Craft village tourism to be developed

Traditional craft villages in Vietnam are increasingly attracting tourists thanks to the long-standing culture and signature products. Craft village tourism will bring economic benefits, create jobs, and preserve tradition.

Silk products made in Hanoi’s Van Phuc village (Photo: Lan Anh/VOV5)

Most traditional craft villages are hundreds of years old or even thousands of years old. Moreover, Vietnam has 12 intangible cultural heritages of humanity, more than 40,000 national cultural heritages, and about 10,000 festivals, many of which are in craft villages.

The Vietnam Craft Village Association has collected opinions of visitors and craftsmen on the actual needs of tourists and the villages’ ability to meet the demand.

Luu Duy Dan, Chairman of the Vietnam Craft Village Association, said, “From now until 2023, the Association has set a program of action to link the communities of craft villages, preserve culture, develop tourism, and integrate into the world.

A number of villages has been selected to be included in tour itinerary. They include Bat Trang pottery village and Van Phuc silk village in Hanoi, Dong Ho folk painting village in Bac Ninh province, Doi Tam drum village in Ha Nam province, Non Nuoc fine-art stone village in Da Nang City, and Bau Truc pottery village in Ninh Thuan province. Inter-regional tours have also been developed.

Tran Duc Hai, Director of the Hanoi Tourism Department, underscored the need to develop qualified human resources and encourage villagers to engage in providing tourism services because today visitors to craft villages want to make their own products instead of only visiting or buying craft products as souvenirs.

“Human resources, such as local artisans are very important. They are the ambassadors of craft village tourism. Visitors who learn the distinguished values of the craft first-hand will have an experience of greater significance. The culture of the villages attracts them more. They will surely be interested in hands-on experience. Such services can attract tourists and encourage them to spend more on buying products,” Hai explained.

Craft villages are asked to protect, restore, and embellish cultural and historical relics as well as revive and develop folklore. In addition, it’s necessary to diversify products in patterns, designs, and quality and create signature items.

Nguyen Van Truong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Ha Dong district, Hanoi, said, “Ha Dong district has many craft villages of which one-thousand-year-old Van Phuc silk village is the most famous.

We plan to turn Van Phuc into an international destination. The district has called for investment worth millions of USD to restore the entire system of pagodas, temples, and shrines and rebuild the temple to worship the forefathers of the craft. We have also arranged food, flower, and silk trade streets and adjusted product patterns to meet tourists’ needs.”

Developing craft village tourism is a good way to promote the image of Vietnam, its land and people to the world.

VOV5