Quang Phu Cau - 'Magnet' attracting tourists to suburban heritage sites

Ung Hoa, a land rich in cultural traditions located in the South of Hanoi, is gradually asserting its position on the tourism map with untapped potential. In that colorful picture, Quang Phu Cau incense stick craft village emerges as a bright spot, not only preserving traditional handicrafts but also possessing great tourism potential, contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of Ung Hoa district and the capital.

Tourists check in at Quang Phu Cau incense stick craft village. Photo: VGP

Over a hundred years of making incense, crystallizing culture and tourism

About 35km from the center of Hanoi, Quang Phu Cau incense village in Quang Phu Cau commune, Ung Hoa district, has existed for more than a century. This is the only specialized incense stick craft village in Hanoi, where a traditional craft associated with the cultural and spiritual life of Vietnamese people is preserved and developed. Since the early 20th century, the incense stick craft has been attached to this land, formed and developed through many generations. Coming to Quang Phu Cau, visitors will be immersed in a bustling working space, witnessing the meticulous incense production process, from shaving the sticks, dyeing the incense feet, rolling the incense, drying to packaging. Each stage contains the passion of the craftsman, creating fragrant incense sticks, imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity. Quang Phu Cau craft village is not only a place to produce incense but also a place to preserve and pass on precious intangible cultural values. Tourism development helps preserve and promote these values, avoiding the risk of fading away in the context of modernization. The unique beauty of the colorful incense drying yards has attracted a large number of tourists, especially photographers and those who love to explore culture. Quang Phu Cau has become an attractive destination, contributing to promoting the tourism image of Ung Hoa and Hanoi on the domestic and international tourism map. In recent years, Quang Phu Cau craft village tourism has added to Hanoi's tourism product system a unique type of tourism, imbued with local cultural identity, diversifying tourism experiences and attracting many types of tourists. Craft village tourism not only brings economic benefits but also contributes to the social development of the locality through improving infrastructure, raising awareness of cultural and environmental conservation, and creating community cohesion. Craft village tourism brings direct income to people through activities such as selling handicraft products, catering services, accommodation, tour guiding, improving economic life and creating many jobs, especially for rural workers.

Hanoi City leaders presented the Decision to recognize the “Quang Phu Cau Incense Stick Craft Village Tourist Destination” and the Decision to recognize the intangible cultural heritage of Trach Xa Garment Craft Village. Photo: VGP/Minh Anh

Quang Phu Cau - Strategic Highlight

Recently, within the framework of the program "Ung Hoa - Suburban Heritage Area", the important role of craft village tourism in the socio-economic development of the district has been affirmed. The recognition of "Quang Phu Cau Incense Stick Craft Village Tourism Destination" is an important step forward, affirming the potential and tourism value of the craft village, creating a driving force to promote local economic development. The tourism program "Quang Phu Cau - Life and Colors" has created a unique tourism product, attracting tourists, contributing to promoting the image of Ung Hoa and Hanoi tourism. The development of tourism in Ung Hoa in general and Quang Phu Cau in particular not only brings benefits to the locality but also contributes to the overall development of the capital's tourism industry, creating a diverse, rich and attractive image of Hanoi tourism.

Mr. Michael, a tourist from Ireland: "I really admire the dedication of the craftsmen in preserving this traditional craft, a part of the community's culture that has existed for more than a century." Photo: VGP/Minh Anh

Michael, a tourist from Ireland, shared his experience in Quang Phu Cau: "My girlfriend saw videos of incense gardens on Instagram and wanted to come here. I just searched for 'incense garden' on Google and we found this place. The visit to Quang Phu Cau incense village was a wonderful experience. The view of bright red incense bundles basking in the sunlight was impressive. Michael said: "I really admire the dedication of the craftsmen in preserving this traditional craft, a part of the culture that has existed for more than a century in the community. I think it would be better if this area was more open, because we had to find angles to create the feeling of being in a real incense field, and sometimes had to avoid the image of the road in the frame. However, overall, it was a worthwhile experience."

Chairman of Quang Phu Cau Commune People's Committee Nguyen Huu Nhat: "We expect tourism to contribute positively to the economic growth of the commune, create jobs and increase income for people." Photo: VGP

Talking to reporters of the Government Electronic Newspaper, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Phu Cau Commune Nguyen Huu Nhat expressed his honor and pride when the locality was recognized by the City People's Committee as a craft village tourism destination. "We are extremely honored and proud that Quang Phu Cau was recognized as a craft village tourism destination. This is a great opportunity for the commune to develop. We expect tourism to contribute positively to the economic growth of the commune, create jobs and increase income for people", Mr. Nguyen Huu Nhat shared. Mr. Nguyen Huu Nhat also said that the locality is aware of the challenges ahead, such as limited experience in tourism management, untrained human resources, these are issues that need to be resolved. At the same time, he recommended that the City and district invest in upgrading infrastructure, creating the best conditions for tourists. According to Director of Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang, the program "Ung Hoa - Suburban Heritage Area" has just been organized to promote tourist destinations, unique tourism products associated with cultural values, heritages, relics and craft villages in Ung Hoa district in particular and Hanoi city in general. At the same time, the program helps improve the quality of destinations, develop tourism products associated with cultural and historical values, heritages and develop new tourist routes, build and develop tourism products of Quang Phu Cau incense village, gradually affirming Ung Hoa's position as a tourist destination in the South of the city. According to Director of the Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang, in 2025, the tourism industry will focus on completing and exploiting the advantages of the Capital planning, exploiting and promoting the value of the Capital Law with outstanding opportunities for development. At the same time, the Hanoi Tourism Department will also develop a policy mechanism to submit to the City People's Committee to issue a policy mechanism to submit to the People's Council for approval to support tourist areas in localities to implement tourism development activities. Quang Phu Cau Incense Stick Craft Village has rich cultural tourism resources, with 6 villages recognized by the People's Committee of Ha Tay province (old) as Traditional Craft Villages, including: Phu Luong Thuong Traditional Incense Stick Craft Village and Phu Luong Ha Traditional Incense Stick Craft Village; Xa Cau Traditional Black Incense Craft Village; Dao Tu Traditional Incense Stick Craft Village, Cau Bau Traditional Incense Stick Craft Village and Quang Nguyen Traditional Incense Stick Craft Village. Quang Phu Cau Incense Stick Craft Village is a land rich in historical and cultural traditions, with 22 relics, of which 8 have been ranked (4 relics ranked at the national level, 4 relics ranked at the city level). In addition to coming to the craft village, tourists can also visit national historical and cultural relics such as: Phu Luong Communal House Historical - Cultural Relic; Bau Boi Pagoda; Quang Nguyen Communal House National Historical, Architectural - Artistic Relic; Quang Nguyen Pagoda... Source: https://thanglong.chinhphu.vn/quang-phu-cau-nam-cham-hut-khach-du-lich-mien-di-san-ngoai-do-103250101211615322.htm