International Craft Village Festival 2025: Hanoi Honors Heritage, Connects Creativity

On the evening of 14 November, at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Center, Hanoi solemnly opened the International Craft Village Preservation and Development Festival 2025. The event was jointly organized by the Hanoi People’s Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, under the theme “Preservation – Development – International Integration.” The Festival brings together representatives from more than 30 countries and territories, along with thousands of artisans, experts, researchers, and businesses in the global handicrafts sector.

Opening Ceremony of the International Craft Village Preservation and Development Festival 2025

Attending the opening ceremony were Mr. Lê Minh Hoan, Member of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly; Mr. Sundeep Kumar, Vice President of the World Crafts Council; along with leaders of many central ministries and agencies and the Hanoi municipal government.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Trung emphasized that the Festival is not only a large-scale cultural, economic, and social activity but also a bridge connecting the heritage of the past with the spirit of contemporary creativity. According to him, Hanoi is steadfastly pursuing a development orientation of “preservation alongside innovation,” viewing culture as an endogenous resource and a key driver of sustainable development. This year’s Festival is vivid proof of efforts to position the Capital as a regional center of creativity and cultural exchange.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Trung delivers remarks at the Festival

A special highlight of the 2025 Festival is the harmonious blending of the Flower Festival and the Craft Village Festival. The Thang Long space is illuminated by vibrant floral colors, combined with exquisite products crafted by artisans from Vietnam and around the world. Flowers symbolize beauty and vitality, while craft villages embody craftsmanship, intellect, and tradition. This combination conveys the Festival’s overarching message: Culture and creativity—connecting to spread, integrating to develop.

In addition to performances and exhibitions, the Festival also serves as a forum for exchange, experience sharing, and trade connectivity. Artisans from various countries have opportunities to exchange techniques, introduce products, and experience OCOP culinary culture—where each dish is associated with a story and regional identity.

At the event, the World Crafts Council continues to implement evaluation and appraisal programs for two craft villages, Sơn Đồng and Chuyên Mỹ, for recognition within the World Creative Cities Network. Once approved, Hanoi will have two additional internationally honored craft villages alongside Bát Tràng and Vạn Phúc—an important milestone affirming the Capital’s position as a center of creative handicrafts on the international stage.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Võ Văn Hưng noted that traditional handicraft products are not only livelihoods but also the “soul of national culture.”

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Võ Văn Hưng stated that traditional handicraft products are not only livelihoods but also the “soul of national culture.” He recalled the folk verse, “Nga Son mats, Bat Trang bricks – Nam Dinh silk fabrics, Ha Dong silk,” as evidence of the resilience and creativity of the Vietnamese people. According to him, each craft village is a page of culture, preserving traditional values and shaping Vietnamese identity amid globalization.

The 2025 Festival takes place over five days with a wide range of activities: the international workshop “Preservation and Development of Craft Villages in the Green and Digital Era,” trade and investment promotion conferences, a Vietnamese handicraft product competition, and a craft village and safe agricultural food fair. This is a meeting space for artisans, researchers, policymakers, and businesses from many countries, creating opportunities to expand cooperation, investment, and market development.

Delegates visit several exhibition booths at the event

This year’s event has attracted the attention of many international organizations, diplomatic agencies, and foreign embassies. The Festival has become a bridge for cultural exchange and people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to strengthening friendship and promoting the image of a proactive, positive, and creative Vietnam in international integration.

Covering an area of more than 4,000 m², the Festival is organized into multiple functional spaces such as the Honor Space, Heritage – Preservation Space, thematic exhibitions on craft village tourism, green economy, Net-Zero, digital transformation, and an international artisan–artist exchange area. These activities create a vivid picture of the intersection between tradition and modernity, between Vietnamese identity and global excellence.

This year’s event attracts the interest of many international visitors

The International Craft Village Preservation and Development Festival 2025 takes place from 14 to 18 November, promising to offer a journey of exploring multicolored culture, spreading the spirit of creativity, and affirming Hanoi’s position on the global handicrafts map.

Source: Vietnam Business Forum