Day Trip To Van Phuc Silk Village On The Outskirts Of Hanoi

See silk being woven on old looms

As you enter Van Phuc, you will hear a repetitive, loud clapping sound. Follow the sound into minimalist mini-factories where there are roughly a dozen old looms. For the sake of mass production, the looms are now mechanical and do not require someone to be present to work the machine at all times. One woman eyes the looms, wandering around the room to ensure they are all working properly. She smiles and goes about her business; she has a lot of silk to weave.

However, the experience would be even more enjoyable if one of the silk weavers has the time to explain the silk production process. It is a sight to see, and hear, these ancient machines working away to make beautiful, soft silk. It would be even better to know how the machines work, how long the process takes, where the silk originally comes from, and what happens once the woven, stark white silk comes off the loom.

Browse through stalls of silk products

Van Phuc is relatively small, but plan to spend two to three hours roaming around the various stalls and stores. Each stall has hundreds of items. Dig through piles of scarves, coats hanging along the walls of the stalls, and men’s ties hanging neatly on racks.

Scarves, coats and ties can be found at practically every stall. However, since Van Phuc has become somewhat of a tourist attraction, the products have expanded to include pajamas, men’s underwear, stuffed animals intricately embroidered with colorful designs, coin purses and cross-body bags.

Don't forget to barter

Do not impulse buy. It is best to walk around the entire village, keeping in mind items you have found and asking for the prices as you continue your search. Often, you will see the same product at multiple stores. Once you have an idea of what items you want and the prices each vendor is selling them for, begin to barter for a lower price. A large winter scarf could start at 250,000 VND (11.12 USD) but, after haggling with the vendor, you may walk away with the scarf for 150,000 VND (6.67 USD).