Kim Bong Carpentry Village: A must-see destination in Hoi An

Kim Bong is the woodworking village on Cam Kim Island, a ten-minute boat ride across the Thu Bon River from Hoi An Old Town. Its carpenters built much of the old town’s woodwork, and family workshops here still carve furniture and build and repair wooden boats. It is worth a morning if you like crafts or a quiet bike ride.

Kim Bong Carpentry village is not the only place remaining the traditional habits and customs of Hoi An; but it is also considered the origin of craftsmen generations nowadays. Along with Thanh Ha village and Tra Que village, Kim Bong village is one of the craft villages around Hoi An, the town that grew into an international trading port from the late 16th century.

Nowadays, the village retains its traditions and develops the techniques of sculpture, which is considered “the specialty” of the village.

History of Kim Bong Carpentry Village

It is rumored that Kim Bong carpentry ancestors were originated from the groups of people living along the Northern Delta, and the North Central region; local tradition says the founder of the trade came from Thanh Hoa. They all were the skillful woodworkers leaving their hometown and wandering to make ends meet in the 16th century. At first, only a few woodworkers could manage and sustain their daily lives. Gradually, in addition to conventional cottages, and bamboo houses, they commenced making household appliances, vehicles, such as boats and ships, which fostered them to improve the living standard.

Since the end of the 16th century, as Hoi An grew into an international trading port, Kim Bong carpenters had steady work on its houses, temples and boats. The trade settled into four main branches: building carpentry, household furniture, decorative carving and boatbuilding.

Owning the exquisite skills, craftsmen of Kim Bong could meet the requirements of the state of the art architecture, religious buildings, as well as advanced types of equipment for transportation, construction, and war.

Kim Bong carpentry has been on Vietnam’s national list of intangible cultural heritage since 2016. Many investment and projects have been implemented to connect the downtown Hoi An and Cam Kim Island (the location of Kim Bong Carpentry village).

In brief, coming to Kim Bong Carpentry village, tourists would have a chance to explore a craft village dating from around the 16th century; Hoi An’s official Creative City site describes it as more than 500 years old.

Highlights of Kim Bong Carpentry Village

This village is worth a detour from Hoi An thanks to its combination of location, woodwork, as well as ancient buildings.

1. The Convenience of Location and Transportation

On the grounds that Cam Kim Island is situated nearly on the downstream of Thu Bon river, the transportation of merchants is partially facilitated. Moreover, the village is opposite the Hoi An ancient town, so tourists could easily commute from the town to the village by a 10-minute boat ride from the Bach Dang riverfront.

If you are unfamiliar with traveling by waterways, you definitely could reach the village by crossing the steel Cam Kim bridge, which carries only two-wheelers between the island and the Hoi An side. Admittedly, the location and transportation have created the uniqueness and popularity of the village.

2. The Rustic Features of Carvings

Unlike other craft villages, Kim Bong products remain distinctive techniques, which only experienced craftsmen could realize and distinguish. Each of the craftsmen here is into making carving products and desires to put their soul into the smallest details.

Somewhat affected by the cultural exchange of the Northern Feudal system; however, all the patterns of Kim Bong artisans always take the image of a dragon, phoenix, and flowers as symbols of power, energy, and prosperity. 

One special thing about the products of Kim Bong craftsmen is the structure and content of the completed ones. Through the pictures on the carvings, tourists may have an overview and feel the daily lives of Hoi An – A town of cultural values and long-lasting history.

3. The Ancient Constructions of Kim Bong Village

Another typical feature of Kim Bong Carpentry Village is perfectly demonstrated through the old buildings of Hoi An: townhouses, family ancestral halls, communal houses, pagodas and shrines.

Not only the famous buildings in Kim Bong village but most of the old wooden buildings in Hoi An were built and carved by Kim Bong carpenters.

In addition to the ancient town of Hoi An, the Nguyen court recruited carpenters from Kim Bong village to Hue to build palaces and royal tombs for the kings.

In fact, Kim Bong carpentry village has gained a reputation for not only wonderful location, rustic buildings, but also the prominent constructions, which attracts both domestic and foreign tourists to come and discover on a yearly basis.

What to Do in Kim Bong Carpentry Village?

The workshops are spread over several hamlets. According to the Da Nang tourism portal, Trung Chau and Phuoc Thang specialise in decorative and building woodwork, Trung Ha and Vinh Thanh are where household furniture making began, and Dong Ha and Ngoc Thanh lean towards building boats.

1. Watching the Daily Routines of the Carvers

Famous for the sophistication and meticulosity in each step, all furniture and products are highly appreciated by nationally-acclaimed artisan groups. The popular products in the carving workshops are indoor appliances, religious statues, as well as souvenir products.

