Truong Son Craft Village Nha Trang – A space preserving traditional trades in the heart of the coastal city

Amidst the vibrant tourism scene of Nha Trang, Truong Son Craft Village is a uniquely distinct destination: free from the noise of modern entertainment, it attracts visitors with its craft spaces, folk culture, rural memories, and the traditional trades of the Land of Agarwood. 

 

Spanning nearly 2 hectares and established in 2014, the craft village is also known as the “Truong Son Apricot Garden.” According to the People's Army Newspaper, it was initiated by the Khanh Hoa Forestry and Aquatic Products Processing Joint Stock Company as part of a project for a local cultural, conservation, and traditional trade zone. Since its inception, Truong Son Craft Village has become a familiar destination for spring outings, Tet celebrations, sightseeing, and cultural experiences for both locals and tourists visiting Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa.

A space converging traditional craft trades

The most prominent feature of Truong Son Craft Village is its space showcasing many traditional crafts. Here, visitors can learn about trades linked to local cultural life such as Lu Cam artistic pottery, Vinh Thai mat weaving, Vinh Truong fishing net knitting, Nha Trang hammock weaving, Dien Khanh conical hat making, and Vinh Nguyen seashell handicrafts. These trades not only produce handcrafted goods but also reflect the history of labor, daily life, and the creativity of the Khanh Hoa community.

The craft village space is organized to function both as an exhibition and as an on-site demonstration site. Visitors do not just view finished products; they also observe artisans at work and hear introductions about the history of the trades, production tools, raw materials, and creation processes. This organizational approach gives Truong Son Craft Village the value of a “living museum,” where traditional trades are recreated through real people, real spaces, and authentic craft activities. 

An attractive destination for international tourists

Recently, Truong Son Craft Village has not only attracted domestic guests but has also been chosen by many international tourists to learn about the traditional culture of Khanh Hoa. Khanh Hoa Newspaper notes that many visitors from Europe, Australia, South Korea, and cruise ship tour groups have visited to sightsee, experience the crafts, enjoy traditional ethnic music, and learn about the local cultural lifestyle.

For international tourists, the appeal of Truong Son Craft Village lies in its distinctiveness. While many modern tourist cities may seem similar in terms of hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls, the craft village offers an experience deeply rooted in Vietnamese identity: watching artisans make sand paintings, weave mats, embroider pictures, knit nets, and create pottery; trying out traditional musical instruments; participating in bamboo dancing; learning to weave mats; or exploring ancient labor tools like rice mills, basket boats, and fishing nets.

Cruise ship tour groups also frequently visit Truong Son Craft Village; many tourists choose to purchase products such as Cham-inspired sculptural pottery, sand paintings, embroidery, and calligraphy of famous figures as souvenirs. This demonstrates that the craft village is not just a sightseeing spot but also a place that connects local handcrafted products with the tourism market.

Exhibition space rich in cultural and artistic value

Beyond traditional trades, Truong Son Craft Village also makes an impression with its system of unique handicraft works. The People's Army Newspaper records that there are hundreds of handicraft works here, including 10 sets of works that have achieved Vietnam records, such as: 4 maps of Vietnam handcrafted using dried coconut materials; a model of a gourd made from 542 small gourds, hand-inscribed with thousands of verses from the Tale of Kieu; a Ngoc Lu bronze drum with the largest diameter in Vietnam woven from synthetic fibers; and a set of wind chimes depicting the motifs of the 54 ethnic groups.

These works elevate the craft village space beyond the scope of a standard handicraft display area. They demonstrate a combination of handicraft techniques, folk fine arts, traditional materials, and contemporary creative ideas. Visitors here can feel the skill of the artisans while seeing how Vietnamese cultural values are transformed into symbolic display pieces.

Spring outing, check-in, and culinary experiences

Truong Son Craft Village is also a destination chosen by many for Tet, spring, and public holidays. The space filled with plants, flowers, folk-style landscapes, apricot blossoms, sunflowers, daisies, and craft exhibition areas creates an appropriate backdrop for spring outings, photography, family visits, and cultural experiences.

At the central area, visitors can see the process of making handicraft products, observe fishing-related production tools like basket boats, fishing boats, and nets, as well as familiar household items like rattan furniture, sedge mats, conical hats, stone lithophones, and guitars. After touring, visitors can also stop by the calligrapher's stall to request writing, an activity deeply infused with the atmosphere of Tet and traditional Vietnamese culture.

Role in the development of Khanh Hoa cultural tourism

In the picture of Nha Trang tourism, Truong Son Craft Village adds a much-needed cultural hue. Nha Trang is already famous for its islands, relaxation, entertainment, and cuisine; meanwhile, Truong Son Craft Village provides depth regarding labor life, craftsmanship, artisans, and local cultural memory.

Truong Son Craft Village serves as a cultural destination in Nha Trang, converging many traditional crafts and becoming a hub for introducing the trades and traditional culture of Khanh Hoa. It is included in tours for cruise ship passengers by travel agencies because, in a context where rural areas and traditional production methods are gradually narrowing, the craft village model provides a distinct cultural experience for visitors.

The value of Truong Son Craft Village lies not only in “preserving the trade,” but also in turningtraditional trades into cultural tourism products. When visitors get to watch, listen, try making things, purchase products, and interact with artisans, the trade heritage no longer remains in the past but becomes a living part of today's travel journey.

Truong Son Craft Village Nha Trang is a destination rich in identity, bringing together traditional crafts, folk culture spaces, handicraft products, record-breaking works, and interactive experiences with artisans. From a project for local conservation and traditional trade practice, it has developed into a unique sightseeing spot in Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa, attracting domestic tourists, international guests, and cruise ship passengers alike.