On 17 November, Chuyen My Commune (Phu Xuyen District, Hanoi) welcomed nearly 200 international delegates to visit and work as part of the appraisal program to recognize the Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft village as a member of the World Creative Craft Cities Network in 2025, organized by the World Crafts Council (WCC).
Nearly 200 international delegates visited and worked at the Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft village on 17 November
Participating in and working with the international expert delegation were Ms. Tran Thi Dung, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Chuyen My Commune Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Huu Chi, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Commune People’s Committee; together with leaders of the People’s Council, People’s Committee, Fatherland Front Committee, and representatives of local departments, agencies, and mass organizations.
During the working visit, the international expert delegation surveyed the entire production process and stages of mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craftsmanship, and visited many representative establishments in the hamlets of Chuon Ngo, Boi Khe, Chuon Trung, Chuon Thuong, and others. On site, delegates expressed strong impressions of the village’s long-standing traditions, the artisans’ creative spirit, innovations in product designs, as well as the craft’s important contributions to local economic and cultural development.
The international expert delegation directly surveyed the production process and techniques of mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer
At the working session, leaders of Chuyen My Commune introduced an overview of the village’s formation history, orientations for preservation associated with sustainable development, as well as policies to promote creativity, the application of science and technology, and market expansion.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Huong, Vice Chairwoman of the Commune People’s Committee, said that the locality had proactively made detailed preparations for the inspection, fully meeting all nine key criteria of the World Crafts Council regarding craft history, production environment, creativity, and community role. To date, Chuyen My has completed all criteria and is ready for the international appraisal round.
Local leaders assessed that this appraisal program is an important opportunity to promote the image of the craft village, expand international cooperation, and affirm the position of Vietnamese handicrafts on the global creative map.
The delegation was also introduced to an overview of the village’s formation history and orientations for preservation and development of traditional crafts
Chuyen My is located near National Highway 1A, the Phap Van–Cau Gie Expressway, and the Nhue River, and is home to many famous craft villages such as Phu Yen leather shoes, Van Tu garment making, Tan Dan carpentry, and especially Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer. This forms a foundation for a rich and closely linked traditional craft ecosystem.
Over the past five years, the proportion of the local workforce engaged in handicraft production has increased from 50% to nearly 90%, of which mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer account for more than 90% of the labor structure.
With a history of nearly 1,000 years, especially in Chuon Ngo Hamlet, the mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft village is renowned for its sophisticated material processing and inlay techniques. Currently, the hamlet has about 20 recognized artisans who continue and promote the essence of this ancient craft.
Hanoi City has invested in several craft village industrial clusters such as Phu Yen (10.5 ha) and Van Tu (6.59 ha) to improve production efficiency and the competitiveness of Chuyen My handicraft products.
Practical development has shown the strong vitality of the local mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft. As of August 2025, Boi Khe Hamlet has seen dozens of newly established enterprises, with more than 180 production facilities in operation, creating jobs for workers both inside and outside the commune. Many artisans such as Mr. Dinh Van Hao and Mr. Dinh Ngoc Anh have been awarded the title of “Craft Village Artisan.” Notably, Mr. Hao’s family has been recognized by Hanoi City as a “Traditional Family Brand.”
The delegation visited production workshops in the craft village
According to Mr. Anh, his family has practiced the mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft for three generations. To date, Viet Lacquer Company, of which he is the Director, has exported many products to countries such as the United States and Japan. The company has also conducted extensive research to ensure its products meet consumer demand in these major markets. Currently, Boi Khe Hamlet has addressed most types of waste, especially smoke and dust emissions into the environment compared with the past. Transport infrastructure is also gradually being improved, supporting production and goods circulation. In addition to eight production facilities supplying products to the market, the company regularly opens training classes for young workers in the village in order to preserve and develop the village’s traditional craft.
Mr. Vu Van Dinh, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Phu Xuyen Agricultural Cooperative, said that the Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft has a history of more than 1,000 years and has always been a sustainable livelihood for many generations. Thanks to this craft, the appearance of the countryside has changed markedly, and people’s living standards have continued to improve.
Local authorities have continuously accompanied the craft through investments in machinery, technological innovation, product promotion, and the promotion of domestic and international trade.
Previously, on the afternoon of 16 November, Chuyen My Commune welcomed a World Crafts Council delegation for a preliminary appraisal. The delegation visited the temple dedicated to the ancestor of the mother-of-pearl inlay craft in Chuon Ngo Hamlet to learn about the craft’s history, and toured the Center for the Introduction of Mother-of-Pearl Inlay and Lacquer Products, where many works demonstrating exquisite techniques and high artistic value are displayed.
The delegation also surveyed several production facilities, listened to artisans share about production processes, design innovation, and sustainable development orientations. In addition, the delegation visited Chuon Trung Communal House, Chuon Thuong Communal House, and Boi Khe Village Communal House—cultural structures closely associated with community life.
Mr. Sundeep Kumar, Vice President of WCC for the Asia–Pacific region, impressed by the products of artisans from Chuyen My Craft Village
At the working session, Mr. Sundeep Kumar, Vice President of WCC for the Asia–Pacific region, highly appreciated the vocational training classes for young artisans. He emphasized the importance of understanding international consumer tastes, combining creativity with traditional values, and expanding cooperation with international designers to elevate Vietnamese handicraft products.
The appraisal visit by the World Crafts Council not only acknowledged the refined value of Chuyen My’s traditional craft but also opened up new development directions, helping the craft village integrate more deeply into the international market. Through this, Chuyen My continues to affirm its position as one of Vietnam’s exemplary craft villages, contributing to spreading national cultural and artistic values on the global handicraft map.
Source: Vietnam Business Forum
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