Discover a dynasty

      History buffs with a fondness for sleuthing may be interested in a new teambuilding tour of old Hanoi from Vietran Tour.
It’s called “Detecting the Ly Dynasty’s Secrets” and travels to places steeped in history and legend to reveal the early history of the nation’s capital.
The influential Ly Dynasty (1009-1225) ruled over an independent and prosperous Vietnam and is noted for the defeat of the Song invaders from the north as well as many social, economic and cultural achievements.
Its first king, Ly Thai To, chose Dai La Citadel to be his capital in 1010 and named the city Thang Long, or Ascending Dragon, to celebrate the end of a millennium of Chinese domination.
The name Hanoi dates back to 1831, when it was renamed by the ruling House of Nguyen (1802-1945).
The tour guide is Vu Minh Tho, who was ranked among the world’s best in 2006 by readers of the British travel magazine Wanderlust.
After the tour party has been divided into small teams, each receives some information about the first historical place and a list of questions that can only be answered by going there.
The team members must work together to find the answers with the aid of clues given out along the way. After each stop, they receive further information and questions.
There are three main stages of discovery: “Looking for Ancient Treasure,” “One-thousand-year Secret,” and “Treasure in the Capital.”
After the history lesson ends, it’s time to “Decode the Secrets of Thang Long Cuisine” by joining the Hilton Hanoi’s chefs to make Hanoian delicacies.
This is done either in the hotel’s ballroom or at a landmark building such as the Museum of History, the Opera House or the Temple of Literature.
For now the tour is only open to foreigners in groups of ten or more. It can be a day outing or up to four days depending on the group’s inclination and costs VND990,000 (US$55) per person per day.
To find out more, contact Vietran Tour at 49 Quang Trung Street, Hanoi, tel: (04) 3 943 8777 or 17 Hoang Dieu Street, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, tel: 0903 918 239.