Kim Bong Carpentry Village in Cam Kim Island

What is Kim Bong Carpentry Village?

Kim Bong carpentry village (or Kim Bong woodworking village) is a traditional handicraft village in Cam Kim island, south of Hoi An centre, and by the Thu Bon river. Here, local residents have made wood works (wood carvings, statues, furniture, etc) and built boats since the 16th century. Beside that, they also work for preserving timber buildings in the Old town, a world heritage site. In 2016, this long-standing handicraft tradition was recognized by the government as the national intangible cultural heritage. To commemorate carpenter ancestors, an annual ceremony takes place on the 6th day of each lunar year and artists from all generations will be presented.

– Kim Bong carpentry village opening hours: 8 am to 4 pm (we recommend coming earlier than 11 am or before 4 pm when local artisans still work)                                           

– Kim Bong carpentry village entrance fee: 35,000 VND for adult but in reality, nobody requests to buy

Things to See and Do in Kim Bong Carpentry Village

In Kim Bong carpentry village, visitors will see workshops where local artists carve sculptures and shops where their wooden products are exhibited. At working places, artisans are happy when someone wants to join what they’re doing and even stands around them to take pictures. Several shop owners also offer a mini class and experience in carving something visitors like on a piece of wood (such as the name), by local tools. There are many shopping opportunities here.

Additionally, inhabitants of Kim Bong carpentry village also build boats. In the past, while Hoi An was a bustling international trading port, large wooden boats were built here and then sold for merchants from Vietnam and other countries. Following the economic decline of this commercial center, boat builders decreased and today, just a few men still keep the craft as a profession. At the shipyard (in front of the shops, by the river edge), they work every single day. Besides making a new boat, they also repair fishing boats before the fish season.

The golden age of the village was linked with construction of wooden buildings in Hoi An. The timber structure of the Japanese covered bridge, Tan Ky old house, Phung Hung old house and many others were carved by local artisans. Today, the next generations of artists have assisted the government to preserve these heritages – important elements of the world heritage site. Shops of famed personalities from the village are around the village, such as Huynh Ri artisan’s house or Xuan Nguyen artisan’s gallery.

Not far away from the shipyard, there is Cam Kim island, the main market of the island. Here, it’s possible to see a variety of local procedures and food.

How to Get to Kim Bong Carpentry Village

Kim Bong Carpentry Village Location

Kim Bong carpentry village is on the northern edge of Cam Kim island – the largest river island of Hoi An. It’s 2,5 km from Hoi An old town (via the iron bridge), 3,5 km from Thanh Ha pottery village and 10 km from An Bang beach. The distance from Da Nang to Kim Bong carpentry village is 30 km. On Google maps, the location of the village is 15°51’54.5″N 108°19’27.3″E.

Boat Ferry to Kim Bong Carpentry Village

Kim Bong carpentry village is by the Thu Bon river, so it’s accessible by boats. Day to day, local residents use a boat ferry to go from Hoi An old town to this village, particularly from the Central market. Tourists can use this to get there and go back after visiting around (further to reach Cam Kim island and back). The fee may be from 20,000 to 50,000 VND per person. It takes passengers only 10 minutes each way.

Boat ferry to Kim Bong carpentry village is on a Cam Kim island bicycle tour with a local guide. Contact us by number +84968009827 (Whatsapp, zalo, line) or centralvietnamguide@gmail.com for more information and details.

Bicycle and Motorcycle

If going with a bicycle or motorcycle, travelers can choose to get to Kim Bong carpentry village by the old Cam Kim bridge or the new Cam Kim bridge. The old (iron) Cam Kim bridge gives a much shorter access to the island where the village’s located. From everywhere, it’s necessary to go to this point (Google maps: 15°52’30.2″N 108°19’09.1″E) on Nguyen Phuc Tan St in Hoi An.

After riding across the old Cam Kim bridge, travelers just go along Kim Bong Tay road and then Kim Bong Dong road. At this point (Google maps: 15°51’49.4″N 108°19’27.0″E), turn left and carpenter’s workshops, the boat building yard are at the end. This bridge is quite slippery and potentially dangerous for those who don’t have experiences before.

The new Cam Kim bridge is the safer option. Travelers need to go to the intersection between Hung Vuong St and Hai Muoi Tam Thang Ba St, and then ride over the bridge. Then, go straight and turn left into Kim Bong Tay road and Kim Bong Dong road.  

Bicycle riders should choose the old Cam Kim bridge (due to short distance) or use the boat ferry from the Old town (see more details above). 

Car, Taxi and Electric Shuttle Bus

If traveling to Kim Bong carpentry village from Hoi An by car or electric shuttle bus, the distance is 6 km on average. So it takes visitors around 15 minutes. The new Cam Kim bridge (near Thanh Ha village) is the only access for cars to ride across the river. Taxi fare is around 15,000 VND per kilometer.

It will be difficult to find a car to return to Hoi An after visiting, so please tell the driver to wait. Travelers can book a private car for two ways, and the price may be cheaper. Contact us at whatsapp number +84968009827 or centralvietnamguide@gmail.com for more information. We recommend something else to do in the package too. 

