Top 10 Traditional Craft Villages in Hoi An You Should Visit

Traditional craft villages in Hoi An offer a deeper look into the region’s cultural heritage beyond the bustling Ancient Town. From pottery and carpentry to lantern-making and organic herb farming, each village preserves a distinct traditional craft passed down through generations. Visiting these communities lets you experience hands-on activities, meet local artisans, and discover authentic products made on-site. This GTrip guide highlights the most notable villages, along with practical details like locations, entrance fees, and what to expect, helping you plan a meaningful cultural trip around Hoi An.

1. Thanh Ha Pottery Village

• Location: Pham Phan Street, Hoi An Tay Ward (formerly Thanh Ha, Hoi An, Quang Nam), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee: Free

A visit to Thanh Ha Pottery Village is a delightful journey back in time, immersing you in a craft that has thrived here for over 500 years. As you wander through the village, you'll see artisans skillfully shaping clay on pottery wheels, a technique passed down through countless generations. The village is renowned for its unique terracotta products, which are both functional and decorative.

The highlight for many visitors is the hands-on pottery-making experience, where you can sit at a wheel and, with the help of a local expert, create your own masterpiece. You can make various items, such as a small bowl, a decorative vase, or a traditional whistle. It's a fun and humbling activity that gives you a deep appreciation for the skill involved. The village also features a Terracotta Park, which showcases miniature ceramic replicas of world-famous landmarks.

Getting to Thanh Ha Pottery Village offers you chances to see artisans skillfully shaping clay on pottery wheels

2. Kim Bong Carpentry Village

• Location: Hoi An Ward (formerly Cam Kim Commune, Hoi An city, Quang Nam Province), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee: Free

Just a short ferry ride across the Thu Bon River from Hoi An’s Old Town lies Kim Bong Carpentry Village, a place where the air is filled with the scent of fresh wood and the sound of craftsmanship. This village has a storied history of woodworking, with its artisans responsible for many of the intricate carvings and architectural details seen in Hoi An’s ancient houses and temples. The village is known for two main styles: traditional household furniture and shipbuilding. Visitors can observe master carpenters at work, using traditional tools to create everything from detailed religious statues to sturdy wooden boats.

The most notable craft here is traditional wooden boat building, and you can often see the massive skeletons of boats being meticulously assembled. Many workshops welcome visitors to watch the process and even purchase beautifully crafted souvenirs directly from the makers.

Kim Bong Carpentry Village is a place where the air is filled with the scent of fresh wood and the sound of craftsmanship

3. Tra Que Herb Village

• Location: Tra Que Village, Hoi An Tay Ward (formerly Cam Ha Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee:
  • Adult and children over 10 years old: 35,000 VND (~$1.34)
  • Younger kids: Free

Tra Que Herb Village, also known as Tra Que Vegetable Village, offers a peaceful glimpse into Hoi An’s traditional farming culture. The village is especially known for its organic cultivation methods, where farmers enrich the soil with natural algae collected from a nearby lagoon. This technique gives Tra Que’s herbs and vegetables their distinctive aroma and flavor, widely used in local Quang Nam cuisine.

Visitors can join hands-on activities such as preparing the soil, planting seedlings, and watering crops using traditional shoulder poles. Many experiences also include cooking classes, where you can learn to make regional specialties like tam huu (pork or shrimp spring rolls) and banh xeo (crispy Vietnamese pancakes) using freshly harvested ingredients. Ticket counters are available in both the West and East zones of Tra Que Vegetable Village.

Tra Que Herb Village is known for its organic cultivation methods, where farmers enrich the soil with natural algae collected from a nearby lagoon

4. Phuoc Kieu Bronze Casting Village

• Location: Dien Ban Ward (formerly Dien Phuong, Dien Ban Town, Hoi An, Quang Nam), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee: Free

Phuoc Kieu Bronze Casting Village is a testament to an ancient art form that has been preserved for over 400 years. This village is the birthplace of intricate bronze works that hold deep cultural and spiritual significance in Vietnam. As you explore Phuoc Kieu, you'll hear the rhythmic sounds of hammers shaping metal, a symphony of creation that echoes through the workshops. The village artisans are masters of their craft, specializing in a variety of bronze products, including ceremonial bells, gongs, incense burners, and statues.

