On the outskirts of Hanoi are at least fifty Handicraft
villages and some are world renowned for their arts. During
a fun and insightful day we can explore and shop at some of
the must see villages such as Bat Trang ceramic village,
Van Phuc silk village, Dong Ky wood carving village, So
noodle village, and Le Mat snake village.
Bat Trang Ceramic Village
Located along the banks of the Red River, Bat Trang is
definitely Viet Nam's most famous ceramic village.
Ancestors of today’s ceramic artisans began their crafts in
world famous Bat Tran during the Ly Dynasty some 10
centuries ago. Local artisans are renowned around the world
for the ceramic arts and have won many international awards. We witness these artisans at work as we roam down narrow alleys into shops where we be able to buy their refined ceramics at unbelievable prices.
Van Phuc Silk Village
Located 15Km west of Hanoi, Van Phuc is renowned for
centuries of silk making and silk products. The streets of
Van Phuc, lined with modern store fronts selling beautiful
silk clothes and fabrics, are abuzz with looms and sewing
machines. The local silk is known for its smooth and
lightweight appearance, qualities that enable it to be
dyed more colors to suit a variety of skin tones. You can
buy ready made garments or buy the raw fabric of your
choosing and have one of Hanoi’s famous tailors custom
craft your clothes.
Dong Ky Wood Carving Village
Originally, carpentry was a side hobby for inhabitants of
Dong Ky, however poverty forced the villagers concentrate
their skills on this occupation. The some 12,000 residents
now prosper from their trade with the increasing demand from
hotels, restaurants, and exporters for their quality hand
carved furniture and crafts. The wood carving here is also
famous for its meticulously inlaid mother of pearl.
Cu Da Noodle Village
Undoubtedly your trip to Viet Nam will include tasting many
of the savory dishes here, and while in Hanoi you must
enjoy a bowl of Pho or Mien soup. Hanoi is famous for Pho
and anyone will tell you, you can’t find good Pho outside of
Hanoi. This is because of the residence of Cu Da village,
who have been mastering this recipe for centuries. Of course
it’s interesting to see how these delicious noodles are
made, but you’ll also be impressed and inspired with the
architecture and ancient buildings of this village just to
the south of Hanoi.
Le Mat Snake Village
Located a few kilometers over the Red River from central Hanoi, the residence of Le Mat have been catching and breeding
snakes, making snake wines and tonics, and cooking tasty
snake dishes for some 900 years. A dining experience here is
something you won’t soon forget. After selecting your snake,
the chef will prepare it in about 14 different dishes, each
dish served with a different kind of rice wine, all believed
to have their own medicinal values. The annual festival of
Le Mat village is carried out on the 23rd of the third lunar
month to commemorate their Patron Saint with the famous
dance of the snake.
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