Da Nang is often associated with beaches, mountains, and modern attractions, but some of its most rewarding experiences lie beyond the city skyline. Across the expanded Da Nang municipality, centuries-old craft villages continue to preserve skills passed down through generations — from carving marble and brewing fish sauce to shaping pottery, weaving silk, and growing organic herbs.
For travelers, these villages provide opportunities to:
What to experience: The fermentation process, meeting local producers, and buying bottles directly from family-run workshops. Early morning is also a good time to explore the surrounding fishing village and coastal scenery.
Best for: food lovers, culinary experiences, buying authentic fish sauce, exploring a traditional fishing village.
Heritage note: Nam O fish sauce–making, spanning Hoa Hiep Nam and Hoa Hiep Bac wards, was officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Vietnam by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Decision No. 2974/QĐ-BVHTTDL, August 27, 2019).
What to experience: Watching families prepare rice batter, spread thin sheets onto cloth steamers, dry them in the sun, and grill the finished paper over charcoal. Some households offer tastings alongside traditional dipping sauces and Mi Quang.
Best for: food enthusiasts, traditional cooking, cultural photography, local culinary experiences.
Because production is mostly carried out in household workshops rather than a commercial visitor complex, Cam Ne is best visited through a local contact or community-based tour. Ask before entering a private workspace, and avoid photographing artisans without permission.
Best for: traditional Vietnamese mats and hand weaving
Production combines rice-flour preparation, steaming, cutting, drying, and roasting or coating. Some producers now use modern equipment, though the product remains tied to local food heritage.
Best for: local snacks and edible souvenirs
Buying tip: Choose sealed packages with a production and expiry date. The crackers break easily, so pack them in a hard-sided part of your luggage.
What to experience: Watching potters transform clay into jars, bowls, vases, and decorative figures using only their hands and a simple rotating platform. Many workshops let visitors try shaping clay themselves — one of the most interactive experiences near Da Nang. Just outside the village, Thanh Ha Terracotta Park displays ceramic replicas of famous landmarks along with exhibitions on the history of pottery.
Best for: pottery workshops, families with children, handmade souvenirs, photography
What to experience: Farming activities such as preparing soil, watering crops with traditional shoulder yokes, and harvesting herbs. Cooking classes often begin with a garden walk before teaching guests to prepare dishes like banh xeo, fresh spring rolls, or cao lau. Cycling through the quiet village lanes is another popular way to enjoy the countryside.
Best for: farm experiences, cooking classes, cycling, families
What to experience: Family workshops where artisans carve furniture, statues, decorative panels, and wooden souvenirs, sometimes demonstrating traditional carving methods. Cycling to the village or taking a short boat ride across the river adds to the experience.
Best for: traditional woodworking, cultural photography, handmade wood products, quiet countryside
What to experience: How bamboo is bent into delicate frames before being covered in brightly colored silk. Many workshops offer lantern-making classes where participants create their own lantern to take home — a popular activity for all ages.
Best for: hands-on workshops, families, photography, souvenir making
What to experience: Guided tours through each stage of silk production, weaving workshops with traditional wooden looms still in operation, and gardens, historic houses, and boutique shops selling locally produced silk.
Best for: textile enthusiasts, cultural learning, shopping for quality silk, educational visits
Best for: bronze bells, gongs, ritual objects, traditional musical instruments
This is a working industrial craft environment — wear closed shoes, keep away from hot surfaces, and follow the workshop's safety instructions.
Ma Chau is farther from central Da Nang than the Hoi An villages, so it's most practical for travelers planning a wider cultural route through the former Quang Nam countryside.
Best for: reed mats, rural photography, traditional weaving
This is a more authentic countryside experience than a commercial souvenir center. Production may be seasonal or concentrated in particular households, so arranging a local introduction is useful.
Best for: Cơ Tu textiles, indigenous culture, handwoven brocade
Join a hands-on workshop. Popular options include pottery-making at Thanh Ha, lantern-crafting in Hoi An, a cooking and farming class at Tra Que, and learning about fish sauce production in Nam O. Book ahead during weekends and peak travel seasons.
