Vietnamese culture, nurtured and passed down through generations, vividly manifests in diverse forms, from sweet folk tunes and vibrant festivals to majestic ancient architectural works. Within this colorful cultural tapestry, traditional Vietnamese craft villages emerge like precious gems, not only bearing historical imprints but also embodying the unique cultural and artistic essence of each region. Visiting these villages, tourists not only admire exquisite handicrafts but also have the opportunity to discover fascinating cultural and historical stories hidden behind each product and each stage of creation.
Traditional Craft Villages in Northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam, the cradle of wet rice civilization, is home to many of the country’s oldest and most famous traditional craft villages. From ceramics and silk to folk paintings and fine art handicrafts, each craft village possesses its own beauty, contributing to the diversity and richness of Vietnamese traditional culture.
Phu Lang Pottery Village
Address: Phu Lang commune, Que Vo town, Bac Ninh province
Nestled along the gentle Cau River, Phu Lang pottery village is like a living museum preserving the cultural values of Kinh Bac pottery. With a history of formation and development spanning hundreds of years, Phu Lang pottery is famous for its distinctive eel skin glaze, warm, rustic colors, bearing the pristine beauty of the earth. The special feature of Phu Lang pottery also lies in the skillful embossed technique, creating sophisticated, bold floral motifs on each product. Coming to Phu Lang, visitors not only admire unique pottery works but also have the opportunity to experience the traditional handmade pottery making process, from selecting clay, shaping, firing to when finished products come out of the kiln.
Phu Lang pottery village is an attractive destination for those who want to explore the beauty of traditional Kinh Bac pottery culture
Dong Ho Painting Village
Address: Song Ho commune, Thuan Thanh district, Bac Ninh province
Speaking of Vietnamese folk culture, one cannot ignore Dong Ho paintings, a national intangible cultural heritage. Dong Ho painting village, located on the banks of the Duong River, is the place to preserve and develop this unique folk woodcut painting line. Dong Ho paintings are not only an art form but also an indispensable part of the spiritual and cultural life of Vietnamese people, especially every Tet holiday when spring comes. The materials for making Dong Ho paintings are completely natural, from Do paper, dyes from plants, flowers and leaves to sophisticated woodblock carving techniques. The content of Dong Ho paintings often revolves around familiar themes in daily life, aspirations for a prosperous and happy life, reflecting the good traditional cultural values of the nation.
Dong Ho paintings are a unique symbol of Vietnamese folk culture, expressing aspirations for a peaceful and beautiful life
Vong Village and Vong Green Sticky Rice Flakes (Com Vong)
Address: Dich Vong Hau ward, Cau Giay district, Hanoi
Vong Village, a familiar place to Hanoians, is famous for its delicious and well-known Vong green sticky rice flakes (Com Vong) specialty. Com Vong is not only a dish but also a unique culinary culture of Hanoi every autumn. The young, flexible green rice flakes, with the characteristic flavor of young sticky rice, carefully wrapped in lotus leaves, become an elegant and meaningful gift of the Capital. The process of making Com Vong requires meticulousness, sophistication and experience of the craftsmen, from selecting rice, roasting, grinding, pounding until delicious batches of Com Vong with the rich flavor of the countryside are produced.
Vong green sticky rice flakes (Com Vong) are a specialty of Hanoi, bringing the delicious and delicate flavor of autumn
Bat Trang Pottery Village
Address: Bat Trang commune, Gia Lam district, Hanoi
Bat Trang, a traditional pottery village with a history of over 700 years, is one of the most famous craft villages in Vietnam. Bat Trang pottery is not only famous domestically but also exported to many countries around the world. With a diversity of designs, patterns, and glazes, Bat Trang pottery meets the needs of domestic and international markets. Coming to Bat Trang, visitors will admire a variety of pottery products, from household items, worship items to unique artistic works. You can also experience making pottery with artisans, creating your own products with personal imprints.
