Along with the increasingly developing and modernizing of society, there are many traditional craft villages that have existed with unique products imbued with Vietnamese cultural and historical values.

1. Van Phuc Silk Village, Ha Dong, Ha Noi

Van Phuc Silk Village is an ancient village located in Ha Dong District, about 10 kilometers southwest of Hanoi. This village has a long history of producing high-quality silk products that date back to the Ly dynasty in the 11th century. However, the village was not yet famous until the 19th century for its silk weaving and became one of the most visited traditional craft villages in Hanoi.

Van Phuc silk has been recognized for its smooth, light, and cool texture, making it a favorite among both locals and tourists. In the Nguyen dynasty, Van Phuc silk was used to make dresses for the royal members of the Hue Imperial Citadel. Later on, Van Phuc silk made its first travel to Europe, and gained popularity after being showcased at an international silk exhibition in France in the 1930s.

Visiting Van Phuc Silk Village is an opportunity to step back in time and experience the traditional way of life in a northern Vietnamese village. Admiring local artisans work their looms to create a variety of silk products, including scarves, dresses, ties, and more. Visitors will see massive banyan trees, ancient wells, and communal houses that have stood for centuries in the Village.

2. Nha Xa Silk Village, Ha Nam

Nha Xa Silk Village is located in Moc Nam commune, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province, on the left bank of the Red River, bordering Hung Yen province. Nha Xa village's silk products have been top selling since ancient times. 

The silk production process involves many steps, from spinning, warping, and weaving to dyeing.

Weaving machines at Nha Xa Silk Village. Photo: TITC

Nha Xa silk products are diverse in both type and quality. The brocade, smooth silk and patterned silk come in a variety of designs and colours. Linen is a favoured product and comes available in varying types of thickness. From linen, Nha Xa artisans can create many eye-catching products of varying sizes, such as towels and shirts.

This village is available to those en-route to Ninh Binh or as a day trip from Hanoi.

3. Tan Chau Silk Village, An Giang

Tan Chau Silk Village is located in the northwest of An Giang Province, where there is a long history of silk processing. The local silk weaving technology has been passed down through many generations.

Tan Chau silk is famous for its softness, toughness, durability and high absorbency of natural silk material. Apparels made from Tan Chau silk bring comfort, cool in summer, warm in winter. In fact, the raw materials for making Tan Chau silk are all produced by local people. They grow bushes for silkworms to eat and create silk, and plant trees called “mặc nưa” (mac leua) to get fruit for dyeing. To create a meter of Tan Chau silk, manufacturers have to spend heaps of time and labour with different stages.

Besides the traditional black colour of natural dye from mac leua fruit, Tan Chau silk manufacturers have found other dyeing techniques to create different colours, meeting customers' requirements better every day.

4. Duy Xuyen Silk Village, Hoi An

Duy Xuyen Silk Village, also known as Hoi An Silk Village, is located in Hoi An town, Quang Nam province, Vietnam. This village with traditional silk weaving has a history of more than 300 years, and until now, it has remained intact with the stages from silkworm raising to silk weaving.

Visitors to Hoi An, don’t forget to pass by Duy Xuyen Silk Village to witness the different stages of silk processing. From the old mulberry garden, where silkworms are raised, to the place where silk is woven, from silk threads on looms and finished into shirts or colourful scarves.

Visitors will be able to explore and learn interesting things from the traditional Vietnamese silk weaving nursery. Visitors will not only be attracted by the beauty of the enthusiastic work and admiration of the craftsmen but also appreciate each traditional handicraft product.