Top 12 Traditional Vietnamese Villages to Live Like a Local

Vietnam’s traditional villages carry an ancient and poetic beauty that reflects the soul of the countryside. The banyan tree, water well, and communal house yard have long symbolized rural life across generations. From the misty mountains of Sapa to the fertile plains of the Mekong Delta, these timeless communities preserve their crafts, customs, and quiet charm. Here, bamboo turns into art, silk into elegance, and daily life flows in harmony with nature. 

Below, Kampá Tour lists the top 12 most charming traditional Vietnamese villages from north to south, places you shouldn’t miss, perfect for slowing down, connecting with locals, and experiencing authentic Vietnamese culture.

Written by Oliver PHUNG (Tour guide)Updated on 13-10-2025

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Traditional Vietnamese Villages in Northern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam is the cradle of the oldest traditional Vietnamese villages, from pottery and silk to folk paintings. Just a trip from Hanoi, visitors can explore communities that have preserved their traditions for centuries. These traditional Vietnamese villages are not only about history; they offer hands-on experiences like pottery workshops, weaving, and homestays.

Duong Lam Ancient Village (Hanoi)

Located about 44 km west of Hanoi, Duong Lam is considered one of the oldest ancient villages in Northern Vietnam. Known as the "living museum" of Vietnamese rural life, the village preserves a unique collection of laterite brick houses, stone alleys, and centuries-old communal halls that reflect Red River Delta architecture.

What you can expect to see in Duong Lam:

• Wander through narrow alleys lined with ancient laterite walls and mossy roofs.

• Visit the Mong Phu Communal House, Mia Pagoda, and centuries-old family homes.

• Sample local specialties such as soft rice cake (bánh tẻ) and fermented soybean sauce.

• Meet local residents and learn how traditional architecture has been preserved for generations.

It offers a peaceful glimpse into rural Vietnamese life, where history and community spirit remain alive amid the slow rhythm of the countryside.

Bat Trang Pottery Village (Hanoi)

Just 13 km southeast of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Bat Trang is Vietnam’s most famous pottery village with a legacy of over 700 years. Set along the banks of the Red River, it has become a hub for ceramic art, where families have passed down their pottery-making secrets for generations.

What to Explore in Bat Trang Village:

• Watch artisans shape clay on the potter’s wheel and fire pieces in traditional kilns.

• Join a pottery workshop to mold and paint your own cup or vase.

• Explore the Bat Trang Pottery Museum and learn about ancient ceramic techniques.

• Shop for handmade ceramic goods, from tableware to fine art pieces.

Bat Trang is a perfect half-day trip from Hanoi, blending creativity and tradition. It is a place where visitors can not only admire craftsmanship but also create a personal souvenir from Vietnam’s most iconic ceramic village.

📕 Read more: Bat Trang Ceramic Village

Phu Vinh Bamboo & Rattan Weaving Village (Hanoi)

Phu Vinh is Hanoi’s bamboo weaving hub, just 25 km west of Hanoi, where visitors can try making baskets with local artisans.

With a history of over 400 years, Phu Vinh is one of Vietnam’s oldest traditional craft villages. The villagers, from children to the elderly, have preserved the art of bamboo and rattan weaving through generations, transforming simple materials into beautiful handicrafts.

What you can experience in Phu Vinh Village:

• Watch local artisans skillfully weave bamboo into trays, baskets, and chairs.

• Try crafting your own small rattan piece under their guidance.

• Explore a wide range of souvenirs and home décor made from bamboo.

• Learn how this 400-year-old craft has survived through generations of Hanoi family.

Despite the rapid pace of industrialization, Phu Vinh has kept its traditional craft alive through the skilled hands of artisans. Visitors can join workshops to try weaving or learn about the passion that goes into each handmade piece.

Dong Ho Folk Painting Village (Bac Ninh)

Dong Ho is Vietnam’s most famous folk painting village, just 37 km from Hanoi, where centuries-old woodblock prints brighten homes every Lunar New Year.

Dong Ho Village in Bắc Ninh, with over 400 years of history, is the birthplace of Vietnam’s traditional woodblock prints. The paintings capture everyday life, from buffalo herding to coconut harvesting and symbolic images like Yin-Yang Pigs and The Mouse Wedding, reflecting Vietnamese cultural values.

What you will find in Dong Ho Village:

• See artisans hand-carve wooden blocks used for folk paintings.

• Try printing your own version of “The Mouse Wedding” or “Yin-Yang Pigs.”

• Hear stories behind each artwork that reflects Vietnamese life and values.

• Bring home a print as a personal piece of cultural heritage.

Though only a few families continue the craft today, visitors can join workshops to create their own prints and take home a piece of Vietnamese heritage.

📙 Read more: Dong Ho paintings

Van Lam Embroidery Village (Ninh Binh)

Van Lam Embroidery Village in Ninh Binh, known for its 880 years of heritage, offers visitors a chance to experience the artistry of traditional lace embroidery.

