Quang Phu Cau Incense Village: How to Visit & Take Photos

Overview

Quang Phu Cau Incense Village is a traditional craft village nestled 35km from Hanoi downtown. It gained prominence in the 2020s, thanks to award-winning photographs and viral social media photos. 

• Address: Dao Tu, Ung Hoa District, Hanoi

• Opening time: 6:30 am - 5:30 pm

• Entrance Ticket: 50,000 VND ( 2 USD)

Several award-winning photos that captured the village include Nong Thanh Toan’s piece "Drying Incense", which claimed first prize in Agora’s Red-themed photo contest in 2020, and another by photographer Azim Khan Ronnie, which won the Gold Award in the Travel category at the 2023 Color Photography Contest.

The vibrant cultural allure and stunning photographs have made this village a must-visit for tourists to Hanoi. The influx of visitors supports Quang Phu Cau Incense Village enabling it to sustain and thrive in its traditional craft.

One of the most unique craft villages of Hanoi

Interesting Facts

• Quang Phu Cau is actually a commune composed of six hamlets.

• All six hamlets are officially recognized as craft villages.

• Quang Phu Cau Incense village has been around for over a century, dating back to the 20th century.

• Initially, the village specialized in bamboo products such as incense, woven items, brooms, skewers, chopsticks, etc, but it became most famous for its incense.

• The village produces around 10 tons of bamboo sticks and incense daily, supplying both domestic markets and exporting to countries like India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

• Before gaining widespread fame for incense, many households in the area turned to illicit plastic manufacturing to make a living, and the village once faced significant hardships.

The villagers arrange and dry the vibrant incense bundles into shapes

• At that time, incense making was merely a side job during the agricultural off-season. However, as demand grew, incense making became the primary occupation for 70% of the village’s households.

• The village’s incense is free of chemicals.

• Today, while some production processes are aided by machinery, a significant portion of the work is still done by hand, such as peeling bamboo, splitting it into sticks, bundling incense, drying it, and mixing fragrances.

How to Get to

Quang Phu Cau Incense Village is located 35km from downtown Hanoi. You can choose from several modes of transportation to reach the village from Hanoi’s city center:

Ways to get to Quang Phu Cau Incense Village

Things to Do

Quang Phu Cau Incense Village is brimming with activities to explore for travelers. Typically, half a day (around 4 - 5 hours) is enough to immerse yourself in the village’s charm. Here are some recommendations for things to do:

How to explore Quang Phu Cau Incense Village

• Stroll around the village to observe local life, including village gates, communal houses, temples, and traditional craft workshops.

• Visit local households, engage in conversations, and learn about their way of life.

• Witness the various stages of incense production in Quang Phu Cau Incense Village: peeling bamboo, splitting, sorting, dyeing, drying, bundling, or mixing incense ingredients, etc.

• Participate in some of the incense-making processes.

• Capture memorable photos with the village’s vibrant backdrop.

Visit and Photo Tips

• It is best to visit on dry, sunny days, as the light is perfect for photography. 

• Moreover, incense is laid out in the sun to dry, so rainy weather might mean no incense is displayed. Be sure to check the weather forecast and have a backup plan in case of unexpected rain.

See the life in Quang Phu Cau Incense Village

• A popular check-in spot in Quang Phu Cau Incense Village is Bau Nam Hamlet, where incense bundles are arranged in unique designs such as the Vietnamese map and flag.

• The village does not offer clothing rental services for photoshoots, so you should prepare your outfits in advance or rent traditional Vietnamese attire from the city center.

• When taking photos against the vibrant background of the village, white or bright tones will stand out the most. Avoid colors that might blend into the background, such as red, pink, or dark brown.

• Consider bringing a traditional conical hat to add a touch of Vietnam charm to your photos.

• Besides indulging in creative personal and group photoshoots, you can also capture images of the village, incense bundles, and the hardworking locals, as these scenes reflect the village’s distinctive cultural essence.

Take creative, fun, and signature Vietnam photo together

• Visiting the village on your own might become monotonous as you just walk around and take photos. You might consider joining a tour or hiring a guide to take you to local homes, engage in conversations, and gain deeper insights into the incense-making craft.

• A half-day tour to Quang Phu Cau Incense Village typically costs around 10 USD per person.

Want to explore further? Check out our post about travel guide in Vietnam!

This instruction provides everything you need to know when visiting Quang Phu Cau Incense Village - a bewitching traditional craft village located on the outskirts of Hanoi. Stay tuned and save us for more updates about Vietnam travel. If you need assistance with planning and booking Vietnam tours, feel free to contact our team directly