Hidden amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, Vietnam’s traditional craft villages still quietly shine, preserving the cultural essence of the nation through generations. They are not only places producing exquisite handicrafts but also living museums of Vietnamese history, art, and philosophy. Let’s explore the unique beauty of these craft villages, where the talented hands of artisans breathe soul into each product, creating invaluable cultural heritages.
Traditional Craft Villages in Northern Vietnam: A Hub of Quintessence
Northern Vietnam, the cradle of wet rice civilization, is home to many long-standing and famous traditional craft villages. Each village carries its own beauty, associated with the history and culture of the region.
Phu Lang Pottery Village – Rustic Beauty from Earth
Address: Phu Lang Commune, Que Vo Town, Bac Ninh Province.
Visiting Phu Lang pottery village, tourists will be captivated by the distinctive pottery products featuring glossy eel skin glaze and unique embossed techniques. Phu Lang pottery is renowned for its robustness, sturdiness, and preservation of the earth’s raw beauty. The jars, pots, and vases here are not just utensils but also works of art, telling stories of the tradition-rich Kinh Bac region.
Phu Lang pottery with its distinctive eel skin glaze, a symbol of traditional craft villages in Northern Vietnam.
Dong Ho Painting Village – Lively Essence of Folk Culture
Address: Song Ho Commune, Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province.
Dong Ho painting village is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is famous for its folk woodcut paintings, reflecting the daily life, beliefs, and aspirations of Vietnamese farmers. The uniqueness of Dong Ho paintings lies in their distinctive composition, printing paper made from Do bark, and meticulously crafted natural colors.
Dong Ho paintings with bright colors and unique composition, vividly depicting Vietnamese folk cultural life.
Lang Vong Village – The Fragrance of Hanoi Autumn Green Rice Flakes (Cốm)
Address: Dich Vong Hau Ward, Cau Giay District, Hanoi.
Speaking of Hanoi, one cannot miss Com Lang Vong, a specialty of autumn. Com Lang Vong is made from young sticky rice, undergoing a meticulous processing to retain its distinctive aroma and delicate sweetness. Enjoying Com Lang Vong is like feeling the entire Hanoi autumn encapsulated in each jade-like grain.
Com Lang Vong, a Hanoi autumn specialty made from young sticky rice, imbued with the flavor of autumn.
Bat Trang Pottery Village – The Quintessence of Vietnamese Ceramics
Address: Bat Trang Commune, Gia Lam District, Hanoi.
Bat Trang pottery village is one of the oldest and most famous ceramic villages in Vietnam. With over 700 years of history, Bat Trang has created exquisite ceramic products, diverse in shapes and patterns, from household items to artworks. Visiting Bat Trang, tourists can not only admire the beautiful pottery products but also have the opportunity to experience pottery making firsthand.
Bat Trang ceramics with a long history and diverse shapes and patterns, a symbol of Vietnamese ceramic craft villages.
Van Phuc Silk Village – The Allure of Silk
Address: Van Phuc Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi.
Van Phuc silk village is famous for its traditional silk weaving craft. Van Phuc silk is highly appreciated for its soft, lustrous quality and exquisite patterns. Visiting Van Phuc, tourists can admire the silk looms, learn about the silk production process, and choose their favorite silk fabrics.
Van Phuc silk with its lustrous beauty and exquisite patterns, a symbol of traditional Vietnamese silk weaving villages.
Kim Son Sedgeware Village – Unique Craft from Sedges
Address: Kim Son District, Ninh Binh.
Kim Son sedgeware village is one of the oldest traditional craft villages in Ninh Binh. Kim Son sedge products are famous for their durability, beauty, and variety of designs, from sedge mats and carpets to handicraft products. Sedge weaving not only provides income for local people but also contributes to preserving and promoting traditional cultural values.
Kim Son sedgeware with diverse and exquisite handicraft products, showcasing the artisans' skill.
Traditional Craft Villages in Central Vietnam: Preserving the Soul of the Countryside
Central Vietnam, with its cultural heritage and beautiful natural landscapes, is also home to many unique traditional craft villages.
Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village – Exquisite Craft from Marble
Address: Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang.
Non Nuoc stone carving village, located at the foot of the Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son), is famous for its marble sculptures. Non Nuoc stone artworks not only possess exquisite beauty but also contain profound cultural and spiritual values.
Non Nuoc marble crafts with exquisite sculptures from marble, imbued with cultural and spiritual values.