Originally creating embroidered products for rituals and ceremonies, such as sacrificial team clothing, the village now produces paintings, bed sheets, pillows, and more, while maintaining its authentic craftsmanship.

What to do Van Lam Village:

• Watch local women create detailed embroidery with silk threads.

• Join a workshop to stitch your own small decorative piece.

• Admire traditional embroidered art, from tablecloths to ceremonial garments.

• Discover how this 880-year-old craft preserves Vietnamese culture.

Located near the Trang An Complex, Van Lam offers visitors a chance to experience the art and engage with artisans, preserving Vietnam’s cultural heritage.

📜 Read more: Ninh Binh - Vietnam’s Most Cinematic Destination

Lao Chai Village (Sapa)

Nestled in a misty valley, Lao Chai is home to the Black Hmong community, where traditional crafts are still passed down through generations. The artisans here continue to practice age-old techniques like silver forging, bronze casting, linen weaving, indigo dyeing, and beeswax painting, which are deeply connected to Hmong beliefs and culture.

What you will find in Lao Chai Village:

• Explore stilt houses nestled in rice-covered hills.

• Meet Black Hmong artisans crafting indigo-dyed fabrics and silver jewelry.

• Join cultural performances or help prepare a traditional meal.

• Savor homemade dishes using fresh ingredients from mountain gardens.

A visit to Lao Chai is not only a scenic escape but also an opportunity to experience authentic culture. It’s a chance to connect with the Black Hmong community, see their time-honored traditions up close, and enjoy the peaceful, majestic nature of Sapa.

📰 Read more: Ultimate guide to Lao Chai, Sapa

Phia Thap Incense Village (Cao Bang)

Located in Cao Bang, Phia Thắp is a centuries-old village where the Nung people have been making incense for over a hundred years. The incense here plays an important role in spiritual rituals, serving as a link between the living and the afterlife.

What you will find in Phia Thap Village:

• Observe artisans mixing bamboo powder and pine resin to create incense.

• Try rolling your own incense sticks in a workshop.

• Discover the spiritual meaning of incense in Nùng culture.

• Stroll around the peaceful village and admire stilt houses.

The incense of Phia Thắp stands out for its use of natural materials sourced from the surrounding karst landscape. Its main ingredients include Bau Hat leaves, pine powder, and sawdust, which together create a natural adhesive that binds the incense sticks. The bamboo used for the sticks is carefully hand-split, soaked, and coated with a blend of pine powder and other organic components.

🕯️ Read more: Incense Village of the Nung in Phia Thap, Vietnam

Cua Van Floating Fishing Village (Halong Bay) 

According to Lonely Plant and Travel+Leisure said that, Cua Van is one of the most beautiful floating villages in the world, located just 20 km from Ha Long Wharf, offering unique fishing and cultural experiences.

Cua Van Village, located in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay, is a 200-year-old fishing village home to 300 households. The villagers make a living through fishing, aquaculture, and pearl farming, supplying seafood and jewelry to the mainland.

What you will find in Cua Van Village:

• Paddle a bamboo boat through clusters of floating houses.

• Join local fishermen to learn traditional net casting.

• Visit a pearl-farming workshop and see how natural pearls are cultivated.

• Experience authentic life on the calm emerald waters of Ha Long Bay.

An overnight Ha Long cruise wouldn't be complete without experiencing the unique lifestyle and traditions of Cua Van’s fishing community.

Traditional Vietnamese Villages in Central Vietnam

While the North preserves Vietnam’s oldest villages, Central Vietnam reflects the country’s artistic refinement and royal legacy. From the graceful conical hats of Hue to the shimmering silk of Hoi An and the fertile gardens of Tra Que, this region offers a blend of craftsmanship and coastal charm. Travelers can watch artisans at work, join hands-on workshops, or simply soak in the rhythm of village life surrounded by rice fields and sea breezes.

Tay Ho Conical Hat Village (Hue)

Located in Phu Ho Commune, Phu Vang District, just 12 km from Hue, Tay Ho Conical Hat Village is famous for producing the iconic nón lá bài thơ, or poetry conical hats. These traditional hats have become symbols of Vietnamese culture, often seen in daily life and cultural events.

What you will find in Tay Ho Village:

• Watch artisans weave palm leaves and bamboo into conical hats.

• Learn how poetry hats hide verses that glow when held to light.

• Buy a hand-stitched nón lá as a unique souvenir.

• Understand the symbolism of these hats in Hue’s royal and cultural identity.

For over 15 generations, local artisans have preserved and perfected this craft, weaving poems and symbols into the hats that represent the history and spiritual richness of the region.

Hoi An Silk Village (Hoi An)

Just a brief hop from Hoi An's historic core lies the Silk Village, a longstanding fixture in the area's cultural tapestry that stretches back almost 300 years. Tucked at 28 Nguyen Tat Thanh in Quang Nam Province, this spot holds firm to its legacy in silk crafting, where skilled hands across family lines sustain the intricate work of raising silkworms and threading looms.

