Hue is a famous tourist city with unique architectural works with feudal history such as Hue Imperial City, Imperial Mausoleum, and sacred pagodas; and is famous for its breathtaking scenery. Not only that, Hue is also the origin of many long-standing traditional crafts, many traditional craft villages are 700 years old.
So, what are those craft villages? And is it possible to experience it? SAMTOUR will share some interesting information about traditional craft villages in Hue.
2. Hue Traditional Handicraft Villages
2.1. Conical Hat Making Village (Nón lá)
When mentioningHue, it is impossible to ignore the charming image of Hue girls in gentle Áo Dài, highlighted by the iconic pure white conical hat. This art of making conical hats has existed since ancient times, possibly even since the time of kings.
Currently, Hue is considered a prominent conical hat production center in Vietnam. Examples include the craft villages of Da Le, Phu Cam, Doc So, Trieu Tay, Kim Long, and Sia, where this ancient art flourished. Not just simple accessories, these conical hats are also true works of art, requiring precision and dexterity from the artisan.
From choosing the frame to bending, roofing, embellishing patterns, and meticulous polishing, every step of making the hat captivates the imagination of visitors. That is the unique culture of craft villages in Hue, attracting curious tourists from all over to participate in the experience. Whether it is the general appeal of Hue’s conical hats (nón lá) or the delicate poetic conical hats (nón bài thơ), the creations enrich the gentle charm typical of Hue.
Along Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, near Vong Canh Hill and Tu Duc Tomb, is the famous Thuy Xuan Incense Village, a must-see for all tourists exploring the beauty of Hue. With a rich history, this village has been making incense for nearly seven centuries, since the glorious period of the Nguyen Dynasty. Once the exclusive supplier of incense and agarwood to the royal court and the upper class in Thuan Hoa and Phu Xuan regions, Thuy Xuan remains a timeless testament to time and tradition.
Thuy Xuan Incense does not contain chemicals and has an elegant, gentle fragrance. People have created many ways to dry bamboo intestines so that incense burns evenly. Raw materials for making incense are selected from harvested old bamboo trees, requiring high skill of the worker. The final product not only has traditional colors but is also created in many different colors.
Thanh Tien Bougainvillea Village is located along the south bank of the Perfume River, about 7 km from Hue city center. Its origin dates back more than 300 years to the Nguyen Dynasty, famous for making paper flowers, highly appreciated by the court, aristocrats as well as the local community. These bougainvillea flowers are considered a symbol of luxury, longevity, and prosperity.
This craft village can produce many types of flowers: orchids, lilies, chrysanthemums, vines, and the symbolic lotus which is the national flower of Vietnam. These paper lotus flowers adorn festivals and cultural events such as the Hue Festival and Ao Dai Festival, expressing the quintessence of Vietnamese art and tradition.
300 years ago, kite flying adorned royal festivals and New Year celebrations of the Nguyen Dynasty, bringing color and joy to the capital Hue. This precious tradition has since developed into a typical art form, skillfully preserved and nurtured by the people of Hue. Crafting these brilliant and intricate kites requires exceptional skill and expertise on the part of the artisan.
Kite flying in Hue is often compared to puppetry in the sky, each kite becomes a living character brought to life by the skillful hands of experienced artisans. These creative masters have created many different types of kites, from traditional to modern, each kite reflecting a unique style of Hue tradition. Dragons, eagles, phoenixes, butterflies, and goldfish fly in enchanting performances, demonstrating the rich heritage and creativity of Hue artists.
You can learn more aboutHue Kite Making Village.
Unique kites of Hue (Soure:Internet)
2.5. Sinh Folk Painting Village
Located on the meandering Perfume River, Tranh Sinh Village exemplifies rustic charm, just 8km from the vibrant center of Hue City. With roots in agriculture, the villagers’ artistic endeavors capture the essence of rural simplicity and serenity.
Today, Sinh Village has earned its status as a cultural enclave in the ancient capital, honored for its long tradition of traditional painting and hosting an illustrious wrestling festival on the 10th day of the lunar calendar every year. In addition, the village also prides itself on the production of incense and popcorn for ritual worship. It is these long-standing traditions that have imbued the art of woodblock printing in Sinh Village with a sacred meaning, going beyond mere aesthetic pleasure to serve as a bridge for religious reverence and moments of spiritual calm.
Amidst the peaceful scenery of Phong Hoa, Phuoc Tich Pottery Village, Thua Thien Hue Province is a famous traditional craft. With its exquisite tea sets, teapots, vases, and more, each piece is imbued with timeless artistry.
Chosen by the Nguyen Dynasty for royal use, Phuoc Tich pottery found its way throughout Vietnam, from Nghe An to South Vietnam, and even made its mark in Japan, decorating tea ceremonies. Today, Phuoc Tich is an ancient village in the ancient capital, offering visitors a rich history and exquisite ceramic art. When visiting this ancient village, you will explore ancient houses, and well-preserved relics and learn firsthand the craft of making exquisite pottery.
You can experience Hue traditional crafts at the original craft villages. However, to be able to experience all of Hue’s traditional crafts, you will spend a lot of time traveling and experiencing them.
How to easily experience Hue traditional craft villages?
You can refer to SAMTOUR’s program to Hue Royal Tour and experience traditional craft. Coming to this program, you will understand more about traditional crafts under the sharing of an English- tour guide and learn how to make traditional crafts from original artisans.
3.1. Experience the craft of making conical hats
Conical hats have many stages from shaping to finished products. Coming to the experience program, you will be able to know the steps to make conical hats and experience those stages. In addition, you can also create highlights for the conical hat by drawing traditional Hue motifs.
Tourists experience making Hue conical hats
3.2. Experience kite making
Although a kite is not a very large product, the steps to create a kite are somewhat complicated. Coming to the kite making experience, you will be guided in detail from the steps of forming the kite wings to decorating the kite. You can try making them and create interesting shapes and drawings.
Visitors experience painting on kites
3.3. Experience Thanh Tien Bougainvillea making
Paper flowers are quite fragile so they require skillful hands to create. You will be guided by the artist in every detail to shape from petals to a flower.
Tourists experience making Thanh Tien Bougainvillea
3.4. Experience the craft of making incense
Creating colorful and gorgeous incense bouquets requires meticulousness from the first steps. You will have the opportunity to experience some stages of this traditional craft and create valuable finished products.
Tourists experience the traditional craft of making incense
4. In conclusion
In conclusion, Hue’s traditional craft villages offer a fascinating glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of this historic city. Each village boasts a unique craft tradition passed down through generations. Visitors have the opportunity to experience firsthand the complex processes involved in crafting these traditional works of art, from the delicate art of making incense sticks to the meticulous creation of ceramic and bamboo products.
These villages serve as living archives of Hue’s cultural heritage, attracting curious visitors from around the world to immerse themselves in the timeless beauty and craftsmanship of Hue’s ancient capital Vietnam.