Buy directly from local artisans. Purchasing from family-run workshops or cooperatives helps support local communities and ensures authentic, handmade products — and artisans are often happy to explain their craft and its history.
Bring cash for small purchases. Larger workshops may accept digital payments, but many family businesses and rural villages still prefer cash, especially for handmade souvenirs and local food.
Dress comfortably. Most villages are explored on foot, sometimes with short walks along village lanes or gardens. Lightweight clothing, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a hat are recommended, especially in warmer months.
Respect local communities. These are working villages, not open-air museums. Ask permission before photographing artisans or entering workshops, and avoid handling tools or unfinished products unless invited.
Thanks to the expanded administrative boundaries, many of Central Vietnam's most celebrated craft villages are now within easy reach of downtown Da Nang. Whether you have a few hours or several days, exploring these villages offers a meaningful way to experience the region's living heritage while supporting the artisans who keep these traditions alive.
For first-time visitors, Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, Thanh Ha Pottery Village, and Tra Que Vegetable Village provide an excellent introduction to Da Nang's cultural heritage. If time allows, adding Kim Bong Carpentry Village and Nam O Fish Sauce Village rounds out a journey through the craftsmanship, cuisine, and traditions that have shaped this region for generations.
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Sources:
Since July 1, 2025, Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province have been combined into a single, centrally governed Da Nang City. The expanded municipality now includes the former urban districts of Da Nang alongside Hoi An, Dien Ban, Duy Xuyen, Nam Giang, Nong Son, and other parts of what used to be Quang Nam. For travelers, this creates one much larger cultural destination — meaning you can combine Da Nang's landmarks with craft villages around Hoi An and the wider countryside in a single trip, without crossing a provincial border.
This guide is organized by distance and travel logistics from central Da Nang, since that's how most visitors actually plan their route: villages inside the city, villages around Hoi An, and villages farther into the countryside that require a dedicated trip. We cover the 14 villages with the strongest tourism appeal in full detail, then group smaller or lesser-known craft communities into two shorter reference sections for travelers with extra time.
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| Thanh Ha Pottery Village – A traditional craft village known for its handmade pottery in Hoi An |
At a Glance: Best Traditional Villages in Da Nang
How many traditional villages does Da Nang have?
Da Nang has dozens of small craft and agricultural villages spread across the expanded municipality, but a much smaller number stand out for real tourism infrastructure and international recognition — the 14 covered in detail below, plus a handful of smaller sites for travelers with more time.
Why Visit Traditional Villages in Da Nang?
Traditional villages offer a completely different perspective on Da Nang than its beaches or resorts. Many of these communities have existed for hundreds of years, preserving techniques still practiced by local families today. Instead of viewing finished products in a museum, you'll often see artisans carving stone by hand, weaving reed mats, firing pottery in wood-burning kilns, or preparing fish sauce using methods that have changed little over the centuries.
For travelers, these villages provide opportunities to:
- Meet local artisans and learn about their craft.
- Join pottery, lantern-making, or cooking workshops.
- Purchase authentic handmade souvenirs directly from producers.
- Taste regional specialties made using traditional recipes.
- Support local communities and help preserve cultural heritage.
Traditional Villages in Da Nang City
These villages sit within the urban area or only a short drive from the city center, making them easy to explore in half a day.
1. Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village
Located at the foot of the Marble Mountains, Non Nuoc is Da Nang's most famous traditional craft village. Established more than 400 years ago, it has become one of Vietnam's leading centers for stone sculpture, with generations of artisans transforming marble and limestone into intricate works of art.
Marble extraction from the nearby Marble Mountains is now restricted to protect the landscape, so local workshops work with responsibly sourced stone from other regions while preserving the village's traditional carving techniques.
Marble extraction from the nearby Marble Mountains is now restricted to protect the landscape, so local workshops work with responsibly sourced stone from other regions while preserving the village's traditional carving techniques.
What to see: Workshops where craftsmen carve statues, Buddhist figures, decorative sculptures, and architectural ornaments entirely by hand. Many family-run businesses welcome visitors to observe the process and browse finished pieces, from small souvenirs to large commissioned artworks. The Marble Mountains themselves — with their caves, pagodas, and viewpoints — are right next door, making it easy to combine both stops.
