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Discover the art of wood carving and gilding in Son Dong Village. Learn about the village's history, see artisans at work, and explore the workshops. Or Visit Incense Village & Hat Village.

Highlights

• Discover the art of wood carving and gilding in Son Dong Village
• Visit Chuong Conical Hat Village and decorate your own hat to take home
• See artisans at work, creating intricate statues and worship objects
• Learn about the traditional craft of incense-making and make your own incense
• Learn about the village's journey to join the World Crafts Council

Description

Option: Private Tour Son Dong Statue Sculpture Village Visit the craft village of Son Dong, renowned for its traditional carving, sculpting, and exquisite gold and silver inlay techniques. Discover how artisans create intricate items for worship, highly regarded both in and outside Vietnam. Learn about the village's history, from its decline during the US war to its revival in 1983 by artisans Nguyen Chi Dau and Nguyen Duc Cuong. See how the craft is passed down through generations, with over 4,000 craftsmen now regularly engaging in the traditional craft. Watch as artisans choose the right wood, often jackfruit wood, for its flexible, soft, and fibrous characteristics. Observe the meticulous process of painting, polishing, and inlaying silver or gold, depending on customer demands. Witness the most challenging part of the creation: sculpting statues. See how sculptors breathe life into their creations, making them look divine and have the right posture. Admire the traditional altar and worship items inlaid with gold and silver, showcasing the skilled hands of Son Dong villagers. Explore a showroom in Son Dong village, where you can see the finished products, from Buddha statues to carved panels, each embodying spiritual devotion and the essence of Vietnamese culture and artistry. Option HALF DAY Group Tour : Visit 2 Villages: Conical Hat and Incense Craft Village + Train Street (optional) Duration: ~ 6 hours Morning from 7:45~13:30 Afternoon from 11:45~17:30 Discover Vietnamese handicrafts on an immersive, guided tour from Hanoi that will take you to meet a local artisan, discover a historical incense-making village, and learn about the conical hat-making process. Get a unique look at the local culture with this discovery of detailed artisanal crafts. Start with a pickup from Hanoi’s Old Quarter and head to Chuong, a village that has been well-known for the craft of conical hat-making for over 300 years. Get an observe how conical hats are made and decorate a hat by painting it then bring it home as a souvenir. Depart for the Quang Phu Cau village, which has been producing incense for more than 100 years. Take a walk to the center of the village and see how locals make incense on the artisanal, family scale. Meet a family who specializes in dyeing incense sticks. See the next level of incense production with a tour of a nearby factory. Learn how incense is made from scratch and more about the lives of manual workers. Back to the city center. First place for drop off: Hanoi Train Street. If you don't want to get drop off here, please wait in the car.

Includes

Visit to Son Dong craft village Observation of traditional carving and sculpturing Demonstration of gold and silver inlay techniques Interaction with skilled craftsmen Viewing of Buddha statues and worship items 01 free conical hat for painting in the hat village and take it home as a personalized souvenir, both half day and full day option includes painting free hat Some free incense sticks after you made incense sticks yourself Craft your own knife from scratch and take it home as a memorial souvenir Bottled water All entrance fees Professional local tour guide Hotel pickup and drop-off at your hotel in the Hanoi Old Quarter area

Important Information

• Son Dong village is known for its traditional handicrafts The village specializes in wood carving and gilding artistry Artisans create statues without sample models The village is recognized as the largest Buddhist statue carving and worshiping village in Vietnam Products are exported to countries like Japan, South Korea, and Russia

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund