make a memory. And that’s worth far more than anything sitting on a souvenir shelf. 🔥🔨🇻🇳 Three hours. One family. Two questionable knife makers. Memories forged forever. This is travel.
via Tripadvisor
A cut above the rest !
A wonderful unique few hours spent in a local village learning the craft of knife making. Couldn’t do better with your time.. the experience was amazing and very personable. Tee and family were friendly, knowledable and professional. A once in a lifetime opportunity to create something you and your family will treasure for many lifetimes !!
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for this amazing review! We're thrilled you had such a unique experience learning knife making with Tee and his family. Creating a treasure to pass down for generations is truly special, and we appreciate your recommendation!
via Viator
Best experience!
This was an amazing experience. Tee was very friendly and a great translator. The business is family run and everyone has a roll in the steps to help you creat your knife. They are so welcoming and patient with you.
Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback! We're so glad Tee and the family could guide you through making your own knife. Wishing you all the best on your travels!
via Tripadvisor
A must Do for any age group.
Had an amazing time. Great host and tour guide would 100% do again and recommend. Just 20 minutes out of Hanoi too so nice and close
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing time with our team and guide. Hope to welcome you back to Hanoi again soon! 🔪❤️
via Viator
10/10 highly recommend!!
Fantastic experience!! Highly recommend to do this tour visiting a family of 3 generations making knives by hand!! This was a highlight of our trip 🔪
Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that visiting our 3-generation knife-making family was a highlight of your trip. Wishing you all the best! 🔪✨
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $50 to $70
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 30
- Verdict
- Strongly Recommended
Who runs this experience
Operated by Hanoi Day Trips, who run 4 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 66.8.
See everything Hanoi Day Trips runsWhy this scores 71
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Hanoi.
How much does Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop cost?
+
Prices start at $50 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Hanoi usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop take?
+
Plan for about 3.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Hanoi is not rushed.
Is Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 71 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 87 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Hanoi, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop?
+
Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop?
+
Around 30 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Hanoi can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
+
Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Hanoi and add a light layer if any part of the 3.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop start and how do I get there?
+
The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Hanoi within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Hanoi?
+
On Outty we rank every Hanoi experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Ha Giang Loop 3-Day Small Group - from Hanoi, (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR, Incense Village Quang Phu Cau, Hat Village and Hanoi City Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi?
+
Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Hanoi?
+
Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
+
Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop?
+
Included: In-vehicle air conditioning; English Tour Guide; and Iron Material. Not included: Lunch; and Tips. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop include hotel pickup?
+
Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 1237 listed pickup locations in and around Hanoi. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.
What languages is Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop offered in?
+
It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop?
+
Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop wheelchair or stroller accessible?
+
The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop if the weather is bad?
+
This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop?
+
Across 87 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include good for families, the guide, knowledge and storytelling. Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
What booking options are available for Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop?
+
There are 2 options to choose from, including Private Tour, Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Hanoi Knife Making Traditional Workshop.
Pick your date