Best for: watching artisans at work, shopping for stone sculptures, photography, pairing with the Marble Mountains.
Recommended visit: 1.5–2 hours
Travel tip: Ask whether a product is made from local marble, another type of stone, or a composite material. Confirm price, weight, packaging, and delivery fee before buying a large piece.
2. Nam O Fish Sauce Village
Long before Da Nang became a popular beach destination, the fishing community of Nam O was already known throughout Central Vietnam for premium fish sauce. Unlike industrial fish sauce, Nam O's version is made from black anchovies caught in nearby waters and naturally fermented with sea salt in large wooden barrels over many months, producing a rich, deeply flavored condiment prized by local chefs and home cooks.
What to experience: The fermentation process, meeting local producers, and buying bottles directly from family-run workshops. Early morning is also a good time to explore the surrounding fishing village and coastal scenery.
Best for: food lovers, culinary experiences, buying authentic fish sauce, exploring a traditional fishing village.
Recommended visit: 1–2 hours
Heritage note: Nam O fish sauce–making, spanning Hoa Hiep Nam and Hoa Hiep Bac wards, was officially recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of Vietnam by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Decision No. 2974/QĐ-BVHTTDL, August 27, 2019).
3. Tuy Loan Rice Paper Village
Tuy Loan Ancient Village is one of the oldest settlements in the Da Nang area, and its rice paper-making tradition remains central to local food culture. It's particularly known for rice paper used in Mi Quang and fresh spring rolls, grilled over charcoal for a crisp texture and subtle smoky aroma rather than simply sun-dried.
What to experience: Watching families prepare rice batter, spread thin sheets onto cloth steamers, dry them in the sun, and grill the finished paper over charcoal. Some households offer tastings alongside traditional dipping sauces and Mi Quang.
Best for: food enthusiasts, traditional cooking, cultural photography, local culinary experiences.
Recommended visit: 1.5 hours
4. Cam Ne Mat-Weaving Village
Cam Ne is associated with floral mat weaving using reeds and other natural materials to create sleeping mats and decorative woven products. The process involves careful fiber preparation, color coordination, and repeated hand weaving into patterns that range from florals to geometric motifs.
Because production is mostly carried out in household workshops rather than a commercial visitor complex, Cam Ne is best visited through a local contact or community-based tour. Ask before entering a private workspace, and avoid photographing artisans without permission.
Best for: traditional Vietnamese mats and hand weaving
Recommended visit: 1 hour
5. Cam Le Sesame Rice-Cracker Craft
Cam Le is associated with banh kho me, a crunchy sesame rice cracker made from rice flour, sugar, ginger, and sesame — one of the best-known traditional snack products connected with the Da Nang area. The finished crackers are light, crisp, sesame-coated, slightly sweet, and often flavored with ginger, making them a convenient edible souvenir.
Production combines rice-flour preparation, steaming, cutting, drying, and roasting or coating. Some producers now use modern equipment, though the product remains tied to local food heritage.
Best for: local snacks and edible souvenirs
Recommended visit: 45 minutes
Buying tip: Choose sealed packages with a production and expiry date. The crackers break easily, so pack them in a hard-sided part of your luggage.
Traditional Villages Around Hoi An
With Hoi An now part of the expanded Da Nang municipality, several of Vietnam's most celebrated craft villages are within an easy day trip from the city center. These villages sit close to one another, so it's realistic to visit two or three in a single day before exploring Hoi An Ancient Town in the evening.
6. Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Founded more than 500 years ago along the Thu Bon River, Thanh Ha is one of Vietnam's oldest ceramic villages. Once a major pottery supplier for Central Vietnam, it continues to rely entirely on hand-shaping rather than wheels or industrial molds.
What to experience: Watching potters transform clay into jars, bowls, vases, and decorative figures using only their hands and a simple rotating platform. Many workshops let visitors try shaping clay themselves — one of the most interactive experiences near Da Nang. Just outside the village, Thanh Ha Terracotta Park displays ceramic replicas of famous landmarks along with exhibitions on the history of pottery.
