Vietnamese Handicraft Villages

You can meet and greet Vietnam’s most renowned artisans, and buy their wares, at prominent Vietnamese Handicraft Villages. It's a world-renowned distinction that Vietnam is extraordinarily rich in handicrafts.

Probably the most famous Vietnam handicrafts are bamboo-made, lacquer and ceramic plates and bowls, which are arguably produced at higher quality and cheaper prices than anywhere else in the world. Aside from those, there is also wide range of horn, stone and wicker products, among other clever and beautiful handmade goods.

Some indigenous, rare or natural materials, unfortunately, may be frowned upon by US Customs, so do check with the necessary authorities if you are in doubt about the legalities of importing any items.

For centuries, hundreds of villages all over Vietnam have produced special crafts and products that are used for Tet (Vietnamese New Year) celebrations and other holidays. The very best of these craft villages, or factories, are recognized by Vietnamese people as the best producers of a particular object, and steadily gaining international recognition for their handiwork.

Everything from firecrackers to silk paintings, woodcarvings to ceramics and puppets to pottery are made in these locations.

Bat Trang Pottery Village

The Bat Trang pottery village is one of the most famous of the craft villages in Vietnam. Since the 15th century, this village of some 2,000 families has been creating earthenware and ceramic creations. It’s close to Hanoi and you can visit it on a half-day tour.

Bat Tang’s clay pottery, fired with a temperature of 1,200 degrees, are well known for being difficult to break.

Ha Dong Silk Making Village

Villagers here first gather mulberry leaves to feed hungry silkworms, a traditional way of growing silkworms that was imported from China. When the worms have woven a silken cocoon, the animals are boiled and the cocoon is carefully unraveled. Then the thread is carefully woven into gorgeous and intricate silk fabrics.

Chuong My Wood Carving Village

Located in the Ha Tay province, this village is famous for woodcarving; especially work with mother of pearl inlays started during the Ly Dynasty. It’s just 35 kilometers south of Hanoi.

Van Ha Puppet Making Village

If you have an interest in Vietnamese Water Puppet shows, or how the implements of this art form are made, come to the Van Ha village for colorful and artful puppets. Ideal for items to bring back home and share with family and friends that is reminiscent of your Vietnam experience.

Duyen Thai Lacquerware Village

In this village, intricate lacquer ware products are made, including those using small slivers of mother of pearl, that are expertly placed into small grooves. The pieces are then painted with layers of lacquer. Each piece can take months to complete.

Dong Ho Paper Making Village

This village is located in Ha Bac province, just north of Hanoi. It’s famous for the folk themes printed onto a special paper made from the Do tree. Artisans in this village carve images onto thin wood blocks that are carefully layered with paint; then printed onto the specially made paper. These designs are particularly popular around Tet.

Xuan La Children’s Toy Village

Children’s toys have been made for more two hundred years in Xuan La village, Phuong Duc commune, Phu Xuyen District, Ha Tay Province. It’s a way for these farmers to profit during off-harvest-season, and it has become a cultural identity for the villagers.

Material to make children's toys are things like a little rice-powder colored in red, yellow, black, brown, perhaps a comb for decoration, a knife, a few colored inks, beeswax and some small bamboo sticks. In a few minutes, a skilled artisan can create funny and impressive-looking toys, such as Quan Cong, a legendary Chinese general, Ton Ngo Khong, a monkey chieftain, a rose, or 12 zodiac animals.

Thu Bon River Islands

On some of the islands in Thu Bon River, near the historic and ancient port town of Hoi An, artisans create woodblock prints and silk weavings among other crafts in styles unique to central Vietnam.

Uniquely Vietnam

A huge part of what sets a culture apart and having its own voice are handicrafts that are distinctly thier own. Through thousands of years, Vietnam has etched its name in history by sharing wonderful stories of religion, faith, family, geography, traditions and colorful culture though their artful depictions. Now who would miss that "i-conical" hat (pun intended) from a mile away?