If you love culture and enjoy experiences, come to Hanoi. Here, you will visit and experience many cultural discovery activities in traditional craft villages such as Van Phuc Silk Village, and Bat Trang Pottery Village,... One of the craft villages that cannot be missed is Quang Phu Cau sticky incense village - the oldest craft village in Hanoi.
1. Introduction about Quang Phu Cau sticky incense village
Quang Phu Cau sticky incense village is a traditional Vietnamese craft village in Ung Hoa district, located about 35 km from the center of Hanoi. The village is famous for its unique incense-making process and long-standing, that is passed down from one generation to another. The people here have preserved and promoted craft village traditions by harmoniously combining them to create the most unique incense bouquets. Quang Phu Cau sticky incense village is a famous tourist destination and is also where villagers continue to practice their traditional craft. The village is a great place to learn more about Vietnamese culture.
2. What’s unique about Quang Phu Cau Incense Village?
The main ingredients for making incense are indispensable bamboo, wood, sandalwood, and essential oils. Villagers use a special sticky glue to stick the ingredients together, then the incense is dried. Sticky rice incense is used to produce incense because it has the ability to burn deeply and radiate fragrance. It is often used in temples or lit in every home. Quang Phu Cau sticky incense village is one of the few places in Vietnam that still produces this traditional type of incense.
Incense sticks are made from a blend of bamboo, sandalwood, and essential oils. The ingredients are mixed together using a sticky substance called "glue", made from local tree bark. This mixture is then rolled into thin bars and dried in the sun. This makes the incense burn longer than traditional incense.
One of the things that makes Quang Phu Cau's sticky incense village unique is the way incense is dried. Incense sticks are often arranged in elaborate patterns on the ground, creating a truly beautiful sight. Everywhere you look, there are large courtyards. In the bright yellow sunlight, they are decorated with huge bouquets of colorful incense sticks. People dry incense in empty lots, shared spaces, and courtyards, creating a beautiful scene.
3. Travel Tips & Important Notes
a. The ideal time to explore this village
A great time to explore Quang Phu Cau sticky incense village in Hanoi is during the summer, lasting from May to September. During this season, the climate is wonderful with sunny days, creating the perfect environment for the incense drying process. On these days, drying incense is one of the main tasks in incense production. The bouquets of incense look like giant flowers under the bright sunlight. The village comes alive with vibrant colors as the streets are decorated with gracefully shaped dried incense sticks.
Another special time to immerse yourself in the charming beauty of Quang Phu Cau is during the Lunar New Year. Around this time, when incense production developed and millions of fragrant incense sticks were dried on the streets, Quang Phu Cau was the place with the most spectacular scenery for tourists to visit and take beautiful photos... This festival sees a surge in incense production, and the entire village turns into a picturesque sea of red and pink as countless fragrant incense sticks are meticulously displayed on the streets.
b. How to get there?
There are a few different ways to get to this Hanoi Incense Village. You can travel by motorbike, car or bus...
- By motorbike or car: From the center of Hanoi, go straight along National Highway 21B and Provincial Road 429 to Quang Phu Cau.
If you are adventurous or like freedom and flexibility, a motorbike or car will be a great choice for you to explore the area at your own pace, Don't forget to be very careful because traffic conditions in Vietnam can sometimes make it a bit difficult for you.
- By bus: Go to Yen Nghia bus station and take bus No. 91 to Quang Phu Cau.
Quang Phu Cau is not very well-connected to public transportation, except for bus 91. So, it's a good idea to check the schedules and routes carefully before you go. It takes only 45 minutes to get there. It's also a good idea to bring a map or download a navigation app because the village is not well signposted.
c. Suggest some outfits
- Comfortable shoes: You will be doing a lot of walking while visiting the village, so it is important to choose comfortable shoes. Avoid wearing sandals or flip-flops, as the ground can be uneven and there may be sharp objects on the ground.
- Clothing that covers your shoulders and knees: This is a sign of respect for Vietnamese culture. You can wear skirts or shorts, but make sure that they cover your knees. You can also wear a scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders.
- A hat and sunglasses: The sun can be quite strong in Vietnam, so it is important to protect yourself from the sun. Bring a hat and sunglasses to protect your head and eyes.
4. Some important tips for your trip
The ticket entrance fee for Quang Phu Cau sticky incense village Hanoi is 50,000 VND (approximately $2.5 USD) per person. This fee includes everything in the village, such as check-in, the incense workshops, and drying incense sticks...
Respect the locals and their culture & environment. This includes dressing appropriately asking permission before taking photos, and not littering or damaging the property of the villagers...
Purchase some incense sticks to support the local community. This fee includes everything in the village, such as the incense workshops, drying incense sticks, and food stalls.
Try some of the local food: The village has many restaurants that serve Vietnamese food such as banh cuon (steamed rice rolls) and bun cha (grilled pork with noodles).
We hope this guide has been helpful and your journey to this exquisite destination promises to be a memorable and captivating experience.
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