(VOVWORLD) - The first Vietnam Craft Villages Festival has opened at Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi with many cultural activities, offering an opportunity for craft villages nationwide to bring their products closer to domestic and international consumers. The event is jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Hanoi People’s Committee.
 Bat Trang ceramics on display at the Vietnam Craft Villages Festival 2023. (Photo: Le Phuong) |
42 provinces and cities across the country are showcasing their handicraft products at the festival which will run until Sunday. The Hanoi Craft Villages Creative Space features 80 standard booths, designed in traditional Vietnamese patterns and arranged on more than 2,000 square meters of floor space.
Their products include Bat Trang ceramics, My Duc silk, Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan, Ha Thai lacquer, Chuon Ngo inlaid mother-of-pearl, Chuong palm-leaf conical hats, and more; each with a range of different designs to choose from.
Ta Thu Huong, a seller of Chuong palm-leaf conical hats, said, “There are 30 different designs, including the popular silk conical hat, the traditional palm-leaf hats, and the more unique ones like those made from lotus or bodhi leaves.”
 Chuong conical hats. (Photo: Le Phuong) |
During the festival, artisans from craft villages in Hanoi perform the process of making their respective local specialties.
Meritorious artisan Phan Thi Thuan from Phung Xa silk village represents her village at the festival and performs the art of teasing out the lotus fibers and intricately weaving them.
“Many people come to take a look and buy our products. They are a source of motivation for artisans like us to put our soul into every items. Each craft village has its own specialty. We are happy to introduce and promote ours and have the opportunity to exchange and learn from others to create products,” she said.
 An artisan performs her lotus silk weaving craft at the festival. (Photo: Le Phuong) |
 Xuan La to he toy figurines. (Photo: Le Phuong) |
Do Thu Lien from Hanoi is one of many who were drawn to the performances at the festival.
“There’s a wide variety of products here. I bought quite a lot of traditional handicraft articles myself and learned a lot about Vietnam’s craft villages. I can feel the artisans’ passion for preserving their crafts through their performances,” she said.
Promoting handicraft products on a large-scale at the professionally organized Vietnam Craft Villages Festival rather thanat small and medium trade fairs and exhibitionshas proven effective.
“During the festival, we discussed and signed agreements with international agencies on how to preserve craft villages in Hanoi. I hope the festival can be held annually to motivate craft villages and artisans to further develop,” Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen said.
 Thach Xa bamboo dragonfly toys. (Photo: Le Phuong) |