In Duong Lam you are visiting homes, not attractions. Greet the family before entering, accept the tea you are offered, leave a small offering at the ancestral altar when you go, and ask before photographing people or altars.
At the communal house and pagodas, cover shoulders and knees, take off hats, and keep voices low. That is almost all there is to it, and families notice when visitors get it right.
Let a guide make the introductions
Our guides know the families and smooth every greeting.
★Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursSee the tour →In family homes
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Greet the eldest person first | Walking in without being invited |
| Accept tea with both hands | Refusing everything offered |
| Leave 20,000 to 50,000 VND at the altar | Handing money directly as a tip |
| Ask before photographing | Photographing the altar without asking |
More on the houses in our guide to the old houses.
At shrines and pagodas
Dress to cover shoulders and knees, remove hats, do not point feet at altars and do not touch statues. Donations are welcome but never required.
Visit with someone they know
Our tours visit families by arrangement.
Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourAbout 9 hoursSee the tour →Questions people ask
Should I bring a gift?
A small offering at the altar is the custom; gifts are not expected.
Can I wear shorts?
In the lanes, yes; at the communal house and pagodas, cover your knees.
Is it rude to decline tea?
Not rude, but accepting a sip is the polite way to begin a visit.
Be welcomed, not just admitted
Guide, car and every offering in one price, free to cancel until 3 days before.
★Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursfrom$45/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$165BOOK →2 guests$170BOOK →3 guests$175BOOK →4 guests$180BOOK →See the full tour page →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursfrom$93/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$275BOOK →2 guests$305BOOK →3 guests$340BOOK →4 guests$370BOOK →See the full tour page →Customs described by our local guides, September 2026.