These days, production facilities and craft villages in Hanoi are running at full gear to quench the shopping thirst of sports delegations and tourists during the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

International visitors attend the trade fair. Photo: kinhtedothi.vn

Thanh Binh, the owner of a souvenir shop at 87 Hang Bong Street, Hoan Kiem District, said that the Vietnamese flag and SEA Games 31-printed t-shirts are the most sought-after items.

“After the Vietnamese men’s football team entered the semi-finals, the sale of Vietnamese flags increased sharply,” she told The Hanoi Times.

Also sold on e-commerce platforms such as Sendo, Lazada, Shopee, or Zalo and Facebook social networks are sold a series of souvenirs related to the SEA Games 31 such as necklaces, porcelain cups, business card holders, and nail clippers.

On the official website of SEA Games 31 (seagames2021.com) there is also a SEA Games shop that sells s mascots, portable fans, thermos bottles, zippo lighters, hand sanitizer, pens, 2D silicone keychains, fridge stickers, bottle openers, lapel pins with prices of up to VND500,000 (US$21.4) each product.

New products for international visitors

Pham Khac Ha, Chairman of the Van Phuc Craft Village Association, Ha Dong District said that the craft village’s establishments are currently focusing on producing gifts for visitors and tourists during this SEA Games.

Sao La mascot is made by artisan Nguyen Tan Phat. Photo: Lai Tan

In another district, Son Tay, artisan Nguyen Tan Phat crafted a collection of 31 Sao La mascots from jackfruit wood, with the desire to promote the traditional craft of the capital.

“The mascot of Sao La, a forest-dwelling bovine native to Vietnam, is expected to be a unique souvenir for domestic and international fans at the SEA Games 31,” Phat told The Hanoi Times.

In order to satisfy the gift shopping demand of athletes and tourists, the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade organized the Hanoi Great Souvenirs 2022.

At the craft village fair, artisans displayed more than 10,000 handicraft gift products printed with the SEA Games mascot 31. They also joined the Hanoi tourism gift festival 2022 which was held by the Hanoi Department of Tourism.

Nontapat Panchan from the Malaysian Sports Delegation said that the souvenir merchandise sold at fairs is diverse in terms of design, attracting visitors and shoppers.

“We have bought handicrafts, especially silk fabrics and jewelry as gifts for our friends and relatives before returning home,” he said.

OCOP products make a good impression

Hanoi was chosen as the main venue for the Games with nearly 20 sports, attracting about 10,000 international delegates, athletes, and reporters. 

“This is a golden opportunity to promote the capital’s tourist destinations and the country’s handicraft products among international friends. It is an opportunity for Hanoi to affirm its brand as a destination to organize international and regional events,” Acting Director of Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan said.

In recent days, at SEA Games venues, some districts have organized booths to introduce products under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, and attract the attention of members of the sports delegations.

As the host of the basketball competitions, Thanh Tri District arranged 25 booths to introduce OCOP products in the area of its Culture, Information, and Sports Center.

At the stalls, handicraft products from Thuong Tin and Phu Xuyen districts, and some other localities are on display.  

Visiting the fair, Chanapid Jakrawan from the Thai basketball team told The Hanoi Times he was very impressed with the stalls of traditional Vietnamese products. “I bought a few souvenirs to give to friends and relatives when I returned home. Hanoians are very friendly, polite, and hospitable. I will definitely come back to Vietnam soon to experience the life and people here,” he said.

A representative from the Indonesian Basketball Delegation to the SEA Games 31 said: “We are very honored to come here to participate in the competition and visit Thanh Tri’s OCOP booths. The products are very eye-catching and impressive.”

The regional sporting event has created opportunities for production facilities and craft villages to upgrade quality, design, and introduce products to international tourists, contributing to the promotion of tourism in the capital and attractive gift products.