Hanoi will continue to implement solutions to remove difficulties, and support businesses and craft villages to foster production and business activities in order to improve competitiveness. 

Local consumers attend a recent trade fair in May in Hanoi. Photos: kinhtedothi.vn

Specifically, the second festival promoting Hanoi craft villages and farm produce in 2022 is scheduled to take place in the fourth quarter of this year in Duong Noi New Urban Area, Ha Dong District.

This is the latest plan under the decision which was signed by Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh in early August. 

According to the decision, the Steering Committee of the second festival has eight members, of them, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam are the co-heads, and Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Chu Phu My is the Standing Deputy Head of the Standing Committee.

According to the plan, the festival will introduce and display the achievements in the field of agricultural and rural development of the city.

Also on exhibition are typical agricultural products, produced by chains, organic agriculture, high-tech application agriculture, and artisanal products of the city.

The organizers will also support the connection between production with consumption, create opportunities for cooperation between organizations, individuals, and businesses at home and abroad in the field of agriculture and technology transfer, and facilitate close links among the regulators - scientists - businesses - farmers.

This is an opportunity for businesses, production establishments and localities to promote farm produce, trade villages, materials, machinery, and agricultural equipment, especially products under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program which are rated three stars, four stars, and those with the potential of five-star rating of the city.

In 2019, the city successfully organized the first festival introducing agricultural products and craft villages from 28 provinces and cities.

Solutions to bolster the development of craft villages

Phung Xa silk craft village in My Duc District, Hanoi is displayed at the Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival 2022.

The festivals are among the solutions to bolster the development of craft villages in Hanoi.  

The city will promote the cultural values of craft villages in association with the development of OCOP products, as well as community and rural tourism activities. These are among the efforts to preserve and develop craft villages and rural trades in the capital in the 2022-2025 period.

According to the Hanoi Rural Development Sub-Department, the capital city has more than 800 craft villages, each having its own identity, creating unique and sophisticated products imbued with national cultural identity. Especially, products of garments, ceramics, traditional embroidery, wood carving, and mechanical engineering have a competitive edge in the domestic and foreign markets.

Total annual revenue from craft villages in Hanoi is estimated at over VND20 trillion (US$856.6 million). The craft villages' economy has grown in terms of production and export value over the years, making a significant contribution to the local budget. Many craft villages have high turnover, of which, about 100 craft villages earn VND10-20 billion ($428-856 million) per year, some 70 craft villages fetch VND20-50 billion ($856 million-2 billion) and about 20 others make over VND50 billion ($2 billion).

Hanoi is expected to become a manufacturing hub for handicraft gifts in Vietnam, Ha Thi Vinh, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Association of Handicrafts and Crafts told The Hanoi Times.

Besides, the city will strengthen vocational training to maintain and develop the workforce and the contingent of artisans as well as training on environmental protection and handling pollution.

This year, Hanoi strives to assess and rank another 10 traditional craft villages, as well as provide brand-building support and recognize ownership of collective trademarks for 20 traditional craft villages.

According to the municipal People’s Committee's latest plan, handicrafts exports are expected to increase by an average of 5-8% per year, reaching $550 million by 2025.