Vietnam, particularly its northern region, develops differently from most other countries. It absorbs technologies, incorporates advanced economic and social policies, but keeps the traditional methods of living and working, now supplemented by the new tools, rather than eliminating old lifestyles and customs and switching to the uniform, boring modern routine. Craft communities are one such custom: one settlement, one relevant art. Every home has a workshop within, and every family is a group of artisans. Particularly, there are hundreds of these communities all around Hanoi. Here is a list of craft villages around Hanoi that you should explore when traveling through this city.
The ceramic village of Bat Trang
The village here is the most well-liked of all. Only the gods and Buddha know the reason. Pottery is the craft that is practiced here, and while it is impressive, bronze foundries or bamboo weaving can also be fascinating. A line of souvenir stores and the actual ceramic souvenirs, such as toys, ashtrays, etc., as a secondary product, are in high demand due to the bustling tourism industry. Yet, making clay pots for use in the household and in farming continues to be the principal business in this area. Throwing wheels, brick kilns, and adorable Vietnamese females painting plates and vases before firing make up the manual process. You can avoid tour groups and explore the workshops in peace by following the standard strategies of arriving early or late in the day.
Bat Trang Village
Van Phuc Silk Village
Silk is the preferred trade in this area. The process of weaving and dyeing the fabric is customary, but these days some ambitious tailors have set up shop, allowing for the immediate ordering of a dress or an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese female costume). Although several tours stop in this area, the production is unaffected because few tourists would buy a silk outfit on a whim. While most Vietnamese craft villages proudly proclaim themselves to be the first in their respective fields, Van Phuc claims to be the oldest silk-processing community in the country. Here, antiquity is obvious; it is both an architectural and cultural attraction.
Long sheets of vibrantly colored fabric are strung in the courtyards of old houses with curved roofs where looms are housed. Silkworm cocoons also bob in boiling vats. This is one of those locations where vacation photographers capture images that win awards.
Van Phuc Village
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Ha Thai Lacquer Village
Lacquerware is a specialty of Ha Thai Craft Village. One traditional way lacquerware artisans around Asia demonstrate their skill is to take a freshly created bowl and push its sides together, flattening it. The resin of the lacquer tree, once processed and solidified, is both flexible and durable. An excellent bowl will flex but not break, then straighten itself. This is true for goods mounted on conventional bamboo frames, although modern designs also employ metal. For instance, it appears that a silver inlay is a regional specialty. The ideal souvenir may be something made of lacquer, but unexpectedly, despite being close to Hanoi, tourists hardly ever travel to Ha Thai village. Most of the time, it meets local needs, and the items are frequently Vietnamese; for some, this might even be advantageous. Otherwise, the main draw of a visit is to watch how sculptures, dishes, and boxes are made. Once more, photographers will see this as a fantastic opportunity to capture a masterpiece.
Ha Thai Village Lacquer product
Quat Dong Embroidery Village
The Quat Dong embroidered village, 20 kilometers from Hanoi, is well-known throughout the country for its distinctive embroidery style. The majority of Quat Dong villagers view needlework as a long-standing custom. No matter their gender or age, all of the villagers worked on the beautiful embroidery. They will spend a dozen hours per day producing their vibrant artwork. The vibrant threads, tiny needles, and fervor of the local villagers are what make the magic happen. Without enthusiasm, no one could sit for hours at a time using a needle to create such beautiful fabric.The products feature a variety of patterns, including floral arrangements, country landscapes, folktale settings, and attractive women.
Quat Dong Embroidery Village
Dong Ho folk painting village
Vietnam submitted a proposal to UNESCO in 2020 to have this art form listed as one of Vietnam’s Intangible Cultural Heritages. These woodcut paintings feature a distinctive, vivid color scheme of reds, greens, yellows, and blacks, with colors borrowed from nature – plants, flowers, ashes, and even bronze rust. Even the paper on which they are printed is special. To make dó, a soft fabric similar to paper, shimmer and hold colors effectively, artisans treat it with a thin layer of glue mixed with scallop shells. Vietnamese folktales, literary scenes, historical figures, good luck wishes, and other topics are shown in the paintings.
Dong Ho folk painting village
Vong Green Sticky Rice Village
Green young sticky rice, a specialty of Hanoi, must be mentioned while discussing the city’s culinary culture. This specialty is a popular, elegant dish during the fall. Many travelers will like the unique flavor of green sticky rice. This dish is typically served with ripe bananas and can be eaten with your hands. You can enjoy the flavors and the sweetness, butteriness, and nuttiness of the young rice by carefully consuming green sticky rice. The finest spot to observe the production of sticky rice and enjoy its best flavor is in Vong village.
Green Rice Vong Village
Chuong Conical Hat Making Village
Conical hats and “ao dai” are regarded as the two most recognizable elements of Vietnamese women’s attire. Have you ever wondered how conical Vietnamese hats are made? Let’s travel to the Chuong conical hat manufacturing village, which is west of Hanoi. Many generations in the village have worked quietly to keep and uphold this long standing custom of making traditional conical hats. Of course, there are plenty of other sites where you may purchase a conical hat, but Chuong village’s goods are still the best. These gorgeous and sturdy hats are made from bamboo from Hoa Binh province, silk thread from Trieu Khuc hamlet, and palm leaves from Quang Binh province. The conical hat can be used as protection from the sun and rain, and you can also present it to your friends as a souvenir.
Chuong Conical Hat Making Village
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