Traditional craft villages in Bac Giang such as: Tho Ha Spring Roll Cake Village, Ke Rice Paper Village, and Da Mai Vermicelli Village,… are attractions that bring many meaningful experiences. Let’s explore to understand more unique cultural features and have wonderful relaxing times.
Bac Giang is located in the Northern midland and mountainous region, this place is famous for its long-standing traditional handicraft villages. The products of these craft villages were initially created not only to serve consumer needs but also to serve the feudal government. Bac Giang’s specialties have been passed down through generations and are famous throughout the country.
Photo: @toplist
Traditional craft villages in Bac Giang are famous
1. Tho Ha spring roll rice paper craft village
- Address: Van Ha commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province.
Tho Ha is an ancient village famous for its beautiful scenery with banyan trees, water wharves, communal courtyards and old houses located close together on small alleys. Village roads and alleys are designed to resemble famous ancient villages such as Duong Lam ancient village and Cu Da village . However, the tourism potential in Tho Ha has not been adequately developed, people only often refer to Tho Ha through the long-standing traditional profession of making spring rolls.
Photo: @hakutehp91
Rice paper rolls create the main brand because of its unique characteristics. This type of cake is naturally white, soft and flexible. When opening the bag to take the cake, you can smell the aroma of rice along with its characteristic chewiness, and is not fragile like many other types of spring rolls. When rolling fried spring rolls, the crust becomes crispy and has a very attractive golden color.
Photo: @dplinh_1805
In Tho Ha banh da village , there are about 200 households producing spring roll banh da. They maintain the profession not only for economic benefits but also because of the desire to preserve the traditions their ancestors have spent decades of time and effort building. With its unique characteristics, currently Tho Ha spring rolls are not only popular in the domestic market but are also exported to many countries such as Taiwan, Korea, Japan,…
Photo: @made_in_dh
In addition, Tho Ha people are also very flexible in learning new occupations. Recently, people in Tho Ha village have also started learning to make rice paper like Ke cake and now the Tho Ha rice paper brand is increasingly developing in the market. If you have the opportunity to come here, remember to buy this product as a gift for friends and relatives. The typical product of Tho Ha Bac Giang craft village will definitely leave a deep impression in everyone’s hearts.
Photo: @thaisontung
2. Tang Tien bamboo and rattan craft village
- Address: Tang Tien commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province.
This traditional craft village in Bac Giang has preserved the beauty of weaving for more than 300 years. Overcoming historical events and competing with bamboo and rattan products from China, the people of Tang Tien village have persistently preserved the traditional craft heritage of their ancestors.
Photo: @mybacgiang
Initially, weaving was just a side job, villagers took advantage of the opportunity to weave a few baskets or baskets when not busy with farming work and sell them at the market. Up to now, bamboo and rattan weaving has become the main occupation of the people in the village, with more than 6,000 skilled workers. The village’s wicker products are increasingly diverse in type, shape and quality are becoming more and more stable.
Photo: @nguonluc
Not only creating household products, people also use their skillful skills to design impressive bags, wallets, pillows, etc. when traveling to Bac Giang . Products from this traditional Bac Giang craft village not only have souvenir value but also become a favorite gift for tourists. Currently, in addition to being known in the domestic market, our products are also exported to: Japan, Korea and Western European countries, …
Photo: @ocop.bacgiang
3. Da Mai vermicelli making village
- Address: Da Mai, Bac Giang.
Bun Da Mai is famous and growing with high quality. The noodles are flexible, cool, not sour and white like tapioca starch. There are 4 main types of vermicelli: vermicelli flakes (leaf vermicelli), tangy vermicelli, vermicelli flakes, vermicelli con ba . Bun Da Mai can be processed into many very attractive dishes, especially bun cha. The vermicelli making profession here has existed since 400 years ago and is one of four ancient vermicelli making villages in the North.
Photo: @bacgiang.gov jpg
This is an elaborate and difficult profession. To create vermicelli products that meet market standards, the people of this famous traditional craft village in Bac Giang must invest not only effort, intelligence, and perseverance but also skillful skills. The vermicelli production process includes many steps:
- First, the rice is soaked in silage water for about 2-3 days.
- Then, the rice is milled or crushed into fine powder and filtered to separate the water.
- This fine powder is rolled into balls of moderate size and boiled until 1/4 of the fruit is cooked.
- Next, the vermicelli balls are prepared by carefully kneading them in a ceramic pot, then only the pureed dough is taken to press into vermicelli noodles.
Photo: @nongthonviet
There are currently 220 households in Da Mai participating in vermicelli production with an output of about 7 tons per day. To honor and preserve this precious vermicelli making profession, on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month every year, villagers organize a vermicelli contest at the village communal house. Vermicelli is evaluated based on its elasticity, white color, shine and lack of sour taste. The prize does not have high material value but is an incentive and encouragement for families who are good at producing vermicelli. At the same time, we also remind families who have not done well to strive to maintain the reputation of Da Mai noodle soup.
Photo: @shopee
4. Linh Son fragrant craft village
This is a fairly new craft village organized by An Son cooperative in Tam Hiep village – An Lap. Although it has only become famous in the last 10 years, Linh Son incense has become known to many people because of its unique aroma. It has long been famous for using resin, cardamom, cinnamon,… to make incense. For that reason, in 2005, a member of An Son cooperative was determined to learn the profession and transfer knowledge to people.
