Van Phuc Silk Village
Van Phuc Village is Vietnam’s oldest silk village dating back more than a thousand years. With its product said to be the country’s finest, the village is also a great place to stock up on fabric, pre-made clothing and scarves at prices slightly cheaper than in central Hanoi.
Positioned on the banks of Nhue Thi River, the village is now home to 1,280 households, 90% of whom are involved in silk production and business with production of more than 2 million meters of silk per year.
Van Phuc Silk Village
Silk in the making
A highlight of a visit to Van Phuc will be an opportunity to see the old looms in operation. The silk is made by very simple looms, which is the genuinely traditional Vietnamese way of making silk. While some basic technology has been introduced to the process in recent years, there’s still plenty of manual labour in Van Phuc’s silk production processes.
Making Silk Process
Ideal place for silk products & souvenirs
There are an initially bewildering array of silk products, from raw materials, to garments, and a myriad of silk accessories. The local silk is known for its smooth and lightweight appearance, and qualities that enable it to be dyed more colors to suit a variety of skin tones. Should you intend to have a silk pair of formal clothes made, just come here to select your suitable materials, and any shopkeeper in Van Phuc Village can tell how much material you need.
To reach Van Phuc village, you should travel south west out of Ha Noi on Nguyen Trai Street until they reach the border of Ha Dong District. Then turn right and dive for about 3km. The village is on the left, some 8 km from central Hanoi.
