The third Hanoi Agricultural Products and Handicrafts Village Festival 2024, which is being held at Mailand Urban Development to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, showcases a variety of products.

Running from November 29 to December 3, the festival features nearly 300 stalls of farmers and artisans in an exhibition area of around 15,000 square meters, reflecting the distinctive products and handicrafts from various provinces of Vietnam and other countries.

These include 152 booths from 25 districts and towns in Hanoi, 116 from 25 provinces and cities nationwide, and 32 from domestic and foreign enterprises.

Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, presents the First Class Labor Medal to the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Photo: VGP

Addressing the event, Nguyen Xuan Dai, Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, reviewed the 70-year journey of the sector’s development. “We will innovate the way of thinking, the way of doing to develop multi-value, green agriculture and circular economy in line with the global value chain,” he said.

Dai added that this year’s festival aims to showcase achievements in agriculture and rural development and promote agricultural products and Hanoi's handicrafts. Besides, it targets to stimulate growth and economic development for the city’s agriculture and rural areas, with a focus on accelerating development, preserving traditional village communities and promoting sustainable agricultural restructuring.

“Along with fostering close ties between the State, businesses, scientists, and farmers, the event also serves as a bridge between local and foreign organizations, businesses involved in agriculture, artisan communities, and investigation institutions,” the director emphasized.

At the ceremony, on behalf of the Party and the State, Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, presented the First Class Labor Medal to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai and delegates visit the product display area at the 3rd Hanoi Agricultural Products and Craft Villages Festival. Photo: VGP

Artisan Ta Huynh, Vice President of Hanoi Ornamental Plants Association, told The Hanoi Times that the festival promotes agricultural products and handicrafts, especially certified OCOP products of the city, introduces ecological agricultural models linked to tourism, and calls for domestic and international investment cooperation in Hanoi.

Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, congratulated and praised the achievements and contributions of the department in the 70-year journey of construction and development.

"Each craft village with its own identity has facilitated the creation of special products imbued with national cultural identity, and has brought increasingly high economic efficiency to rural workers," Thanh said.

The craft villages have actively contributed to the restructuring and development of the rural economy, creating the conditions for the successful implementation of the OCOP (One Commune - One Product) program and the New Rural Development Program in the city, according to the mayor.

Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, makes a speech at the event. Photo: VGP

"Hanoi is on the right track in harnessing cultural values and local strengths to develop OCOP products. The introduction and promotion of OCOP products through events and festivals are being organized in an increasingly professional and attractive manner," the mayor said.

He emphasized that behind each OCOP product is the concerted effort of many people who are helping to activate the rural economic sector and shift it toward the production of high-value-added products.

Cooperatives, farmers, artisans, agriculture-related businesses, and craft villages in Hanoi and provinces and cities nationwide also join the festival. "It helps us to explore investment in agriculture and handicraft villages, especially in processing, and look for regional linkages, aiming at official exports," Ngo Thi Thuc, Director of Me Tri Traditional Craft Village Cooperative, told The Hanoi Times.

Products of Com (green sticky rice) made by Me Tri Traditional Craft Village Cooperative are displayed at the festival. Photo: Anh Kiet/The Hanoi Times

She added that thanks to the event, many activities are held to showcase agricultural and rural development products from Hanoi and provinces and cities nationwide.

Hanoi is home to 47 of the nation's 52 traditional handicrafts. The production value of Hanoi's craft villages currently reaches over VND24,000 billion (US$1 billion) per year. The festival serves as a platform to connect various organizations, businesses, and individuals interested in agriculture and handicrafts.

Nguyen Danh Son from Son Dong Traditional Craft Village said that visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to explore the distinctive agricultural culture of Hanoi.

"I have purchased some high-quality products with traceable origins. I can also enjoy local specialty foods and admire unique art pieces created in craft villages from around the city," Son told The Hanoi Times.

Ceramic products from the Bat Trang Pottery Village in Hanoi are displayed at the event. Photos: Anh Kiet/The Hanoi Times

Display area for ornamental plants.

Dien grapefruit, a specialty of Hanoi, is introduced to visitors.

Organic tea from mountainous provinces is brewed for visitors to enjoy.

The "Mailand Hanoi City - Creative City" booth is uniquely designed and offers an impressive experiential space with an exhibition of flower street images and an organic vegetable growing model.

Women in ao dai (Vietnamese long dress) introduce traditional products from Hanoi's Thanh Tri district.

Showcasing ST25 rice, a specialty of the southwest region of Vietnam.

Products for Tet holiday are showcased at the event.