Northern Vietnam's Oldest Handicraft Villages

Although there are thousands of activities and destinations to experience and explore in Vietnam, you are looking for something fresh, different, and more interesting. So, how do you feel about visiting some of Vietnam's oldest handicraft villages, especially in the north? Certainly, the trip would leave an indelible impression of the beauty of Vietnam's rustic villages.

Ha Lung Flower Village – Hai Phong

Ha Lung Flower Village, located in Hai An District, Hai Phong City, is well-known throughout northern Vietnam. If you're planning a trip to discover the wonders of Vietnam, don't miss Ha Lung Village, which is home to a diverse range of flowers, some of which are exported abroad, especially to Holland and Eastern Europe, due to their high yield and quality. The best time to visit is during the Tet holiday, when all of the gardens' flowers are in full bloom, creating an enthralling colorful painting among nature. Furthermore, visiting here allows you to note that purchasing flowers to decorate the locals' homes appears to be linked to their spiritual lifestyle as the new year festival approaches.

Van Phuc Silk Village - Ha Dong, Hanoi

On the outskirts of Hanoi City, Van Phuc Village is located on the bank of the Nhue River. The village, which dates back over 1,200 years, is known for its traditional weaving techniques and high-end silk handicrafts. In reality, wandering around the village will make you feel as if you've entered a silk empire, complete with numerous exquisite products such as dresses, Vietnamese costumes, shirts, crafts, ties, and so on. An anciently beautiful painting of the Vietnamese countryside with a village well, a large banyan tree, a communal building, and the serene entrance gate was also discovered during the walk.

Dong Ho Painting Village – Bac Ninh

With the age of many centuries, Dong Ho Painting Village, located on the left bank of Duong River, is viewed as an art icon in Vietnam culture as well as where excellent art works have been made. In the 1950s, up to 100 households were engaged in this traditional craft, but today the number is just a few. Dong Ho paintings are considered to be a way for talented artists to express their wishes for good fortune and a happy life. Their subjects are often rural people's everyday lives or Vietnamese folk tales. They're basic, but they're loaded with meaning.

Kim Son Sedge Village – Ninh Binh

Sedge grows abundantly in Kim Son Village, Ninh Binh Province, making it perfect for making high-quality handicrafts. People in Kim Son used to make sedge mats for their daily needs at the start of the craft. However, after a long period of hand-crafting, they have demonstrated a remarkable ability to imagine and create the higher-quality pieces that are now anticipated. Some of those products made from sedge include unique sedges, handbags, hats, boxes, cups, shoes, and baskets.

Gia Thuy Pottery Village – Ninh Binh

Gia Thuy is a mountainous village in Ninh Binh Province's Nho Quan District. There is also a pottery village here, which is known for its intricate pottery items such as pots, vases, and jars. The art is thought to have originated about 1,000 years ago, when Ninh Binh was the Hoa L capital of Dai Co Viet (the old land of Vietnam). The village has brought out the quintessence of the age-old craft through the clever hands of involved artists, thanks to the village's naturally preferred white clay, which is ideal for producing ceramics. They've used conventional techniques to create a wide range of items in unusual shapes and designs, as well as to infuse souls into each of these works of art.