Best for: pottery workshops, families with children, handmade souvenirs, photography
Recommended visit: 2–3 hours
Is it worth visiting?
Yes, particularly if you enjoy hands-on activities — a pottery workshop tends to be more memorable than simply browsing finished products.
7. Tra Que Vegetable Village
A few kilometers from Hoi An Ancient Town, Tra Que has supplied fresh herbs and vegetables to local restaurants for centuries. Many families still fertilize crops with nutrient-rich seaweed collected from nearby lagoons instead of chemical fertilizer, producing the aromatic herbs found in many of Hoi An's signature dishes.
What to experience: Farming activities such as preparing soil, watering crops with traditional shoulder yokes, and harvesting herbs. Cooking classes often begin with a garden walk before teaching guests to prepare dishes like banh xeo, fresh spring rolls, or cao lau. Cycling through the quiet village lanes is another popular way to enjoy the countryside.
Best for: farm experiences, cooking classes, cycling, families
Recommended visit: 2–3 hours
8. Kim Bong Carpentry Village
Across the Thu Bon River from Hoi An Ancient Town, Kim Bong has produced fine woodwork for more than 600 years. During Hoi An's golden age as an international trading port, local craftsmen built merchant houses, temples, bridges, and wooden ships — skills still practiced today.
What to experience: Family workshops where artisans carve furniture, statues, decorative panels, and wooden souvenirs, sometimes demonstrating traditional carving methods. Cycling to the village or taking a short boat ride across the river adds to the experience.
Best for: traditional woodworking, cultural photography, handmade wood products, quiet countryside
Recommended visit: 1.5–2 hours
9. Hoi An Lantern-Making Community
The colorful lanterns hanging throughout Hoi An's Ancient Town are one of Vietnam's most recognizable cultural symbols. Behind them are generations of artisans who still handcraft silk lanterns using bamboo frames and centuries-old techniques. Workshops are spread across Hoi An rather than concentrated in one historic village, but together they represent one of the region's best-known crafts.
What to experience: How bamboo is bent into delicate frames before being covered in brightly colored silk. Many workshops offer lantern-making classes where participants create their own lantern to take home — a popular activity for all ages.
Best for: hands-on workshops, families, photography, souvenir making
Recommended visit: 1–2 hours
10. Hoi An Silk Village
Hoi An Silk Village celebrates the region's long history of sericulture and weaving, recreating the full journey of silk production — from cultivating mulberry trees and raising silkworms to spinning thread and weaving finished fabric. It also houses exhibitions on Vietnam's diverse textile traditions and ethnic costumes.
What to experience: Guided tours through each stage of silk production, weaving workshops with traditional wooden looms still in operation, and gardens, historic houses, and boutique shops selling locally produced silk.
Best for: textile enthusiasts, cultural learning, shopping for quality silk, educational visits
Recommended visit: 1.5–2 hours
Further-Afield Villages in the Countryside
These four villages carry real historical weight but sit farther from central Da Nang, so they're best planned as a dedicated trip rather than an add-on to a Hoi An day.
11. Phuoc Kieu Bronze-Casting Village
Active since the 17th century, Phuoc Kieu (in the former Dien Ban area) is renowned for bronze casting — gongs, temple bells, ceremonial instruments, and religious objects used throughout Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands. A workshop visit may reveal alloy preparation, molten metal pouring, mold shaping, finishing, and the tuning of gongs and bells.
Best for: bronze bells, gongs, ritual objects, traditional musical instruments
This is a working industrial craft environment — wear closed shoes, keep away from hot surfaces, and follow the workshop's safety instructions.
12. Ma Chau Silk Village
Ma Chau, in the former Duy Xuyen area, has long been connected with silk production; the wider Thu Bon River region once supported mulberry cultivation, silkworm raising, and silk trading linked to Hoi An's historic commercial network. Its textile traditions include silk thread preparation, hand weaving, dyeing, garment production, and decorative textiles.
Best for: textile history, silk products, rural weaving traditions
Ma Chau is farther from central Da Nang than the Hoi An villages, so it's most practical for travelers planning a wider cultural route through the former Quang Nam countryside.