Those who stop by Hoi An Silk Village get a front-row seat to the full cycle of silk creation, starting with mulberry-fed larvae in dedicated breeding sheds and ending with the careful spin of fibers into smooth cloth.

Options for engagement at Hoi An Silk Village include:

• Follow the journey from silkworms spinning cocoons to finished fabrics.

• Try weaving at a traditional wooden loom under expert guidance.

• Admire the Áo Dài collection and ethnic garments on display.

• Shop for silk scarves, wraps, and other locally crafted products.

⛩️ Read more: Hoi An - The Complete Guide to Sights, Weather & More!

Tra Que Vegetable Village (Hoi An)

A quick pedal or taxi ride from Hoi An's lantern-lit streets takes you to Tra Que Vegetable Village, a quiet patch of green that's been feeding locals with clean, homegrown produce for over 300 years. Spanning about 40 hectares in Cam Ha commune, this spot relies on traditional methods, using seaweed and animal manure as fertilizers to keep things chemical-free while growing 41 types of herbs and veggies like mint, cilantro, and red amaranth.

At Tra Que, there’s plenty to do beyond just sightseeing:

• Watch farmers enrich soil with seaweed compost for organic crops.

• Help plant or harvest herbs like mint and cilantro.

• Join a cooking class to make crispy Banh Xeo or Mi Quang with fresh greens.

• Enjoy a family meal or stay overnight for a taste of rural life.

🥬 Read more: Trà Quế, the vegetable village in Hội An for a green interlude

Vietnamese Villages in Southern Vietnam (Few but Unique)

Unlike the North and Central regions, the South has fewer traditional villages, yet each carries a charm and story that make it truly distinctive. The Mekong Delta’s fertile land and network of rivers have given rise to villages shaped by both craftsmanship and nature. 

Mang Thit Brick Kilns (Vinh Long) 

Nestled in Mang Thit district of Vinh Long province, deep in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, this area earns its nickname as the "kingdom of bricks" through a craft that's endured for more than a century. Families here have honed brick-making skills over generations, drawing from a mix of Khmer, Chinese, and Kinh influences that shape everything from the clay pits to the final fire.

In its heyday, the village hummed with over 1,500 kilns; these days, about 800 still stand across roughly 3,000 hectares, mostly hugging the Thay Cai canal as it winds toward the Co Chien River.

What awaits at Mang Thít Brick Kilns:

• Full-Cycle Craft: Follow the steps from digging riverbed clay to pressing molds and stacking for the kiln burn.

• Kiln Builds: See crews assemble towering, round structures, each one layered with upwards of 30,000 bricks for even heat.

• Cultural Layers: Uncover how local methods weave in Khmer designs, Chinese glazing tricks, and Kinh firing know-how.

• Try It Yourself: Shape a few bricks under guidance, and pick up tips on greener practices, like firing with rice husk ash to cut smoke and waste.

🧱 More details: Mang Thit - The Kingdom of Brick Kilns in the Mekong Delta

Ben Tre Coconut Candy Village (Mekong Delta) 

In the lush waterways of Ben Tre province in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, this area is known as the "Coconut Kingdom" for good reason. It is home to vast groves that produce over 70% of the nation's coconuts, fueling a variety of treats that attract visitors year after year. The real star here is the coconut candy, a sticky-sweet staple made from fresh coconut milk, sugar, and malt. First made by hand in the early 1900s, it remains a testament to the region's farm-to-table roots.

Visitors can watch the full process of turning harvested coconuts, those meaty, juice-empty ones, into chewy candy through boiling, pouring, and slicing.

What to enjoy in Ben Tre Coconut Candy Village:

• Watch artisans boil coconut milk and sugar over wood fires to make candy.

• Join in to wrap or pack freshly made sweets.

• Taste and shop for coconut treats, oils, soaps, and handicrafts.

• Learn how this candy supports Ben Tre’s local economy and farmers.

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Note for Visitors

• No entrance fees: Most traditional craft villages in Vietnam are free to visit.

• Workshop booking: If you want to join a hands-on workshop, contact the village or book through a travel agency in advance. Day tours are often available for popular villages.

• Eco-friendly products: Most items from the villages are made sustainably and do not use plastic. Feel free to buy and support local artisans.

• Payment tips: Some villages may not accept QR codes or card payments. Always carry some cash for a smooth transaction.

• Respect local customs: When visiting, dress modestly and ask before taking photos of artisans or their workshops.

Conclusion: Live Like a Local in Vietnam’s Villages

Your journey through Vietnam wouldn’t be complete without visiting a traditional Vietnamese village. From the northern highlands to the southern rivers, each village tells a story of craftsmanship, culture, and connection to the land. These peaceful places let you step into local life, meet artisans, and experience traditions that have shaped Vietnam’s identity for centuries.

So why wait? Contact Kampá Tour today and let us design a meaningful trip where every Vietnamese village you visit becomes a memory to cherish.

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