Hoi An Traditional Craft Villages: Must-Go Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss

06/11/2025

Hoi An Traditional Craft Villages: Must-Go Experiences You Shouldn’t Miss

When your journey to Hoi An goes beyond simply visiting the Ancient Town, getting tailor-made clothes, tasting local cuisine, or shopping - it’s about discovering the true essence of Hoi An through its centuries-old traditional craft villages. Here, you can try your hand at pottery, lantern making, silk weaving, vegetable farming, or admire the art of bronze casting. Each activity offers a glimpse into the unique local culture that preserves the soul of Hoi An’s heritage.

1. Thanh Ha Pottery Village – Cultural Handicraft Beyond The Ancient Town

One of Hoi An’s most famous traditional villages, Thanh Ha Pottery Village stands out for its centuries-old ceramic techniques and dynamic artisan community. Nestled along the peaceful Thu Bon River, the village has preserved the craft for over 500 years. The air is filled with the scent of clay, kiln smoke, and the steady rhythm of spinning wheels.

Visitors can explore Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage through traditional craftsmanship, join workshops, and mold clay by hand, spinning the wheel to shape their own small creations. The feeling of touching soft clay and watching it come to life connects people deeply with nature.

Artisans here are always eager to share their skills and stories of heritage and tradition.

The village is open daily since it’s also a residential area. The best time to visit is in the morning or early afternoon to enjoy ideal light for photography and ample time to explore.

The pottery experience in Thanh Ha is not merely a craft activity – it’s a meditative journey that teaches patience, delicacy, and the joy of creation.

2. Kim Bong Carpentry Village – A Hundred-Year-Old Cultural Legacy

At Kim Bong Carpentry Village, visitors can admire master artisans breathing life into wood to craft exquisite works of art. From doors, furniture, and statues to decorative items – every piece carries the classic soul of Hoi An.

The most fascinating part of the visit is the chance to sand and carve your own wooden keepsake under an artisan’s guidance.

The scent of natural wood, the sound of birds and the breeze together create a sense of serenity. This is where visitors can truly experience woodcarving with all senses – sight, sound, smell, touch, and emotion.

3. The 400-Year-Old Lantern-Making Village In Hoi An Ancient Town

Among Hoi An’s many proud traditional crafts like Thanh Ha pottery and Kim Bong carpentry, the lantern-making craft is what gives the town its iconic identity.

If Hoi An is “the city of lights,” then the lantern village is where that magic was born. Visitors can experience the traditional lantern-making process using two main materials – bamboo and silk fabric – crafted meticulously from start to finish. The bamboo used must be mature and freshly cut to ensure durability. Artisans boil and soak it in saltwater for ten days to prevent termites, then dry, split, shape, and cover it with colorful fabric before gluing and decorating by hand. Each lantern carries its own character – sometimes soft and elegant, sometimes vivid and bright, but always warm and full of charm.

Making a lantern is not merely creating a decoration; it’s a ritual of touching Hoi An’s soul, where light symbolizes peace and good fortune. When night falls, seeing your handmade lantern glowing in the old town explains why Hoi An is called “the place where light tells stories.”

4. Hoi An Silk Village – A Living Museum Of 300 Years Of Silk Heritage

Hoi An Silk Village is not only a famous silk-producing site but also a unique cultural destination.

A one-day silk village tour takes you back in time to explore the intricate manual silk-making process – from silkworm cocoons and thread pulling to weaving and natural dyeing. Visitors can also admire ancient architecture and purchase high-quality silk products.

Each silk piece is a blend of time, precision, and artistry. You can try reeling silk, sit at the loom, and listen to the rhythmic sound of weaving.

Silk here is not just a material – it’s a symbol of purity and grace, reflecting Vietnamese aesthetics. A scarf or silk bag from this village is more than a souvenir – it’s a piece of Hoi An’s spirit, woven with love.

5. Tra Que Vegetable Village – Experience The Life Of A Farmer

Tra Que Vegetable Village is one of Vietnam’s best community-based tourism spots, offering a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle.

Here, visitors can wear farmer’s clothes, put on a conical hat, and carry water using bamboo buckets to tend the vegetables grown with ancient well water. The sensation of bare feet on the soil, the scent of basil, perilla, and scallions carried by the wind – all form a simple yet profound lesson about happiness.

You can also enjoy a leisurely bike ride through the peaceful village or join a cozy cooking class filled with laughter.

The farming experience at Tra Que helps visitors understand local life, the “green living” philosophy, and the deep harmony with nature – what makes Hoi An truly unique and memorable.

>>Tra Que Organic Village Bike Tour from Hoi An/Danang

6. Phuoc Kieu Bronze Casting Village – The Breath Of Fire And Metal

Phuoc Kieu Village is over 400 years old, where craftsmen use fire to create permanence. It is not just a craft village’s name, but a living symbol of talent and perseverance.

Stepping into Phuoc Kieu, visitors are greeted by ancient wooden houses, mossy walls, and narrow lanes leading to bronze furnaces – where the fire of craftsmanship has burned for generations.

This is more than a tourist site; it’s a journey into the soul of a culture. From the rhythmic sound of hammering to the heat of molten metal, every bronze piece requires mastery, strength, and passion. Visitors can watch artisans cast molds, tune the sound of gongs and bells, or shape sacred statues.

Many say that when they hear the sound of bronze ringing in Phuoc Kieu, it feels like Hoi An’s soul is resonating through every beat of the gong.

Hoi An – Where Ancient Crafts Become New Experiences

Hoi An’s traditional villages are not just heritage – they are living experiences. Instead of simply observing and taking photos, visitors can touch, create, and feel to understand why Hoi An’s people have preserved their crafts as part of their identity.
This journey is neither loud nor lavish – yet it lingers deeply in memory.

If you seek a unique experience beyond the ancient town – to truly live with the local culture – then visiting Hoi An’s traditional craft villages is the ideal choice.

Let your hands shape pottery, weave lanterns, or plant herbs. When you leave Hoi An, you’ll take home more than just souvenirs – but genuine memories, emotions, and heartfelt connections with its people.

Experience Hoi An’s Culture Authentically With Truong Sa Tourist Vietnam DMC
►As a trusted local partner, Truong Sa Tourist Vietnam DMC accompanies you on your Hoi An journey – from ancient streets to traditional craft villages.
►We offer cultural tours and hands-on workshops that allow you not just to visit, but to immerse yourself in local life.
►Choose Truong Sa Tourist Vietnam – and you’ll discover a different Hoi An: authentic, soulful, and full of inspiration.