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Kim Bong Carpentry Village, Kim Bong Craft Village, or Kim Bong Village, is among Hoi An craft villages that have the richest heritage. Kim Bong is a small village located on the right bank of the Thu Bon River, opposite Hoi An ancient town. Till this day, Kim Bong village has existed for 600 years and is also the birthplace of the most traditional carpentry craft in Hoi An.
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1. A Brief History of Kim Bong Carpentry Village
Over the past 600 years, this carpentry village has also gone through many ups and downs associated with Hoi An City, which will be divided into 3 main periods:
The Old Kim Bong Village
According to locals, Kim Bong Carpentry Village's old name was Kim Bong Chau. The communal house in Hoi An was where the carpentry ancestors were worshiped. The village had four biggest carpentry families: Nguyen, Chuong, Phan, and Huynh. An elder member of the Huynh family even once came to Hanoi and participated in building the great Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
The first people of this village came from many places, mainly from Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.
The Prosperity of Kim Bong Village
After their settlement, the villagers’ talent was noticed through their first self-made household objects. Soon after that, their reputation spread throughout Hoi An and reached Hue. Therefore, many of the royal architectural works in Hue or Hoi An still retain the marks of the Kim Bong carpenters’ touch.
It was not until the early 17th century when Hoi An became a bustling commercial port that Kim Bong Craft Village reached its full potential, thanks to the increasing demand for ships and infrastructure upgrades. Some say they could build ships weighing up to 20 tons. Since then, Kim Bong Carpentry has become one of the iconic craft villages in Hoi An.
The Urbanization of Kim Bong Carpentry Village
With the change of time and the development of tourism, it is fortunate that Kim Bong Village still be able to adapt and thrive. They not only make products with traditional features but also incorporate Western designs.
Kim Bong carpenters are still responsible for many projects in Hoi An such as restoring religious buildings and historical relics in Hoi An. Some of their most famous works are the sacred censer carved with 1000 dragons exhibited in the celebration of 1000 years of Thang Long in Hanoi, Hoi An Japanese Bridge in its original state and size, etc.
2. What To Do When Visiting Kim Bong Carpentry Village
Kim Bong Carpentry Village is considered a wooden city of Quang Nam land. So what can visitors do here?
Walk Around and Enjoy The Kim Bong Wooden Works of Art
Just standing near Kim Bong Village, visitors can hear the sound of wood chiseling and paring, which is a familiar noise coming from the village. The carpentry village is divided into 2 areas: the western area is for handicrafts, and the eastern area is for shipbuilding.
They also display many products across the village, such as wooden buffaloes and pigs, a plate carved in the shape of a bamboo basket, the Buddha statue, the Guan Yin Statue, the four sacred animals, and the young woman in the ao dai, which has caught the curiosity and excitement of both domestic and foreign tourists.
Many of their works are also carved with images of the simple everyday lives of the people of Hoi An and Vietnam, such as storks, farmers, Vietnamese dragons, bamboo, the dancing peacock and others.
Learn The Process of Making a Product of Kim Bong Carpentry
Kim Bong Carpentry Village also allows tourists to take a tour and learn about the woodworking process.
You can directly see every step of making not only small animals or furniture but also giant statues placed in pagodas and temples. Many customers from Vietnam and other countries have come here to order such products.
Tourists will also be fascinated with souvenir shops.
Buy Souvenirs at Kim Bong Shops
If tourists like the items and want to buy some, Kim Bong Village also has souvenir shops. These shops sell fine arts items, couplets, and decorative or religious items.
Around Kim Bong village, there are also restaurants full of Hoi An specialties, in case visitors feel the need to refuel.
3. Kim Bong Carpentry Village Ticket Price and Opening Hours
The entrance fee is free, which means tourists only need to pay for food and souvenirs.
Opening hours: Kim Bong Carpentry Village is open every day of the week. Visiting hours are 24/24.
4. Best Time To Visit Kim Bong Village
As part of the Hoi An tourist area, the most suitable time to visit Kim Bong Village depends heavily on Hoi An's weather and climate. So you should check weather in Hoi An carefully before planning to visit in order to have a perfect time here.
However, since the final product of Kim Bong is made of wood, it is better to visit during the dry season (March-September) when the weather is sunny and there is little rain. If you travel during the rainy season, there will be fewer tourists, so the prices will be lower.
5. How To Get To Kim Bong Carpentry Village
The means of transportation to Kim Bong carpentry village are diverse and often come with Google Maps, visitors can choose from the following:
Car for rent (from Da Nang): You just need to rent a car with door-to-door delivery service in Da Nang and guests will receive the car right at the airport or hotel. Then you can drive to Hoi An and get to Kim Bong village.
Public transport: The bus is a cheap means of transportation to take you from Da Nang to Hoi An. Then you can rent a cyclo or bicycle to move to Kim Bong.
Taxi/Grab: If you travel with your family, especially with young children or the elderly, a taxi is a safe and suitable choice. The price is around 350.000 VND (~ 15.00 USD)/way.
Ship/boat: Hoi An also has a waterway transportation service, which can take you to Kim Bong.
As one of the most traditional craft villages in Hoi An, visiting Kim Bong Carpentry Village is definitely one of the things not to be missed in Hoi An for tourists who love Vietnamese culture.
Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any further questions, or directly contact our travel experts for helpful advice for Hoi An tours and itineraries/quotations via email: sm@izitour.com.
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