Top 6 craft villages in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam
The Mekong Delta (also known as the Western region) is a vast area of Vietnam with a dense network of rivers and streams, primarily producing high-quality agricultural products for domestic consumption and export. In addition, the Mekong Delta is home to traditional craft villages that have been operating for hundreds of years, creating distinctive products and preserving the local traditional culture. Here are the top 6 most famous craft villages in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam.
To explore the Mekong Delta region, please check out the tour: Discover Mekong in Style – 7 Day
Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Village – Kien Giang
Phu Quoc fish sauce is currently a famous brand in Vietnam. The fish sauce village in Phu Quoc was established about 200 years ago, where premium fish sauce is produced using fresh anchovies caught in the local waters.
If you visit Phu Quoc, you can buy a ticket to tour this craft village, where you will have the opportunity to enter the production facilities and learn about the process of making various types of fish sauce.
Some Phu Quoc fish sauce brands:
Khai Hoan Fish Sauce Address: No. 11, Hung Vuong Bridge, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc
Thinh Phat Fish Sauce Address: 30th Street, neighborhood 1, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc
Hung Thinh Fish Sauce Address: 219 Thirty April Street, Duong Dong town, Phu Quoc
Sa Dec Flower Village – Dong Thap
Sa Dec Flower Village was established in the late 19th century, about 140 km from Saigon, covering more than 300 hectares. This area cultivates about 2,000 species of flowers and plants. It is the largest flower-growing area in the Mekong Delta, with products not only sold domestically but also for export.
Visiting Sa Dec Flower Village in Dong Thap, you will be overwhelmed by the vibrant and colorful scenery of countless flower species and the scale of this area. The best time to visit is during spring, where you can tour the craft village, take photos, and buy flowers to take home. Near Sa Dec Flower Village, there are also many other famous tourist spots like the ancient house of Mr. Nguyen Sinh Sac, Huynh Thuy Le’s ancient house, and Kim Hue Pagoda.
Mat Weaving Craft Village – Ca Mau
Mat weaving is one of the longstanding crafts in Ca Mau, existing for hundreds of years. Through many developmental phases, Ca Mau mats have become a quality brand of Vietnam. Crafting a mat requires meticulous, patient work, and artisans often innovate the patterns on the mats to keep them fresh.
Despite competition from many other brands, Ca Mau mats still maintain their position and trust among customers.
Read more: Top 8 Floating Markets in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Leaf Hat Weaving Village – Can Tho
You might have seen images of a Vietnamese woman wearing a hat, which is the product that the Leaf Hat Weaving Village in Can Tho has been making for hundreds of years.
Visiting this craft village, you will learn about the process of making a leaf hat. You’ll get insights into the lives of the locals and check-in with products you might craft yourself. Making a hat is a lengthy process involving several stages from frame making, rimming, leaf weaving, to hat finishing… All require skill and precision. Once completed, the hat is coated with a layer of glossy oil mixed with gasoline to waterproof and enhance the durability and sheen of the product.
Read more: Cai Rang Floating Market, Can Tho: Discover the Unique Culture of the Waterways
Silk Village of Tan Chau – An Giang
Speaking of silk crafts in the Western region, people often recall the Tan Chau Silk Village in An Giang Province. The traditional silk craft in Tan Chau was established in the early 20th century. The famous product from this village is named Lanh My A, renowned for its softness, strength, durability, and high moisture absorption. Lanh My A is made from natural silk, which gives it both artistic and economic value and makes it environmentally friendly.
Read more: Vinh Long, Vietnam: Best 5 Places to Visit
Dry Banana Craft Village – Ca Mau
The traditional dry banana pressing craft is mainly concentrated in Tran Hoi and Khanh Hung communes, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province. This area is one of the localities with a long-standing banana cultivation tradition and is the largest source of raw bananas in Ca Mau province. This craft village is located near the Hon Da Bac national historical site and is about 30 km from the center of Ca Mau city.
In the Tran Van Thoi dry banana pressing village, not every family makes a living from this work. Some households consider this their main job, while others choose to farm rice, fish, or aquaculture as their primary occupation, only starting the dry banana pressing work in the last months of the year to serve the Tet season. Therefore, if you want to visit and learn about this craft village and experience the diligent working atmosphere of the locals, you should come between October and December.
Vung Thom Pia Cake Production Village – Soc Trang
According to many long-time artisans at the Vung Thom Pia Cake Village, this dish has been present here since the 17th century, initially as a staple food helping the locals survive famine days. Later, as life stabilized, the cake was reformulated to suit the tastes of Vietnamese people. Today, like other traditional craft villages in Soc Trang, it is increasingly developing and modernizing. Therefore, the Pia cake production lines have also been upgraded with modern machinery, meeting food safety and hygiene standards.
Pia cakes taste best when enjoyed with tea, the bitterness of the tea enhancing the deliciousness of the cake. A distinctive feature of Vung Thom Pia cakes, and Soc Trang in general, is that they are made without artificial flavors, created from the best green beans and durian fruit.
Learn more about: 12 Best Places to Visit in Vietnam
Conclusion
The longstanding craft villages always contain unique cultural and historical traits of the local area, and it is worthwhile to spend time visiting such villages in the Mekong Delta. Besides touring and shopping for products, you also get to meet local people and experience how the products are made. All these factors will make your trip to Vietnam more meaningful and complete.
