Preserving the fragrance of incense from the coastal region.

Early in the morning in Van Thang commune, while the morning mist still lingers, the scent of agarwood permeates the entire village from the houses along the coastal road. Under the eaves, craftsmen meticulously examine each grain of agarwood, their calloused hands imbued with the fragrance of years spent in the trade.

Preserving the spirit of the homeland

In the agarwood carving village of Van Thang, one easily encounters the image of diligent craftsmen meticulously carving each piece of wood. Their hands move swiftly and gently, turning each piece of wood, each grain, each layer of oil, all like a whispered dialogue between man and wood. "Looking at the wood, you know which parts can be harvested and which parts should be discarded; that's a skill honed over a lifetime of work," shared Mr. Nguyen Duy Nhat, who has been involved in the craft for 30 years. Mr. Le Quang Vinh, another agarwood carver with over 30 years of experience, recounts that as a child, he often followed his father into the forests of Hon Heo and Hon Giao to search for agarwood, each trip lasting a month. It was extremely hard work back then, but when he found a piece of fragrant wood, all the fatigue vanished. Now, as natural agarwood forests are dwindling, Mr. Vinh has opened a small workshop to preserve the craft in a more sustainable way. "Agarwood not only gives fragrance, but also teaches me patience and how to wait," Mr. Vinh said, his hand gently stroking the dark brown wood as if touching a memory.

The products of Van Thang agarwood craft village are becoming increasingly diverse, meeting the needs of customers both domestically and internationally.

From small, individual family businesses, the agarwood carving craft in Van Thang has gradually developed into a traditional craft village with over 400 households. Mr. Tran Cong Duc, Director of the Van Thang Agarwood Cooperative, shared: “Agarwood carvers understand that the agarwood veins accumulate in the wood for decades, sometimes even several decades, and can only be respected through their own meticulousness. Making agarwood is about putting your heart into it; if you don't put your heart into it, the product will never have soul.” Therefore, customers buying Van Thang agarwood are not just buying a product, but also buying trust in the integrity and standards of the craftspeople.

The villagers who make agarwood incense are delighted when their products are always popular with customers.

Traditional craft villages in modern life

Thanks to the preservation and development of the agarwood carving craft, the lives of the people in the commune have become more stable. Many families have opened small workshops at home, maintaining the traditional craft while creating jobs for relatives and neighbors, earning between 6 and 10 million VND per month. Many young people who had previously worked elsewhere have returned to establish businesses, continuing the craft their ancestors built. For the people of Van Thang, agarwood is not only a precious commodity but also a cultural aspect deeply ingrained in their way of thinking. Therefore, the agarwood carvers cherish each product they create and strive to build a sustainable craft village, linked to experiential tourism , so that visitors can witness the agarwood carving process firsthand, hear about the history of the craft, and appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship of each product.

Use molds to shape the incense cones.

In recent years, thanks to local support, agarwood producers in Van Thang have applied machinery to some stages of drying, grinding, and shaping, helping to increase productivity. Over time, the products have become increasingly diverse, including agarwood chips, agarwood ornaments, agarwood powder, agarwood cones, agarwood bracelets, agarwood bags, agarwood essential oil, etc., meeting the diverse needs of customers. Many households have also opened online stores and livestreamed product introductions, bringing Van Thang agarwood to a wider domestic and international market. This dynamism has helped the craft village keep pace with market trends, opening up opportunities for sustainable development.

Each agarwood product requires the meticulous craftsmanship of the artisan.

Amidst the gentle fragrance of incense carried on the breeze, the people of Van Thang are persistently continuing to write the beautiful story of their traditional craft village, where the scent of incense permeates not only each product but also their lives and the pride of their homeland.

VAN GIANG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/bao-xuan-2026/202602/giu-huong-tram-xu-bien-3844f95/