13. Ban Thach Mat-Weaving Village
Also in the former Duy Xuyen area, Ban Thach is known for woven mats made from sedge and other natural fibers — both plain mats and patterned products, with detailed designs requiring considerable time and concentration.
Best for: reed mats, rural photography, traditional weaving
This is a more authentic countryside experience than a commercial souvenir center. Production may be seasonal or concentrated in particular households, so arranging a local introduction is useful.
14. Zara Brocade Weaving Village
Zara is associated with Cơ Tu communities in the former Nam Giang area, deep in the western highlands. Its artisans produce handwoven textiles — scarves, bags, wallets, clothing, and decorative panels — featuring geometric designs and strong colors that reflect Cơ Tu cultural identity, a distinct tradition from the lowland Kinh-majority craft villages elsewhere on this list.
Best for: Cơ Tu textiles, indigenous culture, handwoven brocade
Can I visit Zara as a day trip?
It may be possible, but Zara is much farther from central Da Nang than the Hoi An villages. The journey is best planned with private transport and advance local arrangements. Buy directly from artisans or community cooperatives when possible, and ask about the meaning of patterns before treating them as simple decoration — this is a living cultural tradition, not a display.
Smaller Craft Villages for Dedicated Enthusiasts
Beyond the 14 villages above, several smaller communities have real cultural and historical significance but limited English-language infrastructure or international recognition — better suited to travelers with a specific interest than a general first-time visit.
- Lam Yen Drum-Making Village (Duy Xuyen/Dai Loc) — traditional festival and performance drums.
- Duy Trinh Weaving Village (Duy Xuyen) — traditional woven fabric and garments.
- Triem Tay Woven Mat Village (Dien Ban) — finely patterned mats, smaller-scale than Ban Thach.
- Thach Tan Sedge Mat Village — one of the few villages still growing its own raw sedge on-site.
- Phu Loc Incense Village — considered the oldest continuously operating incense-making village in the region.
- Hoa Son Split-Stone Village (Hoa Vang) — supplies natural split stone for construction and landscaping.
- Da Nang Shrimp Paste (Mam Ruoc) Making — a coastal tradition spread across several fishing communities rather than one fixed village.
Agricultural & Eco Villages
Less about craft, more about landscape and produce — good for travelers who want a slower, nature-focused stop between craft visits.
- Dai Binh Fruit Village — an agro-ecological tourism spot built around native fruit orchards.
- Cam Ha Kumquat & Ornamental Plant Village (Hoi An area) — cultivates kumquat trees and ornamental plants, mainly for the Tet (Lunar New Year) market.
- An My Agricultural Village (Cam Chau area) — a farming community developing eco-tourism and hands-on farm experiences.
- Trung Phuoc / Que Trung Agarwood Village (Non Son area) — processes agarwood into incense and handicrafts; part craft, part agricultural forestry.
How to Plan a Traditional Village Itinerary
One day from central Da Nang
- Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village and the Marble Mountains in the morning.
- Nam O Fish Sauce Village if you're interested in coastal food heritage.
- Return to the city for a meal featuring fish sauce, Mi Quang, or banh trang.
One day around Hoi An
- Tra Que Vegetable Village in the morning.
- Thanh Ha Pottery Village after lunch.
- Hoi An Silk Village or a lantern workshop in the afternoon.
- Kim Bong Carpentry Village, if time permits.
- Hoi An Ancient Town in the evening.
Two days for the wider countryside
Add Phuoc Kieu bronze casting, Ma Chau silk weaving, Ban Thach mat weaving, Zara Brocade Village, and rural food and orchard communities around the Thu Bon River. These farther destinations require more planning — private car hire is usually more practical than public buses, especially for workshops that operate at irregular hours.
Practical Tips for Visiting Traditional Villages in Da Nang
Visit during working hours. Most artisans start in the morning, so 8:00 AM–11:00 AM is the best window to see traditional crafts in action. Many family businesses slow down or close for a midday break before reopening in the afternoon.
