I’m a photography enthusiast, and the landscapes in Northwest Vietnam seem incredible for capturing scenic views. Are there any specific spots that are particularly photogenic...
Hoi An Ancient Town, or Hoi An, has long been an attraction that visitors must not miss when traveling to Vietnam. Despite all the modern golf courses and hotels in Hoi An, the old city lives quite up to its name of an ancient town as its reputation is still attached to the traditional foods, time-tinged architecture, and of course, the famous Hoi An craft villages.
These craft villages of Hoi An are the most reliable evidence of the historical mark of the city. So, if you want to dig deeply into its cultural roots, then dropping by these craft villages in Hoi An would be worth every second.
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1. Tra Que Vegetable Village
Have health freaks heard that? You are not wrong, Tra Que Vegetable Village is a village located about 2km from the center of Hoi An ancient town. Favored by nature more than other Hoi An craft villages, this land stands between the Tra Que seaweed swamp and the De Vong River, which makes it an ideal spot to grow vegetables.
The villagers use seaweed to make fertilizer, so you can say that the Tra Que vegetables are special, more than in other places. As a matter of fact, Tra Que Vegetables has built a famous and trustworthy brand in the market. Tra Que village has more than 40 types of vegetables, mainly herbs such as perilla, basil, coriander, laksa leaves, etc., and they are also added to many Hoi An typical dishes.
When visiting Tra Que vegetable village, visitors can sign up for growing vegetable tours in which they will be taken through the steps of growing vegetables like a real farmer. The next part is pretty much easy when all you have to do is enjoy those salads. Sounds like a paradise for veg lovers, we all are, aren’t we?
2. Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Thanh Ha pottery village is one of the very famous destinations in the collection of Hoi An craft villages. The village is located right on the banks of the peaceful Thu Bon River, about 3km from Hoi An center. This is a large pottery village built in Hoi An from the second half of the 15th century - early 16th century. Most of the people here are immigrants from regions such as Hai Duong, Nam Dinh, and Thanh Hoa. After the settlement, they continued to inherit their ancestors' pottery-making tradition and set the standard for making pottery in Hoi An for hundreds of years.
The products of Thanh Ha Pottery Village are made from brown clay, which is flexible, dense, and has extremely high adhesion. Because of that, when you come to Hoi An, you will see the buildings here are mainly painted in dark red, yellow, and brown tones - colors that represent the element of Earth. Coming to Thanh Ha Pottery Village, visitors will be able to watch firsthand the process of creating a ceramic product and then they can make their own ceramic products.
3. Kim Bong Carpentry Village
Kim Bong Carpentry Village is a Hoi An craft village located on the other side of the Hoai River, which is opposite the location of Hoi An. The village has a peaceful atmosphere, unlike other craft villages in Hoi An, thanks to its location away from the hustle and bustle vibe in the old town center. Definitely a place to hide for souls seeking peace, especially during the full moon festival. The road that leads to Kim Bong village has a bridge to cross plus 3 more kilometers of walking/driving.
The village was built in the 15th century; also by migrants from Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, and Ha Tinh. Benefiting from the prosperity of Hoi An trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries like all other Hoi An craft villages, Kim Bong Carpentry Village thrived. Together with the urbanization of Hoi An, the development of Kim Bong carpentry village reached its full potential. As a chain reaction, the increasing demand for trading goods led to the increasing demand for transportation and infrastructure such as architectural works, wooden boats, and pagodas, which became a heaven-sent opportunity for Kim Bong carpenters.
In the current days, artisans at Kim Bong Carpentry Village also do fine carpentry, as well as restore architecture and historical relics in Hoi An.
When visiting Kim Bong Carpentry Village Hoi An, visitors can observe the process of making a carpentry item, therefore, it is also one of the cultural and historical locations in Hoi An that you should not miss.
4. Hoi An Craft Villages of Making Lanterns
When you ask anyone what the most characteristic image of Hoi An is, they will tell you about the street full of lanterns, whether it is when you are looking up, when you are looking down at the mirror-like river, or even when you are googling the name Hoi An. This branding success, in fact, is credited to the Hoi An lantern-making craft villages, among other Hoi An craft villages.
Lantern-making is a traditional profession that has been rooted in Hoi An for at least 400 years called the making of lanterns. Just like The Temple Bridge, the work of making lanterns in Hoi An is the product of a harmonious combination of Vietnamese - Japanese - Chinese culture.
The main materials used to make a Hoi An lantern are bamboo and silk fabric. Thus, we can say that everything about Hoi An lanterns is soft, charming, and beautiful.
In the past, lanterns were used by Chinese merchants to light up their stores, then they became indispensable decorative objects for major holidays and festivals, especially during the flourishing of Buddhism, and now they are key items in the making of the unique Hoi An nightlife.
There was a time when this handicraft encountered a risk of being lost forever. Thanks to government intervention and tourism promotion, the lantern-making handicraft survived and was listed as 1 of 9 traditional craft villages in the country awarded by the Vietnam Craft Villages Association in 2011.
Currently, Hoi An has more than 30 factories and more than 200 lantern businesses. Tourists can visit these locations; buy or make their own lanterns, and bring them back as souvenirs for their loved ones.
Ah, and if you want to find out about the best time to visit these Hoi An craft villages don't forget to check out the travel seasons in Hoi An.
See more articles on this topic:
>> Hoi An Complete Travel Guide
>> Everything You Need to Know About Hoi An Riding Basket Boat
>> Best Banh Mi in Hoi An for Foodies
>> Hoi An Snorkeling and Scuba Diving - Explore the Underwater World
