Phu Yen, the land of “yellow flowers on green grass,” captivates visitors not only with its beautiful natural landscapes but also with its rich history and unique culture. Here, traditional craft villages have existed for hundreds of years, preserving the essence and identity of the region. Among them, Hoa Da rice paper making village, famous throughout the country, is a must-visit destination on your journey to explore Phu Yen. A tour of the rice paper village will take you on unique experiences, from learning about the meticulous handmade rice paper making process to trying your hand at making rice paper and enjoying the delicious, crispy taste of this renowned specialty.
Discover Hoa Da Rice Paper Village: Where Traditional Flavors Flourish
Hoa Da rice paper village is located in An My commune, Tuy An district, Phu Yen province, about 15km from Tuy Hoa city center. This place is known as the “rice paper capital” of Phu Yen, with a traditional rice paper making craft that has a history of over 300 years. Through many ups and downs, the craft village still retains its unique cultural beauty. Hoa Da rice paper products are not only famous domestically but also reach out to the international market.
History and Culture of Hoa Da Rice Paper
According to the elders in the village, the rice paper making craft in Hoa Da originated from the Nguyen Dynasty. Initially, rice paper was only made to serve family needs and during holidays. Gradually, Hoa Da rice paper became known and loved by many for its unique flavor, chewiness, and deliciousness. Since then, the rice paper making craft has developed strongly, becoming the main source of income for many households in the village.
Hoa Da rice paper is not just a dish, but also a part of culture, a source of pride for the people of Phu Yen. During festivals, weddings, or death anniversaries, rice paper is always an indispensable dish on the feast. Rice paper is also a meaningful local gift that tourists often buy for relatives and friends after each trip to Phu Yen.
Hoa Da Rice Paper Making Process: The Quintessence of Craftsmanship
To make delicious Hoa Da rice paper, artisans must go through many meticulous and elaborate stages, entirely by hand. The main ingredient is good quality plain rice, carefully selected, washed, and soaked overnight. After soaking, the rice is ground into a fine powder using a stone mortar or a grinder. The rice flour is then mixed with water in a certain ratio, with a little salt added to create a savory taste.
The rice paper making stage is the most important, requiring the skill and experience of the artisan. The rice flour batter is scooped and poured onto a cloth stretched over a pot of boiling water, spread evenly by hand to make the paper thin and round. The cooked rice paper is removed with a bamboo stick and placed on a drying rack. Hoa Da rice paper has two main types: thick rice paper and thin rice paper. Thick rice paper is usually used for grilling or spring rolls, while thin rice paper is used for frying or crispy rolls.
A special feature of Hoa Da rice paper is that it is dew-dried. After being sun-dried to set the surface, the rice paper is brought out to dry in the dew at night or early morning. The night dew helps the rice paper become soft and chewy, not dry and hard, and gives it a unique flavor. The final stage is grilling the rice paper over charcoal or an electric stove. The grilled rice paper must be evenly heated, turned continuously so that the paper is evenly golden brown, crispy, and not burnt.
Experiences at Hoa Da Rice Paper Village: Transform into an Artisan
Coming to Hoa Da rice paper village, visitors not only witness firsthand the traditional rice paper making process, but also have the opportunity to experience the rice paper making steps with skilled artisans. You will be guided on how to grind rice flour, make rice paper, dry rice paper, and grill rice paper. Creating your own rice paper with your personal touch will be a very interesting and memorable experience.
Tourist making rice paper by hand at Hoa Da rice paper village. Photo: Phu Yen Tour
Besides, visitors can also learn about the history of the craft village, interact with friendly and hospitable locals, and discover the unique cultural features of Phu Yen countryside.
Enjoy Hoa Da Rice Paper and Phu Yen Specialties
After visiting and experiencing at Hoa Da rice paper village, don’t forget to enjoy the delicious taste of rice paper and other Phu Yen specialties. Hoa Da rice paper can be eaten with many delicious dishes such as spring rolls, grilled spring rolls, boiled pork, grilled fish, etc. In particular, Hoa Da broken rice vermicelli with pork organs soup is a famous specialty that you should not miss. The soft, fragrant broken rice vermicelli combined with the rich, hot pork organs soup creates an unforgettable flavor.
Ganh Da Dia – A unique natural heritage of Phu Yen. Photo: Phu Yen Tour
Besides rice paper, Phu Yen is also famous for many other specialties such as O Loan blood cockles, mai fish salad, fish cake vermicelli soup, shrimp spring rolls, grilled minced meat skewers, etc. You can enjoy these delicious dishes at local restaurants and eateries or buy them as gifts for relatives and friends.
