ANTD.VN - Inspired by the courageous Samurai warriors and their legendary Katana swords, the "Divine Sword Forging Village" at Sun World Ha Long is the hottest experience this summer when visiting the heritage city of Ha Long.
"The Divine Sword Forging Village" is a Japanese sword culture experience space located within the Japanese cultural and artistic area, in the basement of Sun World Ha Long's Sun Station. Launched during the peak summer season, this new tourism product of Sun World Ha Long immediately attracted the attention of tourists fascinated by Japanese culture, especially Japanese sword culture.
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Exploring Japanese sword culture at the "Sword Forging Village" is like a pilgrimage back in time, to the Edo period (1603-1868) of Bizen Osafune – the largest sword-making center in Japan. Swords forged in this village are renowned for their exceptional sharpness and artistic beauty, often chosen and used by Samurai, the elite warrior class of feudal Japan, and gradually becoming symbols of honor and courage.
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The village served as the inspiration for Sun World Ha Long, creating a unique space where visitors can learn about and experience the distinctive culture of Japan in a vivid way. To provide visitors with the most authentic experience, the resort uses materials sourced from traditional Japanese villages to create wooden houses, cobblestone streets, and exquisite paper lanterns, among other things.
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Spanning an area of 3,000 square meters, the Sword Forging Village is divided into six zones, allowing visitors to learn about ancient swords – indispensable weapons for Samurai warriors of the past – through demonstrations and displays of the crafting process. Visitors can also hear artisans share about the perseverance and meticulous attention to detail required to create a beautiful sword, from sharpening and carving accessories to crafting the scabbard and wrapping and giving the hilt its soul. Especially noteworthy is the opportunity for visitors to experience what it's like to be a real Samurai warrior.
Perhaps the most outstanding feature is the sword-making art demonstration area, with 7 houses corresponding to 7 different sword-making processes. In each house, artisans who have trained in Japan directly demonstrate the art of sword-making for visitors to enjoy.
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The sword-making area is the first stop on the journey, where visitors can witness firsthand the sword-making tools, the steel blades created through the steel tempering process in the high-temperature forge, and the blade shaping by skilled artisans.
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The sword-sharpening counter is where swords are sharpened by artisans using 12 different types of whetstones. This process, called "togi," requires precision and exceptional skill from the sword-making artisan.
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The next stage is carving on the blade. This complex and artistic process involves designing and carving patterns such as animals, deities, or mythical creatures from Japanese folklore onto the blade's surface, aiming to create a unique and personal touch for each sword.
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At the sword-scarve workshop, visitors can observe artisans crafting scabbards and hilts from lightweight and durable woods such as Japanese magnolia or Japanese cherry wood, along with materials for sword scabbards and traditional chiseling and planing tools.
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After the sword scabbard is shaped, artisans at the lacquer shop meticulously work on it to create vibrant patterns and colors. Lacquer not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also protects the material of the scabbard. Last but not least, the hilt is wrapped. The artisan uses cord to tightly wrap the hilt around the blank to reduce pressure on the wrist during sword handling. The final wrap must be smooth and free of gaps or wrinkles to meet the standard.
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After enjoying the visual delight of the six sword-making processes, visitors, guided by well-trained swordsmen, can visit the Samurai Arena with its 18 fenced-off lattice booths to transform themselves into real Samurai warriors, practicing their swordsmanship skills in cutting bamboo or mats.
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Besides Japanese swords, visitors can also experience the art of origami paper folding and admire a collection of exquisite traditional Japanese daruma dolls.
One of the highlights of the "Sacred Sword Village" is the Shrine of the Sacred Sword – where nine ancient swords are displayed, crafted by some of Japan's most renowned artisans throughout history, accompanied by immortal legends. Particularly noteworthy is the presence of the Supreme Sword of Tokugawa Iemochi, the Shogun of Japan in the 19th century, valued at millions of dollars on the international auction market.
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“ Until now, I’ve only heard about and seen precious swords through pictures. This is the first time I’ve seen such an exquisite sword with so much cultural significance in person. Creating a space to experience Japanese sword culture is a really great and attractive idea for tourists who love Japanese culture like me ,” shared Hoai Anh, a tourist from Bac Ninh .
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To conclude their journey, visitors can visit the unique Light Sculpture exhibition, featuring evocative works created from materials familiar to Japanese culture. Vivid images of ancient Japan—Buddha, warriors, young women, children—are created through the art of arranging materials and light, resulting in truly impressive works that convey meaningful messages and evoke various emotions in visitors.
To fully enjoy the essence of Japanese culture, Sun World Ha Long is offering an attractive promotion for an experience crossing the heritage bay, admiring the panoramic view of Ha Long from above on the Queen Cable Car, combined with exploring Japanese culture at the "Divine Sword Forging Village" and Yosakoi dance performances or the "Love Story of the Land of Cherry Blossoms" show, taking place at 11:00 AM and 3:30 PM daily (except Wednesdays) at Sun Hill. The special combo is priced at VND 500,000 per adult and VND 330,000 per child.
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