The most famous products are its handmade gongs, which are renowned for their perfect pitch and resonance, a secret technique known only to the village's craftsmen. Visiting Phuoc Kieu offers a rare opportunity to witness the entire casting process, from creating the clay molds to pouring the molten bronze and polishing the final product. It's a fascinating look into a meticulous and revered tradition.

Phuoc Kieu Bronze Casting Village is the birthplace of intricate bronze works that hold deep cultural and spiritual significance in Vietnam

5. Cam Thanh Coconut Village (Hoi An Coconut Village)

• Location: Hoi An Dong Ward (formerly Cam Thanh Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee:
  • Adults and children older than 10: 30,000 VND (~$1.15)
  • Smaller kids: Free
• Basket boat rental:
  • 2 adults & 1 child under 1m: 280,000 VND (~$10.73) per boat
  • 2 adults: 150,000 VND (~$5.75) per boat

Cam Thanh Coconut Village, often called Hoi An Coconut Village, provides a serene and exciting adventure through the unique ecosystem of the Bay Mau nipa palm forest. This vast, lush waterway is reminiscent of the Mekong Delta and offers a peaceful escape from the city. The village is famous for its iconic basket boat rides, where you'll glide through the maze of water coconut palms in a traditional round boat called a thung chai.

The local boatmen are not just guides but also entertainers. They often showcase their incredible boat-spinning skills, perform traditional fishing techniques, and craft beautiful ornaments from coconut leaves, like rings, bracelets, and even grasshoppers. The experience is a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and pure fun. You can also try your hand at paddling the basket boat and casting a traditional fishing net, making for an interactive and memorable outing for all ages.

Cam Thanh Coconut Village offers a unique experience of iconic basket boat rides among the water coconut palms

6. Hoi An Silk Village

• Location: No. 28, Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province.
• Opening hours: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Entrance fee: 50,000 VND (~$1.92)

Hoi An Silk Village is a beautifully restored complex that offers a comprehensive look into the "ancient silk road" of Central Vietnam. This village masterfully showcases the entire traditional silk-making process, from the very beginning to the final product. Your journey begins in the lush mulberry gardens, where you’ll learn how silkworms are raised on a diet of fresh leaves. Inside, you'll witness the delicate process of unraveling the cocoons to extract the fine silk threads, followed by the weaving of these threads into exquisite fabrics on traditional looms. The village also features a gallery of stunning Cham textiles and traditional Vietnamese silk costumes, such as the Ao Dai.

Visitors can see the different types of silk produced and even purchase high-quality silk products, including custom-tailored clothing, scarves, and home decor, directly from the source. It’s an educational and elegant experience that highlights a cornerstone of Hoi An’s trading history.

Hoi An Silk Village is a beautifully restored complex that offers a comprehensive look into the "ancient silk road" of Central Vietnam

7. Hoi An Lantern Village

• Location: Son Pho 1 Quarter, Hoi An Dong Ward (formerly Cam Chau, Hoi An), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee: Free

Hoi An Lantern Village embodies the magical spirit of the Ancient Town, where the iconic colorful lanterns are born. This craft is more than just a decoration. It’s a symbol of luck, happiness, and Hoi An’s cultural identity. The village, centered around the renowned "Ha Linh Lantern Making Village", is where generations of artisans have perfected the art of creating these luminous beauties. The craft becomes particularly vibrant during the Mid-Autumn Festival season. In 2011, the Vietnam Craft Village Association honored the Hoi An lantern-making craft as one of the nation's nine typical traditional crafts.

The best part for travelers is the opportunity to create your own handmade lantern. At workshops like the Hoi An Lantern Making Workshop, you can choose your own silk and frame, then learn from an artisan how to construct your very own souvenir to take home. It's a relaxing, creative, and uniquely Hoi An experience that lets you carry a piece of the city's magic with you.