Visiting the village, tourists can directly see the different stages before the large blocks of wood are turned into useful items in almost all households through the hands of skillful craftsmen. 

Besides working as craftsmen at their house, many local artisans have decided to move to the Hoi An ancient town to preserve and recover the historical relics and houses. 

2. Moving to the Boatyards by the River

From the carving workshops, you can carry on to the boatbuilding hamlets of Dong Ha and Ngoc Thanh and discover the activities of the locals here. Unlike the furniture makers, the main products of the craftsmen here are the wooden boats, which has become an indispensable part of the Kim Bong people.

Along the riverside, tourists could contemplate a row of old big ships.

One interesting thing about this land is that apart from the new modern ships, their daily responsibility is repairing and refurbishing the discarded ones. In other words, they revitalize and recharge the battery of the old ships with a view to taking advantage of them.

3. Dropping on the Souvenir Shops

Alongside the road, there is a numerous shop of small keepsakes where you and your family can keep for yourself. 

The price of these items is affordable because they are directly made by getting the best out of remains when making the furniture and household appliances. Ask the price before you pick something up.

The big date in the village calendar is the Kim Bong Traditional Craft Village Festival, held around the 12th day of the first lunar month in recent years; check the date for the coming year. The 2026 edition (27–28 February) brought craft demonstrations, a ritual first cut of timber and boat races, and master carver Huynh Suong was named People’s Artisan.

4. Trying Wood Carving in the Village

If you have a sense of curiosity about making a handmade craft, becoming an “apprentice carpenter” would be the best remedy.

Some workshops let you sit down and carve a simple piece for a small fee; ask at the workshop.

Is Kim Bong Village Free to Visit?

Yes, if you just walk or cycle around: travel guides updated in 2026 agree there is no entrance fee for the village itself. The paid option is the guided visit Hoi An launched on 1 June 2024 at the Kim Bong Craft Village Centre: 35,000 VND per adult, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. It covers the craft exhibition house, carving and boatbuilding workshops and Cam Kim market, with a go at carving or mat weaving and a small souvenir made in the village.

Children from outside Hoi An pay half, and a group buying eight or more tickets gets the guide free. These are 2024 prices and no newer notice turned up, so confirm at the centre.

Our Hoi An handicraft villages by bike day trip crosses to Kim Bong by local boat and includes a carving session; more options are in our Hoi An tours list.

How to Get to the Kim Bong Carpentry Village?

Kim Bong Carpentry village is located on Cam Kim Island, which since 1 July 2025 has been part of Hoi An Ward, Da Nang City (before the merger: Cam Kim Commune, Hoi An city, Quang Nam Province). Guided visits start from the Kim Bong Craft Village Centre in Trung Ha residential group.

The most prevalent way for tourists to come to the village is taking a boat from the Bach Dang riverfront in Hoi An, near the market. The crossing takes about 10 minutes. Travel guides quote roughly 25,000–50,000 VND a person, so agree on the fare before you get in.

Another way is traveling by bike or motorbike. You must get across the steel Cam Kim bridge, which is open to two-wheelers only. From the Japanese Covered Bridge the whole ride is about 3.5 km by road.

A car or taxi cannot use the steel bridge, so the road trip is longer: 6.3–6.5 km from the Japanese Covered Bridge, and 31–32 km from Da Nang International Airport.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Kim Bong?

Go in the morning, ideally between about 8 and 10 am, when the carvers are at their benches. Many workshops stop for a long break in the middle of the day. Recent Google reviews of Cam Kim Island often mention its quiet lanes and rice fields, good for a loop by bicycle or motorbike.

Floods on the Thu Bon come mostly in October and November. In the historic flood at the end of October 2025, the water rose almost to the roof of the Japanese Covered Bridge.

Extra Tips on Traveling Kim Bong Carpentry Village

• Check the weather forecast to avoid traveling in the stormy and rainy season, which deter you against joining in outdoor activities; October and November are the usual flood months
• Dressing casually, because the village is considered the countryside with traditional habits and customs. The village entrance is free of charge
• The tour is suitable for a family trip, especially for children. They could widen their horizon about history as well as a valuable culture of Vietnam.
• Agree on the boat fare before you get in, and carry small notes for the boat and for souvenirs
• With a full day, pair Kim Bong with Cam Thanh village; more ideas are in our Hoi An travel guide

Sources: Da Nang tourism portal (danangfantasticity.com), August 2025; Hoi An heritage centre, guided-visit notice and Hoi An radio and TV (ticket prices), May 2024; Hoi An Creative City (2024); VietnamNews, 30 October 2025 (flood); distances: OpenStreetMap