1. Incense Village Hue
Hue has long been famous for its cultural and historical heritages and long-standing traditional craft villages. Among them, Thuy Xuan Incense Village is a particularly attractive destination with its ancient beauty and the brilliance of colorful incense bundles.
Thuy Xuan Incense Village is located on Huyen Tran Cong Chua street, Thuy Xuan Ward, about 7km southwest of Hue city center. It is located near Vong Canh Hill and Tu Duc Tomb, two of the most famous famous tourist attractions in Hue.
2. History of Incense Village Hue
According to the artisans at Thuy Xuan Incense Village, the incense making profession appeared here about 700 years ago under the Nguyen Dynasty. In the past, the village was a place to supply incense to the royal court, mandarins and people in the Thuan Hoa and Phu Xuan regions. Incense is made from natural ingredients such as agarwood, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom. The incense has a light and pure scent, and does not contain any chemical additives.
Although it has gone through many changes over time, this Hue incense village continues to be preserved and developed. Each generation of fathers and sons takes turns making fragrant incense sticks, serving the spiritual life of local people as well as people from other provinces
3. How to make handmade Incense at Incense Village Hue
One of the best ways to experience the culture and heritage of Thuy Xuan Incense Village in Hue is to witness the process how people make incense by hand.
The first step is to choose the ingredients to make incense. They use old bamboo sticks that are split into thin pieces and dried in the sun for many days. The also use many herbs and spices mixed with water to form the incense powder.
The second step is to make the incense core from bamboo sticks. They wrap many thin layers of bamboo around each other until they form a cylinder. Then, they dry the incense again until it becomes hard and brittle.
The third step is use paper or soft cloth to wrap the incense powder around the incense core. They make sure there are no gaps or holes between them so that they can burn evenly.
The fourth step is to decorate their products with colorful patterns or designs.
The final step is package their products.
The village has gone through many historical upheavals such as wars, invasions, and reforms. It still maintains its traditions and culture to this day.
4. Things that visitors can experience at Incense Village Hue
Visiting Incense Village is not only to see the process of making the products but also to enjoy the scents and atmosphere here.
Here are somethings that visitor can experience in Incense Village:
- Walk around the incense village and learn about the history and culture of making incense Vietnam.
- Discover the incense making process and experience making incense by yourself.
- Buy souvenirs such as candles or fans made from bamboo.
- Take pictures with colorful incense bundles.
- Relax in a peaceful environment surrounded by nature.
5. Opening times and entrance ticket prices
Entrance fee: Free
Incense Village is not only a place to learn about the traditional craft villages in Hue but also a place for those who love scenery. This is the time for you to choose the most confident and comfortable outfit to take some beautiful photos at Thuy Xuan Incense Village Hue
6. Attractions near Incense Village Hue
If you have more time in Hue after visiting Huong Village, you can go to explore some nearby attractions, such as:
Vong Canh Hill: Often referred to as the “divine eye” of ancient Hue, Vong Canh Hill was historically a favorite spot for the Nguyen Dynasty’s royalty to stop and take in the scenery. From this vantage point, you can enjoy sweeping views of the meandering Huong River and the distant Ngu Binh Mountain.
Tu Duc Tomb: This place is about 1km from Incense Village. Tu Duc Tomb is considered one of the most romantic tombs among the Nguyen Dynasty royal tombs. If you intend to admire and learn more about Nguyen Dynasty architecture, this is one of the highly recommended places.
