Traditional Craft Villages in Hanoi: Preserving the Quintessence of a Thousand Years

Hanoi attracts tourists not only by its long-standing historical relics and vibrant lifestyle, but also by its traditional craft villages that have preserved unique cultural features for hundreds of years. Walking through pottery villages, silk villages or mother-of-pearl inlay villages, you will relive the atmosphere of an old Hanoi - rustic, sophisticated and full of creativity. Traditional craft villages in Hanoi are not only places for handicraft production but also unique experiences for those who love indigenous culture. Let's explore.

1. Van Phuc silk village

Discover Van Phuc silk village with a history of over 1,000 years (Photo source: Collected)

Located in Ha Dong district, Van Phuc silk village has long been known as a traditional craft village in Hanoi with a history of more than a thousand years. This is the cradle of silk weaving, where traditional weaving techniques are still preserved and developed, contributing to the unique features of Vietnamese handicraft culture. In the past, Van Phuc silk was chosen to be offered to kings because of its soft material, sophisticated patterns and elegant colors.

Nowadays, products from the silk village are not only limited to ao dai, handkerchiefs or ao yem but are also created into many high-class handmade gift items for tourists and export. What is special is that each piece of silk here carries a delicate, luxurious beauty, woven by the talented and dedicated hands of the craftsmen of the village. Besides its cultural and artistic value, Van Phuc has also become an attractive check-in location in Hanoi, attracting visitors to experience the ancient space, learn about the traditional silk weaving process and capture memorable moments.

2. Ngu Xa bronze casting village

The quintessence of Ngu Xa traditional bronze casting village (Photo source: Collected)

Associated with the history of Thang Long - Hanoi, Ngu Xa bronze casting village was formed in the 17th century and is considered one of the traditional craft villages in Hanoi bearing the imprint of long-standing handicraft culture.

Over nearly 500 years of development, this small village on the shore of Truc Bach Lake has created many outstanding bronze works of art. Notable among them are the 14-ton Amitabha Buddha statue at Ngu Xa Pagoda, the 1.8-meter-high Lien Hoa statue at Tay Thien Mandala, and the majestic Huyen Thien Tran Vu statue at Quan Thanh Pagoda – spiritual symbols present in many places across the country.

With skillful craftsmanship, a keen eye and a spirit of preserving the ancestral craft, the bronze casting artisans here not only breathe life into each handicraft work but also contribute to preserving the profound spiritual values in Hanoi's cultural heritage. The craft village is not only a place to create exquisite bronze handicraft products but also a symbol of the flow of traditional culture, a place that connects the past and present of the Vietnamese people through each exquisite bronze carving.

3. Dinh Cong jewelry village

As one of the four most quintessential crafts of Thang Long land - "Linh Hoa Yen Thai, Bat Trang pottery, Dinh Cong goldsmith, Ngu Xa bronzesmith", Dinh Cong goldsmith village is the pride of Hanoi people and one of the attractions that many international tourists are interested in.

Visitors come here not only to visit and admire but also to choose gifts to bring home, because the silver bean products here all have a very unique beauty, without any impurities. The artisans must master 4 techniques: Smooth, fighting, bean, and carving before practicing their profession to be able to bring beautiful handmade products down to every detail. Each small motif in the product such as flower petals, butterfly wings, animals are all pulled and welded by hand by goldsmiths, without using machines. Therefore, all products have a harmonious, yet lively look, bringing a sense of nobility to the user.

4. Bat Trang Pottery Village

Discover Bat Trang pottery village (Photo source: Collected)

Only about 14km from the center of the capital, Bat Trang pottery village has long been an attractive destination not to be missed for those who love culture and folk art. Standing out with the unique architecture of the Bat Trang pottery museum, this place makes a strong impression with the design of 7 connected spiral blocks - inspired by the traditional pottery wheel, creating a creative display space. When visiting, visitors seem to go back in time to explore the history of formation and development of one of the oldest traditional craft villages in Hanoi.

Not only attractive for its artistic elements, Bat Trang pottery village also offers an interesting handicraft experience. Visitors can freely try their hand at pottery making at the craft workshops or choose to buy souvenirs such as teapots, vases, wind chimes - handmade products imbued with Vietnamese culture. This is an ideal place for those who are looking for cultural tourism experiences, craft villages, and want to understand more deeply about the quintessence of traditional pottery.

5. Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan weaving village

On the journey to discover traditional craft villages in Hanoi, Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan weaving village is always an attractive destination for those who love the beauty of Vietnamese culture and handicrafts. Coming here, visitors feel like they are lost in a peaceful but vibrant countryside space with the bustling sound of weaving echoing everywhere.

Here, bamboo and rattan weaving is not only a livelihood but also a source of pride for local people. Almost every household has people following the profession, creating countless sophisticated handicraft products such as baskets, handbags, vases, to high-end items such as tables, chairs, shelves. From seemingly simple bamboo strips, through the talented hands of artisans, they have become Hanoi handicrafts imbued with the Vietnamese soul, attracting both domestic and international tourists. This is definitely a cultural tourist destination not to be missed for those who love to experience Hanoi's craft villages.

6. Thach Xa bamboo dragonfly village

Thach Xa Bamboo Dragonfly Village - Colorful and brilliant beauty (Photo source: Collected)

Thach Xa village is not only famous for Lam tea, but also known for making bamboo dragonflies. About 30km from the center of Hanoi, this is the birthplace of childhood gifts associated with the image of dragonflies.

Visitors coming here will be able to admire the simple, rustic dragonflies made from bamboo. The products come in all sizes and are reasonably priced, ranging from only 3,000 to 10,000 VND.

7. Dao Thuc water puppet village

About Dao Thuc to watch water puppetry (Photo source: Collected)

Another famous craft village in Hanoi that cannot be missed is Dao Thuc water puppet village. This is where the traditional art of water puppetry with a history of more than 300 years is preserved.

Visitors coming here not only have the opportunity to learn about the history of the craft village but also enjoy special water puppet shows. It is worth noting that the puppets are all created by the artisans of Dao Thuc village.

9. Chuong conical hat village

Located along the poetic Day River, Chuong village has long been famous as a traditional hat-making village, where the quintessence of traditional non quai thao is still preserved. Visiting Chuong village in Hanoi, visitors not only have the opportunity to admire the meticulous hand-made hat-making process but also choose unique hat models such as pineapple conical hat, toi hat or quai thao hat - products with the essence of Hanoi souvenirs.

The special feature that makes this place an attractive cultural tourist destination is the village market held on certain days of the month. This is an ideal opportunity for visitors to explore a traditional craft village in Hanoi, where the old lifestyle is still preserved and bring back meaningful gifts for relatives and friends.

10. Dao Xa Musical Instrument Village

Dao Xa ethnic musical instrument craft village (Photo source: Collected)

Dao Xa village is famous for its traditional musical instruments. Interestingly, despite having no in-depth musical knowledge, the artisans here still create instruments with perfect sound.

From monochords, moon lutes to flutes and two-stringed fiddles, the products here are rich and sophisticated. Visitors to Dao Xa craft village will be able to listen to traditional melodies from musical instruments crafted by artisans themselves.

Traditional craft villages in Hanoi are not only the birthplace of sophisticated products, but also a living treasure reflecting the depth of national culture and history. If you want to find a destination that is both familiar and imbued with the essence of old Hanoi, do not miss the journey to visit famous craft villages. Let each trip be an opportunity to better understand the identity of Thang Long - where the past and present blend together proudly.

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/lang-nghe-truyen-thong-o-ha-noi-noi-luu-giu-tinh-hoa-ngan-nam-v17667.aspx