Saad al-Qaddumi, President of the World Crafts Council, praised Vietnam, particularly its traditional craft villages, for their longstanding reputation in producing exquisite handmade goods that have been carefully preserved and developed over centuries.
Every lunar new year, Sinh village in the central city of Hue comes alive with vibrant energy, as the nearly 450-year-old tradition of folk painting takes center stage. These iconic artworks are more than just a testament to artistic craftsmanship. They're a profound reflection of the region's spiritual and cultural identity, making Sinh Village a unique gem of the ancient capital.
With nearly six centuries of history, Dong Xam silver engraving village in Kien Xuong district stands as a symbol of Thai Binh's traditional craftsmanship, renowned for its intricate designs. Despite modern challenges, local artisans work tirelessly to preserve the legacy of the "Dong Xam silver engraving" brand.
From the initial coarse carpets, Ca Hom mats have gradually built a reputation in the market with a diverse range of products, from plain and colored mats to those with floral patterns and printed characters.
New vitality in Nhi Khe traditional woodturning villageFor hundreds of years, Nhi Khe village in Hanoi’s Thuong Tin district has been home to the fine craft of wood turning.
Upholding the centuries-old craft of making ceramics, artisan Nguyen Van Loi, his wife Pham Thi Chau, and other villagers are maintaining the soul of the Bat Trang pottery village and help their products reach global markets.
The craft village and creative design festival 2024 opened in Hanoi's Thuong Tin district on October 11, alongside an exhibition featuring the district's One Commune-One Product (OCOP) products and handicrafts.
Craft villages play a crucial role in Hanoi’s socio-economic development, particularly in rural economic growth, and their products deliver messages about the culture, history and people of the capital city to domestic and international consumers. Over the past years, the capital city has focused on tapping advantages and strength of craft villages, particularly the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme to elevate the locality’s cultural values.
Located 15 km north of the city of Hue, the Bao La bamboo and rattan craft village in Quang Phu commune, Quang Dien district, Thua Thien-Hue province has thrived for over 600 years, and become an unmissable destination for tourists visiting Hue who love Vietnamese culture and tradition.
The craft of building houses from bamboo trees and coconut leaves in Cam Thanh commune of Hoi An City in the central province of Quang Nam has at times seemed destined to fade away due to new construction materials that are cheap and durable.
In addition to investing in technological innovation, developing strong brands for traditional craft village products enhances the competitiveness of in a sustainable manner.
Traditional craft villages and rural industries not only create jobs and bring economic value to rural workers, but also are a convergence and crystallisation of historical and cultural valuesof that land and local people.
The Hanoi Department of Tourism in collaboration with Phu Xuyen district People’s Committee on April 26 organised a meeting to boost link between travel businesses and tourism destinations in order to promote craft village tourism in the city.
The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports in collaboration with the University of Industrial Fine Arts on August 22 launched a contest to seek new and unique ideas in creative spaces, designs and products for Hanoi.
Dong Cuu village in Dung Tien commune of Hanoi’s outlying district of Thuong Tin has long been famous for its traditional embroidery, especially the making of royal robes for kings of feudal dynasties in Vietnam, and the craft has still been upheld nowadays.
Nguyen Quoc Su, a 79-year-old embroidery artisan who has practised the craft for over 60 years, still works on his embroidery frame every day, helping to preserve and promote the traditional craft of the nation.
Cua Khe fish sauce village in Thang Binh district in central Quang Nam province is capitalising on strengths in local tourism and cultural values to develop its traditional craft in a sustainable manner.