Join a hands-on workshop. Popular options include pottery-making at Thanh Ha, lantern-crafting in Hoi An, a cooking and farming class at Tra Que, and learning about fish sauce production in Nam O. Book ahead during weekends and peak travel seasons.
Buy directly from local artisans. Purchasing from family-run workshops or cooperatives helps support local communities and ensures authentic, handmade products — and artisans are often happy to explain their craft and its history.
Bring cash for small purchases. Larger workshops may accept digital payments, but many family businesses and rural villages still prefer cash, especially for handmade souvenirs and local food.
Dress comfortably. Most villages are explored on foot, sometimes with short walks along village lanes or gardens. Lightweight clothing, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and a hat are recommended, especially in warmer months.
Respect local communities. These are working villages, not open-air museums. Ask permission before photographing artisans or entering workshops, and avoid handling tools or unfinished products unless invited.
Frequently Asked Questions About Da Nang Traditional Craft Villages
What is the most famous traditional village in Da Nang?
Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village is the city's best-known traditional craft village, famous for its marble sculptures and centuries-old carving tradition. Thanh Ha Pottery Village and Tra Que Vegetable Village, a short day trip away, are also among the region's most popular cultural attractions.
Which traditional villages are closest to Da Nang city center?
The easiest to visit without spending a full day traveling are Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village (about 15 minutes), Nam O Fish Sauce Village (about 20 minutes), and Tuy Loan Rice Paper Village (about 30 minutes).
Can I visit Hoi An's craft villages from Da Nang?
Yes. Most of Hoi An's traditional villages are 40–50 minutes from central Da Nang by car, making them ideal for a half-day or full-day excursion. Many visitors combine Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Tra Que Vegetable Village, and Kim Bong Carpentry Village with a visit to Hoi An Ancient Town.
Which villages offer hands-on workshops?
Thanh Ha Pottery Village (pottery-making), Hoi An Lantern Village (lantern-making classes), Tra Que Vegetable Village (farming and cooking experiences), and Hoi An Silk Village (silk-weaving demonstrations) — all suitable for adults and children.
Which traditional village is best for food culture?
Tuy Loan for rice-paper traditions, Nam O for fish sauce, and Tra Que for herbs and agricultural experiences. The best choice depends on whether you prefer watching production, tasting, or hands-on farm activities.
Are these villages open every day?
There's no single opening schedule across all traditional villages. Commercial visitor sites usually publish set hours, but family workshops and agricultural communities may operate according to production cycles, weather, and local availability.
How many days do I need to explore Da Nang's traditional villages?
Allow one day for villages near central Da Nang, one day for the Hoi An craft zone, and at least two more days if you want to include remote destinations like Phuoc Kieu, Ma Chau, Ban Thach, or Zara.
Final Thoughts
Da Nang's traditional villages reveal a side of the region that many visitors overlook. Beyond the beaches and modern attractions, these communities continue to preserve centuries-old skills — from carving marble and weaving silk to making pottery, fish sauce, and handcrafted lanterns.
Thanks to the expanded administrative boundaries, many of Central Vietnam's most celebrated craft villages are now within easy reach of downtown Da Nang. Whether you have a few hours or several days, exploring these villages offers a meaningful way to experience the region's living heritage while supporting the artisans who keep these traditions alive.
For first-time visitors, Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, Thanh Ha Pottery Village, and Tra Que Vegetable Village provide an excellent introduction to Da Nang's cultural heritage. If time allows, adding Kim Bong Carpentry Village and Nam O Fish Sauce Village rounds out a journey through the craftsmanship, cuisine, and traditions that have shaped this region for generations.
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Sources:
https://vhttcs.org.vn/report.aspx?sitepageid=659&id=13
https://www.facebook.com/langnghequangnam/
https://danviet.vn/nhung-nghe-nao-o-quang-nam-duoc-cong-nhan-nghe-truyen-thong-nam-2024-20241209144139837-d1199360.html
https://www.facebook.com/langnghequangnam/
https://danviet.vn/nhung-nghe-nao-o-quang-nam-duoc-cong-nhan-nghe-truyen-thong-nam-2024-20241209144139837-d1199360.html
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