Ha Linh Lantern Making Village is where generations of artisans have perfected the art of creating beautiful lanterns

8. Ban Thach Mat-Weaving Village (Ban Thach Mat Village)

• Location: Nam Phuoc Commune (formerly Duy Vinh Commune, Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee: Free

Tucked away from the main tourist trails, Ban Thach Mat-Weaving Village offers a glimpse into a humble yet vital traditional craft. This village is dedicated to the art of weaving sedge mats, a common household item in Vietnam used for sleeping, sitting, and drying rice. Visiting Ban Thach Mat, also known as Ban Thach Mat Village, feels like stepping into a living documentary. You will see local women, mostly elders, skillfully working on large wooden looms, their hands moving with a speed and precision that comes only from a lifetime of practice. They expertly weave colorful strands of dried sedge into intricate patterns. The core of the experience is observing the authentic mat-weaving process, which remains largely unchanged by modern technology. The artisans are friendly and often happy to show you their techniques. It's a peaceful and authentic cultural stop that showcases the beauty of everyday life and the perseverance of traditional handicrafts in rural Vietnam.

Ban Thach Mat-Weaving Village is a peaceful and authentic cultural stop that showcases the perseverance of traditional handicrafts in rural Vietnam

9. Cam Ha Kumquat Village

• Location: 511 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Hoi An Tay Ward (formerly Cam Ha, Hoi An, Quang Nam), Da Nang City
• Opening hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
• Entrance fee: Free

Cam Ha Kumquat Village transforms into a sea of vibrant orange and green in the months leading up to Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. This village is the primary supplier of the ornamental kumquat trees that are essential for New Year celebrations across the region. A kumquat tree, laden with fruit, symbolizes fertility, luck, and prosperity for the coming year. While the village is active year-round, the best time to visit is from December to February, when the gardens are at their most spectacular.

During this time, the village hosts the famous Cam Ha Ornamental Kumquat Festival, a lively event celebrating the harvest. Visitors can wander through the sprawling gardens, admire the meticulously shaped trees, and learn from the farmers about the techniques used to cultivate these perfect ornamental plants. The sight of thousands of gleaming kumquats under the sun is truly impressive and offers a uniquely festive and photogenic experience.

Cam Ha Kumquat Village is a sea of vibrant orange and green

10. Hoi An Fishing Villages

• Location:
  • Tra Nhieu Fishing Village (An Luong Fishing Village): Duy Nghia Commune (formerly Duy Xuyen District, Hoi An), Da Nang City
  • Duy Hai Fishing Village: Duy Nghia Commune (formerly Duy Xuyen District, Hoi An), Da Nang City
  • Van Lang Fishing Village (Cam Thanh Fishing Village): Hoi An Dong Ward (formerly Cam Thanh Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam), Da Nang City
  • Thanh Nam Fishing Village: Hoi An Ward (formerly Cam Nam Ward, Hoi An), Da Nang City
• Entrance fee: Free

The fishing villages surrounding Hoi An provide an authentic window into the daily lives of the coastal communities that have sustained the region for centuries. These villages are not a single location but a collection of communities, each with its own character. Notable villages include Tra Nhieu, Duy Hai, Van Lang, and Thanh Nam. A visit here offers a raw and unforgettable experience, starting with the early morning fish markets where the fresh catch is traded amidst a flurry of activity. You can observe fishermen mending their traditional nets, piloting their small boats known as thuyen thung through the waterways, and preparing for their next voyage. Many tours offer hands-on fishing experiences, where you can learn to cast a traditional round net (chai) or paddle a basket boat alongside local experts. Exploring these villages gives you a profound appreciation for the hardworking spirit and deep connection to the water that defines life in this part of Vietnam.

A visit to the Hoi An Fishing Villages offers a raw and unforgettable experience, starting with the early morning fish markets

Exploring the traditional craft villages in Hoi An adds a cultural dimension to your trip beyond the historic streets of the Ancient Town. Each destination offers a different experience, whether shaping clay in Thanh Ha, cycling through Tra Que’s herb gardens, or riding a basket boat in the Cam Thanh coconut forest. These visits create memorable moments and support local artisans who continue preserving long-standing traditions. If you want to experience authentic local life and meaningful craftsmanship, use this GTrip list as a starting point to discover the most distinctive craft villages around Hoi An.