Fostering Handicraft-Based Cultural Industries

In the Development Strategy for Vietnam's Cultural Industries to 2020, with a vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister in 2016, handicraft is defined as one of the 12 key sectors to develop cultural industries.

OCOP products reflect both economic value and local cultural significance

Hanoi values its unique handicraft industries, aligning with Resolution 09-NQ/TU from February 22, 2022, which prioritizes handicrafts as a key sector for investment and development in its cultural industries plan for 2021-2025, with a vision to 2030.

Huge resources

Handicraft is considered an important industry in Hanoi’s economic growth, with great export potential and high profit margin. The export value of handicrafts is currently bringing in great added value and becoming an investment priority of the city. In fact, handicraft is expected to be an inspirational and motivational industry leading and promoting the development of other cultural industries.

For industries that require a lot of innovation, aesthetic sense and artistic inspiration such as handicraft, the human factor plays an even more important role. Hanoi possesses a lot of hardworking, talented and dynamic artisans and craftspeople. According to official statistics, Hanoi has the largest number of artisans, accounting for 47/52 handicraft industries nationwide, including lacquer, mother-of-pearl inlay, embroidery, silk weaving, ceramics, rattan and bamboo weaving. A majority of artisans and craftspeople in Hanoi are talented and gifted. They are descendants of many long-standing handicraft families. They have not only had the experiences and professional secrets of previous generations passed down to them, but they are also very dynamic and creative in adopting new things as well as scientific and technological progress.

My Duc mulberry silk,

Powered by good human resources, the handicraft industry of Hanoi has produced many positive outcomes. The United States is one of the largest consumer markets, accounting for about 35% of its annual export value. Other big export markets include Japan, the European Union (especially Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands), Australia and South Korea. Ceramic and wooden products are increasingly sold in Taiwan (China), Australia and Japan while mother-of-pearl inlaid products and bamboo and rattan products are widely sold in Europe.

Currently, Hanoi has 1,350 craft villages, including 308 traditional craft villages, many of which are famous: Van Phuc silk (Ha Dong), Bat Trang ceramics (Gia Lam), Phu Vinh bamboo and rattan weaving (Chuong My), Quat Dong embroidery and Ha Thai lacquerware (Thuong Tin), Chuon Ngo mother-of-pearl inlay (Phu Xuyen), along with many pottery villages, mattress villages, silk villages, carpentry villages, bronze villages, silversmith villages and lace embroidery villages. A large number are villages make fine-art handicrafts, one of six strong cultural industries that Hanoi prioritizes for development from now to 2025.

The development of craft villages associated with cultural industries not only contributes to preserving and enriching the profession but also fosters cultural development and creates the identity and brand of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. That identity and brand will help position Hanoi in the international arena, the millennial capital of culture, the city for peace and the city of innovation. Therefore, unleashing cultural resources for the sustainable development of Hanoi is extremely important.

Craft villages and streets preserve traditional cultural values 

Becoming a key cultural industry

Hanoi's craft villages and streets boast talented artisans, but their potential has long been underutilized. Development has been inadequate, with villages left to operate independently, lacking leadership to harness their strengths and achieve common goals.

Mr. Luu Duy Dan, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Craft Villages, said that craft villages must embrace culture and tourism to thrive in today's integrated environment. Successful craft villages enjoy good security, fewer violations and more job opportunities for youth.

Meanwhile, Prof. Tu Thi Loan, member of the National Heritage Council, acknowledged that handicrafts in Hanoi are supporting the formation of thousands of manufacturers, traders, exporters and service companies. The city’s handicrafts are gradually being transformed to become valuable creative items, appearing in many countries around the world. To sustainably develop Hanoi's handicraft industry as a cultural capital, we need a long-term strategy with practical solutions. Success requires the efforts of producers, trade associations, and strong support from the government and relevant agencies. The handicraft industry is crucial for local economic growth, offers significant export potential and provides high profit margins.

Mr. Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, said Hanoi has striven to form a national creative OCOP design center and showroom, which is associated with cultural tourism and cultural development by 2025. Integrating more values for craft villages such as tourism development and visitor experiences is extremely important.

Indeed, craft villages and craft streets both preserve and honor traditional cultural values and also act as extremely important economic bases. Therefore, cultural development in Hanoi’s traditional craft villages needs to be further fostered to create more strength to shape and develop cultural industry for the capital city.

By Dinh Bao, Vietnam Business Forum

The page in collaboration with Hanoi Rural Development Department