Bat Trang pottery is diverse in types and designs, meeting the needs of domestic and international markets
Van Phuc Silk Village
Address: Van Phuc ward, Ha Dong district, Hanoi
Van Phuc silk village, also known as Ha Dong silk village, is one of the most famous silk weaving villages in Vietnam. Van Phuc silk is famous for its high quality, softness, smoothness and sophisticated patterns. Van Phuc silk was once chosen to make costumes for royalty and exported to many countries around the world. Coming to Van Phuc, visitors will admire a variety of silk products in colors and designs, from silk fabrics, ao dai, scarves to fashion items and souvenirs. You can also visit silk weaving workshops, learn about traditional silk weaving processes and shop for high-quality silk products.
Van Phuc silk is soft, smooth, and has sophisticated patterns, a symbol of Ha Dong silk
Kim Son Sedgeware Village
Address: Kim Son district, Ninh Binh province
Kim Son sedgeware village, located in the coastal area of Ninh Binh, is famous for growing sedge and making handicrafts from sedge. Kim Son sedge is of good quality, flexible fibers, beautiful colors, used to make many products such as sedge mats, sedge carpets, sedge bags, sedge hats and other fine art handicrafts. Kim Son sedge products are not only popular domestically but also exported to many countries around the world. Coming to Kim Son, visitors will visit green sedge fields, learn about the process of growing sedge and crafting products from sedge. You can also shop for unique sedge products as souvenirs.
Kim Son sedge is used to make many unique and environmentally friendly fine art handicrafts
Traditional Craft Villages in Central Vietnam
Central Vietnam, a narrow strip of land but rich in cultural traditions, is also the development place of many unique craft villages, bearing the characteristics of the coastal and highland regions.
Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village
Address: Hoa Hai ward, Ngu Hanh Son district, Da Nang
Non Nuoc stone carving village, located at the foot of Ngu Hanh Son mountain, Da Nang, is one of the most famous fine art stone carving villages in Vietnam. Non Nuoc stone is mined from Ngu Hanh Son mountain, with many types of precious and semi-precious stones, beautiful stone veins, diverse colors. Non Nuoc artisans have created exquisite stone art works, from Buddha statues, mascot statues, interior decorations to artistic sculptures. Coming to Non Nuoc, visitors will admire unique stone art works, learn about the stone crafting process and shop for stone products as souvenirs.
Non Nuoc fine art stone carvings are exquisite, bringing the luxurious and unique beauty of natural stone
Bau Truc Pottery Village
Address: Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province
Bau Truc pottery village is one of the oldest Cham pottery villages still existing in Vietnam. Bau Truc pottery is famous for its unique hand-making pottery technique, without using a turntable. The clay for making Bau Truc pottery is taken from the Quao River, with high plasticity and characteristic colors. Bau Truc pottery bears the strong imprint of Cham culture, with simple, rustic decorative patterns, close to nature. Coming to Bau Truc, visitors will admire unique pottery products, learn about hand-making pottery techniques and experience pottery making with Cham artisans.
Bau Truc pottery is unique with hand-making pottery techniques, bearing the strong imprint of Cham culture
My Nghiep Brocade Weaving Village
Address: My Nghiep neighborhood, Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province
My Nghiep weaving village, also another ancient Cham craft village in Ninh Thuan, is famous for its traditional brocade weaving. My Nghiep brocade is woven on wooden looms, with diverse decorative patterns, vibrant colors, bearing the strong imprint of Cham culture. My Nghiep brocade is used to make costumes, tablecloths, handbags and other decorative products. Coming to My Nghiep, visitors will admire colorful brocade products, learn about the brocade weaving process and shop for brocade products as souvenirs.
My Nghiep brocade is vibrant in color, showing the sophistication and skill of Cham women
Tuyet Diem Salt Village
Address: Tuyet Diem salt field, Xuan Binh commune, Song Cau district, Phu Yen province
Tuyet Diem salt village, Phu Yen, is one of the most famous salt villages in Central Vietnam. Salt making in Tuyet Diem has a history of over 100 years, associated with the lives of coastal people. Tuyet Diem salt is famous for its pure white salt grains, rich salty taste, produced by traditional manual methods. Coming to Tuyet Diem, visitors will visit the vast salt fields, learn about the salt making process and experience the life of salt making people.
