Quang Phu Cau incense village (Ung Hoa district, Hanoi) has long been famous for its traditional incense making craft, attracting tourists not only for its cultural beauty but also for the unique scenery of colorful bundles of incense drying all over the streets.
Traveling hundreds of kilometers to reach Quang Phu Cau incense village, Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha (Thai Binh) said that she had heard and seen a lot on social networking sites about the beauty of this traditional craft village, but when she set foot here in person, she was still amazed.
“Bright red bundles of incense are dried everywhere around the village, creating a picturesque scene. Not only that, you can also experience making incense yourself and learn more about the intricacies of this profession,” Ms. Ha shared.
A son who has been away from his homeland for nearly 60 years, now having the opportunity to return to his hometown of Quang Phu Cau, Mr. Vuong Cong Minh cannot hide his emotions and pride.
“Coming back here, the memories of my childhood with my family are always present in my heart. Witnessing the craft village not only survive but also develop strongly, I feel very proud,” Mr. Minh shared.
Incense sticks in Quang Phu Cau village are usually dyed in two main colors, pink and red, creating a distinctive and brilliant beauty. This is not only the mark of the craft village but also carries profound cultural and spiritual significance.
To create eye-catching and attract tourists, many households also arrange these bundles of incense sticks into different shapes such as flags and maps of Vietnam.
“Except for rainy days, our villagers make incense every day of the year. But the busiest time is the last months of the year, when the demand for incense increases to serve the holidays and spiritual activities,” said Nguyen Van Ban, an incense maker in the village.
Currently, workers at the incense workshops in Quang Phu Cau village are in the busiest production period of the year. All stages, from splitting bamboo, dyeing incense sticks, to rolling powder and drying incense, are operating at full capacity. People have to work from early morning until late at night to ensure production progress.
According to people in Quang Phu Cau village, red-dyed incense sticks are often used in temples and pagodas, while people often buy pink ones for family use.