Bau Truc Pottery Village – Unique Cham Artistry
Address: Phuoc Dan Town, Ninh Phuoc District, Ninh Thuan.
Bau Truc pottery village is one of the oldest surviving Cham pottery villages in Vietnam. A unique feature of Bau Truc pottery is the entirely hand-made technique, without using a potter’s wheel. Bau Truc pottery products are imbued with Cham culture, featuring rustic colors and unique patterns.
Bau Truc pottery featuring a completely hand-made technique without a potter's wheel, deeply imbued with Cham culture.
My Nghiep Brocade Weaving Village – Colors of Cham Culture
Address: My Nghiep Quarter, Phuoc Dan Town, Ninh Phuoc District, Ninh Thuan.
Along with Bau Truc pottery, My Nghiep weaving village is one of the famous centers of Cham brocade weaving. My Nghiep brocade products are hand-woven with exquisite patterns and harmonious colors, reflecting the unique cultural identity of the Cham people.
My Nghiep brocade with exquisite patterns and harmonious colors, reflecting the unique cultural identity of the Cham people.
Tuyet Diem Salt Village – The Salty Taste of the Sea
Address: Tuyet Diem Salt Fields, Xuan Binh Commune, Song Cau District, Phu Yen.
Tuyet Diem salt village is one of the oldest traditional salt-making villages in Phu Yen. Salt making in Tuyet Diem is not just a livelihood but also a part of local culture and history.
Tuyet Diem salt fields with pristine white salt grains, a symbol of traditional salt-making villages in Phu Yen.
Tay Ho Conical Hat Village – The Graceful Beauty of Hue
Address: Phu Ho Commune, Phu Vang District, Thua Thien Hue.
Tay Ho conical hat village is famous for making ‘nón lá’ (conical hats), a symbol of the graceful and gentle beauty of Hue women. Tay Ho conical hats are meticulously handcrafted with natural materials and elegant designs.
Tay Ho conical hat with its elegant design, a symbol of the graceful and gentle beauty of Hue women.
Traditional Craft Villages in Southern Vietnam: Unique Southern Charm
Southern Vietnam, a fertile land with a diverse culture, is also where many unique traditional craft villages have developed.
Tan Chau Silk Village – The Mysterious Beauty of Lanh My A Silk
Address: Long Chau Ward, Tan Chau Town, An Giang.
Tan Chau silk village is famous for Lanh My A silk, a distinctive glossy black silk dyed with Mac Nua fruit juice. Lanh My A silk is highly durable, soft, and breathable, favored both domestically and internationally.
Lanh My A silk with its distinctive glossy black beauty, dyed with Mac Nua fruit juice, a symbol of Tan Chau silk village.
Lai Thieu Pottery Village – Diverse Colors of Ceramics
Address: Lai Thieu Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong.
Lai Thieu pottery village is one of the largest ceramic production centers in Southern Vietnam. Lai Thieu pottery is famous for its diversity in shapes, colors, and patterns, from household items to decorative products.
Lai Thieu pottery with its diverse shapes, colors, and patterns, one of the largest ceramic production centers in Southern Vietnam.
Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Painting Village – Unique Art Form
Address: Tuong Binh Hiep Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong.
Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer painting village is the cradle of lacquer art in Vietnam. Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer paintings are meticulously handcrafted with multiple layers of lacquer and unique polishing techniques, creating valuable artworks.
Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer paintings with unique polishing techniques, creating valuable artworks.
Trang Bang Rice Paper Village – Distinctive Flavor
Address: Loc Du Quarter, Trang Bang City, Tay Ninh.
Trang Bang rice paper village is famous for making ‘bánh tráng’ (rice paper), a specialty of Tay Ninh. Trang Bang rice paper is made from fine rice, thinly coated and dew-dried, having a distinctive flavor and chewy texture.
Trang Bang dew-dried rice paper, a specialty of Tay Ninh.
Traditional craft villages are not only places producing unique handicrafts but also precious gems preserving Vietnamese cultural identity. Come and explore, to feel and cherish the beautiful traditional values of the nation.
Conclusion
Exploring Vietnam’s traditional craft villages is a wonderful experience, helping us understand more deeply about Vietnamese history, culture, and people. Each craft village is a story, a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved and promoted. Hopefully, this article has provided you with useful information and suggestions for future cultural explorations in Vietnam. Are you ready to begin your journey to discover these traditional craft villages?