Photo: @toplist
Incense products are made from pure resin in appropriate proportions and are only exposed to sunlight. Therefore, Linh Son incense has a very fragrant smell and when burned, the incense sticks curl up very beautifully. People in the area always consider burning incense to be a beautiful spiritual cultural feature of the Vietnamese people, so each incense stick made is respected and loved by them. Currently, Linh Son incense has spread to many neighboring provinces such as Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen,…
Photo: @toplist
5. Ke Banh Da Village
- Address: Dinh Ke commune, Bac Giang city.
Ke rice cake is a traditional cake that cannot be missed when you visit Bac Giang. Banh da in this village has a very special flavor. The taste of banh da here cannot be confused with anywhere else. The people of this traditional craft village in Bac Giang make banh da all year round, especially during leisure times. Initially, this was a side job, but later became the main job in many families.
Photo: @langngheviet
Ke cake has existed for a long time and is the crystallization of the diligence, ingenuity and sophistication of the people. Although the way to make banh da here seems simple, in reality it is not. The main ingredient to make Ke rice cake is rice. You have to choose good rice, leave it for a long time so that the rice sap turns into a different form, it condenses and dissolves into the white rice grains inside.
Photo: @langngheviet
When enjoying this cake, it has a sweet, crunchy and fragrant flavor. Each crispy piece of rice paper melts in the mouth, creating the feeling of being immersed in the flavors of the homeland, settling into the rhythmic sound each time you chew. The taste of our ancestors’ efforts and legacy, remains forever.
Photo: @ttkhuyencong
6. Chu Thu Duong noodle craft village
- Address: Thu Duong village, Nam Duong commune, Luc Ngan district, Bac Giang.
Currently, Mi Chu Noodles is not only a popular local brand but also, along with lychee, has helped make Luc Ngan a famous destination throughout the country. The characteristics of this type of noodle lie in its natural white color, toughness and unique delicious flavor.
Photo: @dantocphatrien
Luc Ngan people produce noodles using traditional methods, without using preservatives, colorants or borax. And only made on sunny days to ensure quality, delicious taste and the health of consumers. Mi Chu can currently be identified as a government-protected monopoly brand, managed by the Chu Noodle Association (Luc Ngan).
Photo: @khuyennongbacgiang
7. Mai Dinh mulberry growing and silkworm farming village
One of the traditional craft villages in Bac Giang that existed more than 100 years ago. This profession brings a full life to people in times when land is still difficult. Mulberry growing and silkworm rearing require hard work and thoughtfulness from farmers. Normally, only families who regularly have workers at home can do this job.
Photo: @velang
In Mai Thuong, silkworm farmers always support and unite with each other. With just one call, neighbors will come to help as a verbal agreement to help each other when needed. The final step to have a quality product is when the silkworms are making cocoons, the farmer needs to “sun-dry” and “dry” the cocoons so that the cocoons are dry and fragrant so that they do not melt when incubated. This helps create golden silk fibers, which is convenient for the silk reeling process.
Photo: @velang
8. Van village yellow flower sticky rice wine
- Address: Van Xa village, Van Ha commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province.
Van village wine has long become a famous wine line that “intoxicates people’s hearts”. No one knows exactly when Van village wine appeared, only that this is a precious Bac Giang specialty since ancient times, used by kings. Van village wine is made from a traditional yeast and carefully selected ingredients, which are high-quality yellow flower sticky rice.
Photo: @thegioirouviet
With its sweet, aromatic flavor, enjoying Van village wine becomes a delicate experience. For a long time, Van village wine has been appreciated as a wine representing luxury and elegance, serving writers, politicians and intellectuals. It is not surprising that King Le Hy Tong gave Van village wine the title “Van Huong My Tuu” from the 24th year of Chinh Hoa.
Photo: @thegioirouviet
9. Bai Oi carpentry village
- Address: Bai Oi village, Dinh Tri commune, Bac Giang city, Bac Giang province.
This traditional craft village in Bac Giang is located in a convenient location for transportation and near areas with sources of planted wood materials. This village has many conditions for developing civil carpentry production. Bai Oi wooden furniture has attracted many customers in the province due to its good quality and affordable prices. The whole village also has workers who go everywhere to make furniture and build houses for rent.
Photo: @baobacgiang
10. Ngoi village pottery
- Address: Tan Ninh village, Tu Mai commune, Yen Dung district, Bac Giang.
Ngoi village ceramics are still quite new on the market, only appearing in the last ten years. However, Ngoi village pottery has quickly built its own reputation thanks to its uniqueness, simplicity, authenticity as well as the two special colors “earth bone” and “melon juice glaze”.
Photo: @danviet
Different from Bat Trang, which only uses paint and decoration, or Phu Lang, which only uses enamel; Ngoi village pottery is decorated with creative embossed patterns on brown ceramic material, a feature that the artists created themselves. Ngoi village’s ceramic products have the folk style and unique cultural spirit of the village. Come to Bac Giang tourist destination to see ceramic products or wall paintings that attract with simplicity, rusticity, intimacy but are extremely unique in decorative patterns and expressions.
Photo: @diemdenantoan.saigontiepthi
Despite facing market competition and the risk of extinction, people in traditional craft villages in Bac Giang still “keep the fire” of their craft from fading away. Visiting traditional craft villages, you will better understand the values left by your ancestors and love the rustic culture of this land.
Photo,Video: Internet (Vinlove.net)