Located along Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, Thuy Xuan Incense-Making Craft Village is one of the best-known incense-making villages in Hue. The village has been associated with the traditional production of incense, particularly agarwood incense, for hundreds of years.
Its location along the sightseeing route connecting Tu Duc Tomb and Vong Canh Hill has also made Thuy Xuan a familiar stop for visitors exploring the former imperial capital. Travelers can observe traditional incense-making techniques, learn about the different stages of production and, in some cases, try their hand at rolling an incense stick themselves.
Beyond the finished products, a visit to Thuy Xuan offers an opportunity to learn about the craft, the artisans and the everyday life of a community that continues to preserve an occupation handed down through generations.
A Traditional Craft Rooted in Village Life
For many families in Thuy Xuan, incense making is more than a livelihood. It is a traditional occupation that has become deeply embedded in community life.
Artisans continue to make incense by hand, devoting considerable time and care to each stage of production. Compared with machine production, hand-rolling is more labor-intensive and has lower productivity, but local residents continue to practice the traditional method as part of their efforts to preserve the craft.
The atmosphere of the village is closely associated with the fragrance of incense and the quiet work of artisans. Visitors are often welcomed by local residents who are happy to introduce their products and explain the traditional techniques behind them.
From Natural Ingredients to an Incense Stick
The first step in making incense is selecting and preparing the ingredients. According to the source, the incense powder is made from a combination of natural aromatic ingredients and herbs, including cinnamon, cardamom, pine buds, cloves, star anise, eucalyptus and other varieties of cinnamon.
These ingredients are mixed with water and processed into a workable incense mixture.
The core of the incense stick is made from bamboo. Mature bamboo is sourced from areas including Nam Dong, Binh Dien and Phong Son. The bamboo is split into small, evenly sized sticks and dried in the sun for several days until sufficiently dry and brittle.
Once the incense mixture reaches the appropriate consistency, the artisan rolls it around the bamboo core. This process requires controlled hand movements to create an incense stick that is sufficiently thin, round and even. The finished sticks are then placed in the sunlight to dry.
This is one of the stages that most clearly demonstrates the handmade nature of the craft. Artisans must control the amount of incense mixture, the pressure applied during rolling and the thickness of the finished layer through accumulated experience.
Agarwood Incense and Other Products
Thuy Xuan produces a variety of incense products, including cinnamon incense, lemongrass-oil incense, deodorizing incense, spiral incense, agarwood incense cones and, most notably, agarwood incense.
According to the source, the village’s incense products use natural aromatic ingredients and do not use chemical additives. The incense is described as having a bright yellow appearance and a distinctive, pleasant fragrance.
In the past, incense sticks were mainly associated with brown and red colors. Today, visitors can also find incense sticks with colorful bases in shades of purple, yellow, blue and pink.
When arranged in bundles, these colorful incense sticks form flower-like patterns. Together with the fragrance of incense, they have become one of the most recognizable visual features of Thuy Xuan.
The Colors of the Incense Village
Rows of colorful incense sticks displayed outside workshops create a distinctive landscape along the village streets. Yellow, red, purple, blue and pink tones stand out under the sunlight while the fragrance of herbs and incense fills the surrounding air.
This colorful setting has become a familiar image in travel experiences around Hue. Visitors can observe artisans preparing incense, learn about traditional production methods and photograph the distinctive scenery of the craft village.
The combination of traditional craftsmanship, colorful products and the village environment gives Thuy Xuan a character that connects cultural heritage with contemporary tourism.
A Craft Connected with Tourism and Local Livelihoods
Alongside incense making, local households have expanded their range of tourism-related products. Some families also sell oil paintings, fans, brocade products and other souvenirs, providing additional sources of income.
This combination allows the traditional craft to become part of the visitor experience while creating new economic opportunities for local families. Visitors can purchase incense as well as other handicrafts and souvenirs associated with Hue.
According to the source, Thuy Xuan incense is supplied not only within Hue but also to markets across Vietnam and overseas. A traditional occupation rooted in local community life has therefore developed into an important part of both the village economy and the cultural tourism experience of Hue.
A Traditional Craft of the Former Imperial Capital
Thuy Xuan agarwood incense making was recognized by the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province as a traditional craft under Decision No. 3192/QD-UBND dated December 6, 2021.
The value of Thuy Xuan’s incense-making tradition lies not only in the products sold to visitors and markets but also in the handmade techniques passed down through generations. From bamboo cores and natural aromatic ingredients to the hands of local artisans, each incense stick represents a craft closely associated with Vietnamese cultural and spiritual life.
Today, as the village combines traditional production with tourism, its colorful displays of incense have become a familiar image in journeys through Hue. Behind the vibrant colors, however, remains a craft that depends on patience, precision and the dedication of the people of Thuy Xuan.
Basic Information
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Craft village | Thuy Xuan Incense-Making Craft Village |
| Location | Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, Hue City |
| Traditional craft | Incense making, particularly agarwood incense |
| Main materials | Bamboo, cinnamon, cardamom, pine buds, cloves, star anise, eucalyptus and other natural aromatic ingredients |
| Products | Agarwood incense, cinnamon incense, lemongrass-oil incense, spiral incense, incense cones and other incense products |
| Tourism activities | Visiting the craft village, learning about incense production, trying incense rolling and purchasing handicrafts and souvenirs |
| Recognition | Traditional craft |
| Decision | Decision No. 3192/QD-UBND, December 6, 2021 |
| Recognizing authority | People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue Province |
Cultural Value of Thuy Xuan Incense Making
Thuy Xuan incense making is a traditional craft closely connected with the cultural life and livelihoods of the local community. Its value comes from traditional processing techniques, knowledge of natural aromatic materials and the manual skills passed down between generations.
More broadly, the craft represents a distinctive element of Hue’s cultural landscape. Today, the fragrance of incense, colorful displays and the daily work of local artisans have become part of the visitor experience, allowing an old traditional occupation to continue finding a place in contemporary Hue.
