(VOVWORLD) - Hanoi has long been known as the point of convergence of Vietnamese craft villages, which has brought in great economic and social values. The preservation and development of craft villages play an important role in economic restructuring, comprehensive and sustainable growth of rural areas, increasing income, and improving the material and spiritual life of rural people.
 The stylized circular architectural complex of the traditional gourd-shaped kiln (Photo: Duong Dinh Tuong) |
According to the Vietnam Association of Craft Villages, Hanoi is home to 1,350 craft villages, the most of any city in Vietnam. The capital has 47 of the 52 traditional crafts nationwide.
Over the years, these craft villages have increased revenue, productivity, and exports. 100 of them have earned revenues between 400,000 and 800,000 USD per year. 70 have earned 800,000 to 2 million USD per year, and 20 have earned more than 2 million USD per year.
Hanoi’s craft villages have generated nearly 900 million USD per year in revenue and have created many employment opportunities, including jobs for people with disabilities.
The average income of workers in craft villages – 160 USD to 220 USD per month – is much higher than that of workers in purely agricultural villages. In Nam Tu Liem, Tay Ho, Hoai Duc, Bac Tu Liem, and Thach That district, craft artisans earn nearly 2,000 USD per person per year.
 Artisan Ha Thi Vinh, Director of the Quang Vinh Ceramics Company. (Photo: Duong Dinh Tuong) |
In recent years craft villages have found creative ways to attract partners and domestic and foreign tourists.
In Bat Trang pottery village, for example, a modified complex of gourd-shaped kilns built by artisan Ha Thi Vinh has become a tourist attraction.
Vinh, who is the Director of the Quang Vinh Ceramics Company, said, “I’m very happy that Bat Trang ceramic products are so popular. People come to hear the story of Bat Trang, see authentic Bat Trang products, and enjoy the cuisine of Bat Trang village.”
In the well-known Van Phuc silk village the Hanoi suburb of Ha Dong, handing down the craft from generation to generation is an important task.
Pham Khac Ha, Chairman of the Van Phuc Silk Weaving Village Association, said that they encourage younger villagers to continue our traditional craft. Many of them, after completing school, choose to get involved in the local business.
To improve the competitiveness of traditional craft village products, Hanoi’s administration regularly organizes events, product weeks, competitions, and festivals and helps craft villagers participate in domestic and international trade fairs in order to preserve their crafts and adapt them to contemporary tastes.
 Silk products of Van Phuc village in Hanoi (Photo: hanoionline.vn) |
Hanoi has lots of craft villages, but few of them have fully tapped their full potential because of a lack of a master plan. So the Hanoi People's Committee has created a plan to help craft villages grow sustainably while preserving their cultural identity, increasing workers’ incomes, and contributing to the city’s economy.
The plan mobilizes financial resources for restructuring in line with the National Target Program on New-Style Rural Building.
Nguyen Manh Quyen, Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said that Hanoi authorities are committed to standing side by side with enterprises, cooperatives, and business households to implement solutions to remove obstacles in administrative procedures and investment and improve the business environment.
“Local agencies and sectors will work with businesses and individuals to build a civilized, modern capital and pursue the goals of ‘serving government - dedicated businesses - trustful society - happy people’,” said Quyen.
In addition to its rural industry development plan 2024, Hanoi is completing a master plan for craft village development for 2024-2025, with a vision to 2050, to identify goals and put forward solutions to remove difficulties and help craft villages develop sustainably.