Phu Yen Craft Village 1-Day Tour: More Than Just Rice Paper
A 1-day Phu Yen craft village tour does not just stop at Hoa Da rice paper village, but also takes visitors to explore more traditional craft villages and attractive destinations of Phu Yen.
Detailed Itinerary of Phu Yen Craft Village Tour (Expanded and more detailed)
Morning: Broken Rice Vermicelli with Pork Organs Soup and Hoa Da Rice Paper Village
07:00 AM: Car and tour guide pick up guests at the meeting point, depart to visit the craft village.
07:30 AM: Stop at the famous Hoa Da broken rice vermicelli with pork organs soup restaurant to enjoy a typical Phu Yen breakfast. Soft, smooth broken rice vermicelli combined with delicious, rich pork organs soup, served with fresh vegetables and sweet and sour fish sauce, creates an irresistible flavor. This is an opportunity for visitors to feel the unique flavor of dew-dried rice paper right in the broken rice vermicelli dish.
08:15 AM: Arrive at Hoa Da rice paper village, visitors will visit the traditional handmade rice paper making process, from grinding rice flour, making rice paper, drying rice paper to grilling rice paper. The tour guide will introduce in detail the history, culture, and process of making Hoa Da rice paper. Visitors can try their hand at making rice paper under the guidance of artisans, experience the feeling of making rice paper and create their own unique rice paper. Then, enjoy rice paper rolls with raw vegetables dipped in chili fish sauce, feeling the delicious, rustic flavor of local rice paper.
Noon: O Loan Lagoon and Fresh Seafood
11:00 AM: The group moves to O Loan Lagoon, a famous scenic spot of Phu Yen. O Loan Lagoon not only has beautiful natural scenery, but is also home to many fresh seafood restaurants.
11:30 AM: Have lunch at a restaurant by the lagoon, enjoy fresh seafood specialties of O Loan Lagoon such as grilled blood cockles, grilled oysters with cheese, grilled shrimp, steamed fish, etc. O Loan blood cockles are famous for their rich sweetness, thick meat, a specialty that visitors cannot miss when coming to Phu Yen.
Afternoon: Ganh Do Fish Sauce Village and Phu My Basket Boat Village
01:30 PM: Continue the journey to Ganh Do fish sauce village, a long-standing traditional craft village of Phu Yen. Visitors will visit a fish sauce production facility, learn about the handmade fish sauce making process from fresh anchovies. Taste different types of fish sauce and buy authentic Ganh Do fish sauce as gifts for relatives and friends.
03:30 PM: Visit Phu My basket boat village, a unique and famous craft village of Phu Yen. Basket boats are not only a means of sea travel for fishermen, but also a cultural symbol of the Central Coast region. Visitors will learn about the process of making basket boats from bamboo and composite plastic, visit the production workshop and admire basket boats of all sizes. If you want to experience, visitors can participate in rowing basket boats on the sea (with life jackets) to feel the life of coastal fishermen.
05:30 PM: End the 1-day Phu Yen craft village tour program, car and tour guide take guests back to the original meeting point.
Tips for Phu Yen Rice Paper Village Tour
Ideal Time
The best time to join the Phu Yen rice paper village tour is in the dry season, from January to September. The weather is sunny and dry at this time, with little rain, which is favorable for sightseeing and experiencing outdoor activities. If you go in the summer (May – August), you should prepare sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to protect your skin from the sun.
Getting Around
You can get to Hoa Da rice paper village by motorbike, car, or taxi. If you go on a tour, you will be picked up and dropped off by a tourist car. The road to the rice paper village is quite easy, you can look up the map or ask locals for detailed directions.
Notes When Visiting Craft Villages
- You should wear comfortable, neat, and easy-to-move clothes for convenient sightseeing and experiences.
- Bring hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and drinking water to protect your health.
- Prepare some cash to buy souvenirs and enjoy local specialties.
- When visiting production facilities, you should maintain general hygiene and comply with the regulations of the craft village.
- Ask for permission before taking photos or filming at production facilities and people’s homes.
Conclusion: Phu Yen Rice Paper Village Tour – A Cultural Journey Rich in Identity
Phu Yen rice paper village tour is a journey to discover unique culture, experience unique cuisine, and learn about the simple life of the people of Phu Yen. Coming to Hoa Da rice paper village, you will not only enjoy the delicious taste of famous rice paper, but also immerse yourself in the traditional cultural space, feel the sincerity and hospitality of the people of Phu Yen. Spend a day exploring this craft village tour, you will surely have memorable memories and learn more about the cultural beauty and people of Phu Yen.