To preserve, nurture, reenact, and promote the distinctive cultural values of the nation, focusing on the craft villages of Hanoi as a hub to extend to other regions, the Vietnamese Craft Villages Conservation and Development Festival 2023 is scheduled to take place from November 9 to November 12, 2023, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hanoi.
Delegates participated in the press conference on the information about the Vietnamese Craft Villages Conservation and Development Festival 2023
Scheduled from November 9 to November 12, 2023, the Vietnamese Craft Villages Conservation and Development Festival 2023 will feature three main events: an honors ceremony for artisans and skilled craftsmen is expected to be held on the morning of November 9, 2023, with approximately 100 delegates, including artisans and skilled craftsmen from various provinces and centrally-governed cities. The festival’s opening ceremony is planned for the evening of November 9, 2023, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, along with an international fair showcasing craft village products and OCOP (One Commune, One Product) items with a specially designed layout of 300 exhibition booths.
The fair booths are divided into distinct exhibition spaces, namely the creative space of Hanoi’s craft villages, the space showcasing and introducing international fine arts and crafts, the space exhibiting fine arts and crafts products, the heritage craft village space, the space for experiencing regional OCOP culinary cultures, the booths of fine arts and crafts, and products from craft villages across the country, as well as the OCOP product exhibition at the Vietnamese Craft Villages Conservation and Development Festival.
From November 9 to November 12, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will lead and coordinate with various units to organize events in response to the festival. These include an evening performance of the traditional cultural art program of craft villages, an international seminar on “Conservation and Development of Craft Villages,” a seminar on building a silkworm and mulberry material region, and the Vietnam Fine Arts and Crafts Product Contest 2023.
On the part of the co-organizing units, the Hanoi People’s Committee will also host activities in response to the festival, such as the Procession of Craft Ancestors and the Cultural and Tourism Trade Week of Van Phuc Craft Village in 2023, themed “Van Phuc – Colors of Integration.” The program will also include an award ceremony for Hanoi Craft Village products in 2023, the introduction of OCOP products related to the culture of the Southern provinces, a festival and exhibition of products from Phu Xuyen district’s craft villages, the Autumn Festival of Hanoi, the International Handicrafts Gift Fair of Hanoi in 2023, and the organization of tours and experiences in craft villages in Hanoi, including Bat Trang, Van Phuc, and Duong Lam.
Continuing the success of the Vietnamese Craft Village Fair in previous years, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Hanoi, is organizing the Vietnamese Craft Villages Conservation and Development Festival 2023 on an international scale.
This event holds significant importance in preserving, nurturing, recreating, and promoting the cultural values of tradition, shaping the contemporary culture of Vietnamese craft villages. It focuses on using Hanoi’s craft villages as a central hub to radiate influence to other regions. The festival aims to create an environment for the exchange, and sharing of experiences, and knowledge related to the production and business of craft products. It also seeks to honor artisans, skilled craftsmen, and laborers in craft villages, promoting and introducing traditional craft villages and streets within Hanoi and nationwide. Ultimately, the festival aims to gradually boost consumption, enhance the value of products, and contribute to the development of tourism in these craft villages.
“The participation of international booths at the Festival will create highlights and experiential points for visitors, simultaneously helping Vietnamese artisans understand changes, grasp global demand trends, and enhance their skills,” shared Mr. Nguyen Minh Tien.
According to Mr. Le Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), Vietnam has been exporting handicraft products for many years. However, there have been periods when our mass production did not correspond to the potential and advantages. Therefore, in the upcoming time, there is a need to elevate the quality of handicraft products. The Festival will facilitate exchanges, discussions, and market exploration for craft villages. “Without innovation, change in design, and models, handicraft products will undoubtedly face challenges in exports,” he emphasized.
As a supporting unit for the program, Mr. Nguyen Van Chi, Deputy Head of the Office of New Rural Construction Coordination in Hanoi, stated that the Vietnamese Craft Villages Conservation and Development Festival 2023 is an opportunity for Hanoi’s residents and artisans to exchange and share experiences nationally and internationally. Through this, they can crystallize products to both preserve the craft villages and meet the market demands worldwide.