Since ancient times, agarwood has been considered a precious product, carrying mysterious stories and high economic value. In Khanh Hoa, the land known as "the land of agarwood", Van Thang agarwood craft village, Van Ninh district, has become a symbol for preserving and developing the quintessence of Vietnamese agarwood.

Van Thang - A hundred-year-old agarwood craft village

Although located near the cool blue coast of Van Ninh district, Khanh Hoa province, Van Thang village still retains the peaceful beauty of a traditional village. However, when stepping in here, visitors will be surprised by the bustling atmosphere, typical of a bustling craft village.

The image of piles of scrap wood on the side of the road, people diligently processing agarwood pieces right on their porches has become an indispensable part of Van Thang. It is a clear demonstration of the close attachment of the people here to the agarwood craft, a craft that has become ingrained in their blood and flesh, becoming an inseparable part of life.

With a tradition of hundreds of years, Van Thang agarwood craft village currently has nearly 500 households with thousands of people participating in agarwood production. Van Thang agarwood products are not only popular domestically but also reach out to international markets such as Hong Kong, Japan, the Middle East...

Agarwood Craft - Journey from Deep Forest to Sophisticated Products

The story of agarwood begins in the deep forests, where Aquilaria trees carry natural or man-made wounds to form precious agarwood. Agarwood is classified based on the cause of formation such as Agarwood Kien, Agarwood Toc, Agarwood Dao, Agarwood Khoan... Ky nam, a particularly rare form of agarwood, is formed from Aquilaria trees that are hundreds of years old, with extremely high economic value.

From natural forests to sustainable cultivation

In the past, agarwood was mainly exploited from natural forests, however, due to the increasing scarcity of natural agarwood resources, people have researched and successfully developed a method of cultivating agarwood on Aquilaria trees. This is an important step forward, not only helping to protect valuable resources but also opening up opportunities for sustainable economic development for people.

From the rough pieces of agarwood, through the talented hands and patience of Van Thang craftsmen, agarwood is crafted into sophisticated and diverse products, from agarwood landscapes, fine art, jewelry to spiritual products. The profession of "agarwood carving" requires meticulousness, dexterity and a keen eye to avoid damaging the precious agarwood core inside.

The future of the agarwood craft village

However, the agarwood craft also faces many difficulties, from fierce competition in the market to fluctuations caused by the epidemic. However, with their passion and love for agarwood, Van Thang people still persevere in preserving and developing the traditional profession of their ancestors.

Nowadays, many young people in Van Thang have returned to their hometowns to continue their family's agarwood craft. They not only bring youth and creativity to the craft village but also actively apply technology, especially social networks, to promote products and expand the market.

Van Thang agarwood craft village is not only a place to produce quality agarwood products but also an attractive destination for tourists. Coming here, visitors can not only admire unique agarwood products but also have the opportunity to learn about the elaborate crafting process and experience the unique culture of the craft village.

With the efforts of the people and the support of the local government, Van Thang agarwood craft village promises to continue to develop, affirming its position in the domestic and international markets, while contributing to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of Vietnam.