Kim Bong Carpentry Village Tours

Thanh Ha Village and Kim Bong Village Tour

Travelers will go to these villages by boat from the Old town (our guide will see you in a meeting point nearby). The first village will be Thanh Ha pottery village in which local people have made pottery for over 300 years, by on-site source of clay and manual potter’s wheel. Here, our guide introduces Nam Dieu communal house where the pottery ancestors are worshipped. After it, an artisan house where visitors watch how family members make a pottery object and they are instructed to make one by yourself later. Along the laneways of the village, there are kilns, old houses, temples, workshops, souvenir shops, etc.

The second village is definitely Kim Bong carpentry village. Here, our guide will take visitors around the village first (carpenter’s working places, boatbuilding yard, market, local artisan’s gallery). At a small local store, the owners teach how to carve something. If like to include a guided walking tour around Hoi An ancient town and see its heritage, please let us know to arrange. Our contacts are +84968009827 (phone, whatsapp, zalo, line) or centralvietnamguide@gmail.com.

Cam Kim Island Bicycle Tour

Cam Kim island bicycle tour allows travelers to explore the least touristy area in Hoi An. Here, our local guide will show the way from village to village by peaceful roads (back roads, laneways). It’s possible to pass by, see and take pictures of rice fields, vegetable and fruit gardens, rivers, water buffalos, ducks, etc. There are some local families in the itinerary and of course, visitors will spend time to know themselves and their daily life. Family members will show and teach how to make a sleeping mat by natural sedges, make rice wine, or make rice noodles. At the noodle making house, the mother (or daughter) invites the guests to a local specialty dish called Mi quang noodle. A quick visit to Kim Bong carpentry village is available upon the request.  

To book, contact us +84968009827 (phone, whatsapp, zalo, line) or centralvietnamguide@gmail.com.

My Son Sanctuary Tour by Boat with Kim Bong Carpentry

My Son sanctuary is a popular attraction for day trippers from Hoi An. It’s a complex of Hindu temples dating from the 4th to 13rd centuries, and a Unesco world heritage site. It’s known as ‘the Angkor wat of Vietnam’.

In the first half of this My Son tour by boat, our guide will introduce and show insights of every temple in My Son holy valley. Besides sightseeing and taking pictures, visitors have the chance to watch 3 performances about traditional dance and music of Cham people.

After having lunch with local food, the car takes visitors to the boat station and then cruises on the Thu Bon river – the largest river of the area. The first stop is Thanh Ha pottery village, and then Kim Bong carpentry village. Hands-on experience in making pottery or wood carving is absolutely the most interesting activity in these villages. The tour ends at the Old town, but you want to go back to the hotel, our guide will help for a transfer by your expense.

To book, contact us +84968009827 (phone, whatsapp, zalo, line) or centralvietnamguide@gmail.com.

Other Famous Villages in Hoi An

Thanh Ha Pottery Village

Thanh Ha pottery making village is 4,5 km northwest of Kim Bong carpentry village. It sits on the bank of the Thu Bon river the same. Since the 16th and 17th centuries, local residents here have been producing pottery for sale and recently, souvenirs. Entrance fee to this traditional handicraft village is 35,000 VND, including a short class to learn how to make a pottery object (pot, vase, cup, etc) and a small gift. Around the village, there’re many workshops or artisan families available to receive the entry ticket and teach visitors.

The best way to get from Kim Bong carpentry village to Thanh Ha pottery village is via Cam Kim bridge (the new one). When travelers go to the other side of the river, it’s needed to turn right and go straight after the traffic light. Turn right again and follow Duy Tan St until the ticket counter is seen (it’s near the Thanh Ha terracotta park).

Tra Que Vegetable Village

Tra Que vegetable growing village is 9 km north of Kim Bong carpentry village. It’s between the Old town and An Bang beach. For more than 400 years, local inhabitants here have grown vegetables and herbs by traditional techniques and that are friendly to the environment.

From Kim Bong carpentry village to Tra Que vegetable village, travelers can go by car, or personal vehicles (motorbike, bicycle). By car, it takes 15 minutes. By motorbike or bicycle, to save time, getting to the Old town via the iron Cam Kim bridge or a boat ferry is recommended. From the Old town, it’s needed to find Hai Ba Trung St and then just follow it northwards (direction to the beach). The village is after the rice fields.

Cam Thanh Coconut Village

This village is 16 km away from Kim Bong carpentry village. It’s a fishing village, but also known as the water coconut village because it has an extensive palm forest in rivers. See more information and details in https://centralvietnamguide.com/hoi-an-coconut-village/

The most interesting activity is going into the water coconut forest by a basket boat, the unique round bamboo boat in Hoi An. Usually, the ride is less than 1 hour. Local people may shake or spin the boat while floating on the river (the ‘spinning boat ride’ is liked by many tourists because it’s adventurous). Other things to do in the village are cooking class, foot massage, bamboo making class, lantern making class, etc.  

From Kim Bong carpentry village to Cam Thanh village, travelers should go by Cua Dai bridge instead of going through Hoi An city.

Tra Nhieu Fishing Village

4,5 km west of Kim Bong carpentry village, in the same Cam Kim island, Tra Nhieu fishing village is an unpopular tourist place. It’s home to fishermen who catch fishes in Thu Bon river and nearby islands, farmers who grow rice or corn or vegetables. A water coconut village is here too, coupled with a basket boat tour (no touristy at all).