Vast Tuyet Diem salt fields, where pure white salt grains are created from the sweat and effort of the people
Tay Ho Conical Hat Village – Phu Vang
Address: Phu Ho commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province
Tay Ho conical hat village, Hue, is the place to produce the famous Hue conical hats, bearing the graceful and elegant features of Hue. Tay Ho conical hats are made from young palm leaves, with a frame made of bamboo, through the skillful hands of artisans, creating thin, light, durable conical hats, both shading from the sun and rain, and also a graceful fashion accessory. Coming to Tay Ho, visitors will visit hat making workshops, learn about the hat making process and shop for Hue conical hats as gifts.
Tay Ho conical hat, a symbol of the gentle and elegant beauty of Hue girls
Traditional Craft Villages in Southern Vietnam
Southern Vietnam, a fertile and culturally diverse region, is also the development place of many unique traditional craft villages, bearing the characteristics of the river and delta region.
Tan Chau Silk Village
Address: Long Chau ward, Tan Chau town, An Giang province
Tan Chau silk village, An Giang, is famous for its renowned Tan Chau black silk (Lanh My A). Lanh My A is a high-class silk, dyed with the juice of the mac nua fruit, giving it a characteristic glossy black color and high color fastness. Lanh My A silk is not only popular domestically but also exported to many countries around the world. Coming to Tan Chau, visitors will admire unique Lanh My A silk products, learn about the process of dyeing silk with mac nua fruit and shop for high-quality silk products.
Lanh My A silk, a Tan Chau silk specialty, famous for its characteristic glossy black color and high color fastness
Lai Thieu Pottery Village
Address: Lai Thieu ward, Thuan An city, Binh Duong province
Lai Thieu pottery village, Binh Duong, is one of the largest and most famous pottery villages in the South. Lai Thieu pottery is diverse in types and designs, from household items, interior decorations to fine art garden products. Lai Thieu pottery is famous for its bright colored glaze, lively decorative patterns, bearing the strong imprint of Southern culture. Coming to Lai Thieu, visitors will admire a variety of pottery products, learn about the pottery production process and shop for pottery products as souvenirs.
Lai Thieu pottery is diverse in designs and types, bearing the strong imprint of Southern culture
Tuong Binh Hiep Lacquer Painting Village
Address: Tuong Binh Hiep ward, Thu Dau Mot city, Binh Duong province
Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer painting village, Binh Duong, is one of the most famous lacquer painting production centers in Vietnam. Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer paintings are made from traditional lacquer material, with unique drawing and polishing techniques, creating lacquer paintings with depth and characteristic gloss. Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer paintings are diverse in themes, from landscapes, still life to portraits, loved and collected by many people. Coming to Tuong Binh Hiep, visitors will admire exquisite lacquer paintings, learn about the lacquer painting process and shop for lacquer products as souvenirs.
Tuong Binh Hiep lacquer paintings are exquisite and unique, one of the symbols of Vietnamese lacquer art
Trang Bang Rice Paper Village
Address: Loc Du neighborhood, Trang Bang city, Tay Ninh province
Trang Bang rice paper village, Tay Ninh, is famous for its delicious and chewy Trang Bang rice paper specialty. Trang Bang rice paper is made from delicious rice, thinly coated and dew-dried, with a characteristic flavor, loved by many people. Trang Bang rice paper is not only a snack but also an indispensable ingredient in many delicious dishes of Southern cuisine. Coming to Trang Bang, visitors will visit rice paper kilns, learn about the rice paper making process and enjoy hot Trang Bang rice paper right at the kiln.
Trang Bang rice paper is delicious, chewy, a famous specialty of Tay Ninh
Conclusion
Traditional Vietnamese craft villages are not only attractive tourist destinations but also living museums, preserving and promoting the precious traditional cultural values of the nation. A journey to explore traditional craft villages will bring visitors unique cultural experiences, helping to better understand Vietnamese cultural identity and further love the country and people of Vietnam. Take the time to visit these craft villages to feel and cherish the cultural values that our ancestors painstakingly cultivated and passed down to future generations.