Thuy Xuan Incense Village is a must-see destination when visiting Hue, Vietnam. This traditional craft village boasts a unique, colorful setting and offers an array of fascinating experiences. Below, HueTransferService.com shares everything you need to know for a memorable visit to Thuy Xuan Incense Village.
Introduction to Thuy Xuan Incense Village, Hue
- Address: 84 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, Thuy Xuan District, Hue City
Famous as the largest incense village in Hue today, Thuy Xuan Incense Village rests peacefully along Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, about 7–8 km from the city center. It is also conveniently close to two other popular attractions in Hue: Tu Duc Tomb and Vong Canh Hill.
With a history spanning over 700 years since the Nguyen Dynasty, Thuy Xuan Incense Village was once the main supplier of incense for the imperial court, local officials, and residents in the Thuan Hoa and Phu Xuan areas. Despite many ups and downs over the centuries, Thuy Xuan Incense Village has endured. Generations of artisans have preserved the tradition of crafting incense, producing delicately fragrant incense sticks that serve the spiritual life of locals and nearby communities.
How to Get to Thuy Xuan Incense Village
Thuy Xuan Incense Village is located close to Hue city center, making it easy for visitors to reach. The main transportation options commonly used by travelers exploring Hue are motorbikes, private cars, and taxis.
If you choose to go by motorbike, follow this route: Hue Imperial City – Doan Thi Diem Street – Phu Xuan Bridge – Dien Bien Phu Street – Ngo Cat Street – Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street. It’s best to use Google Maps for guidance. Once you’re on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, you’ll see incense shops lining both sides of the road. Continue a bit further, and you’ll arrive at the famous Thuy Xuan Incense Village.
You can rent motorbikes from shops around Hue city center for convenience during your stay. Daily rental rates typically range from 120,000 VND to 150,000 VND depending on the type of bike (manual or automatic). Contact the shop in advance, and they’ll deliver the bike to your hotel.
For a more comfortable experience, consider renting a private car with a driver in Hue. This option is ideal if you plan to visit multiple attractions in Hue. HueTransferService.com offers private car services with experienced local drivers. With positive reviews on TripAdvisor, their service ensures a smooth and safe journey to Thuy Xuan Village and beyond.
Taxis are another option, though a bit more expensive, but offer quick and comfortable travel. Many reputable taxi companies operate in Hue with well-maintained vehicles and friendly service. You can also negotiate a favorable fare with the driver before starting your journey.
Recommended taxi companies in Hue include Mai Linh Taxi, Phu Xuan Hue Taxi, Vina Sun Hue Taxi, Thanh Cong Hue Taxi, Yellow Taxi, Huong Giang Taxi, and Hoang Anh Taxi. You can book a taxi by calling directly or through the app (depending on the company).
Best Time to Visit Thuy Xuan Incense Village
According to HueTransferService.com’s travel experience in Hue, you can visit Thuy Xuan Incense Village at any time of the year. However, for the best experience, it’s recommended to go between March and August. This is the summer season in Hue when the sunny weather allows villagers to display colorful incense sticks for drying.
Visiting during these months, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a vibrant scene with delicate incense fragrance lingering in the air. Additionally, around Tet Lunar New Year, locals from nearby areas come to buy incense, making the village livelier than usual.
On the other hand, from October to January, Hue enters the rainy season, and villagers tend to limit incense drying outdoors. Visiting during this time may not be ideal for photography, so the summer season is the most suitable time to visit Thuy Xuan Incense Village.
Special Highlights at Thuy Xuan Incense Village You Shouldn’t Miss
Experience the Culture and Craft of Thuy Xuan Incense Village
Visiting Thuy Xuan Incense Village on a bright day offers a unique chance to explore the intricate craft of making colorful incense sticks. Though the process may seem simple, it involves numerous meticulous, labor-intensive steps done by hand, requiring skill and dedication from the local artisans.
Take the time to sit with the village elders who have devoted their lives to incense-making. The craft has been passed down through generations, and even with the passage of time, the villagers of Thuy Xuan continue to diligently produce these aromatic incense sticks to fulfill the spiritual needs of the community. For them, incense-making preserves their ancestors’ heritage and connects them to the present, adding vibrancy to their traditional lifestyle. The brightly colored incense sticks in red, yellow, and green, paired with their soothing aroma, serve as heartfelt gifts to people across Vietnam.
In the sunny summer months, Thuy Xuan Incense Village transforms into a world of color with rows of incense sticks drying along both sides of the road. During this time, incense producers also lay out bundles of bamboo incense sticks, creating a perfect backdrop for visitors’ check-in photos, making it a popular spot among young travelers.
Experience the Handmade Incense-Making Process
At Thuy Xuan Incense Village, not only can you learn about the unique cultural aspects of this traditional village, but you can also get hands-on experience crafting your own incense sticks under the guidance of skilled artisans.
The process begins with selecting high-quality raw materials. For the best fragrance, locals often use a blend of Chinese medicinal herbs combined with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and cedar buds. Some workshops in the village even incorporate additional ingredients like cinnamon, eucalyptus, pomelo peel, and dried grapefruit flowers to create a more impressive and pleasant scent.
Once the incense powder is mixed, you’ll have the opportunity to create the incense core. This core is made from bamboo pith, which is then sliced into thin pieces and sun-dried for several days. This drying process ensures that the incense sticks achieve the perfect level of dryness and hardness. Today, Thuy Xuan Incense Village still employs traditional handmade methods, while many other incense villages have shifted to modern production techniques. This artisanal approach ensures that the incense sticks maintain the ideal thickness and roundness before being set out to dry in the sun.
Prices for Incense Bundles at Thuy Xuan Village
Based on the experience shared by HueTransferService.com, the prices for incense bundles at Thuy Xuan Incense Village are quite reasonable, with specific price ranges as follows:
- Agarwood Incense: from 80,000 VND to 200,000 VND per bundle
- Cinnamon Incense: approximately 40,000 VND per bundle
- Agarwood Buds: from 50,000 VND to 600,000 VND per box
Additionally, if you are an international tourist and do not wish to purchase incense, you can still support the local artisans by buying souvenirs such as traditional paper fans or specialty candies from Hue.
Conclusion
With the insights shared by HueTransferService.com about visiting Thuy Xuan Incense Village, your trip to the largest incense village in Hue has never been easier. We hope to see you on a beautiful sunny day with your friends and loved ones, ready to explore this vibrant cultural gem!
