The Festival of Traditional Villages and OCOP (One Commune, One Product) Handicraft Exhibition in Thuong Tin District is underway and will run until October 14, 2024.

The opening ceremony of the events. Photos: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

The events celebrate the 70th anniversary of the district's liberation (August 28, 1954) and the 70th anniversary of Hanoi's liberation (October 10, 1954).

With 60 booths, the exhibition showcases products from local handicraft villages and producers from Thuong Tin District and surrounding areas.

"The festival aims to tap the district's economic and social development potential while preserving and promoting its cultural heritage. Activities will include product exhibitions, cultural performances, and auctions," said Bui Cong Than, Deputy Chairman of Thuong Tin District People's Committee.

He added that the district is home to 126 craft villages, of which 48 have been recognized as traditional craft villages and one designated as a Hanoi craft village. In particular, the embroidery craft of restoring royal robes in Dong Cuu Village (Dung Tien Commune) is listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Local consumers visit a handicraft stand at the event.

According to Nguyen Thi Thanh Loan, Director of the Hong Van Flower, Bonsai, and Service Cooperative in the district, the event is an opportunity to promote their OCOP four-star product, Hong Van's Honeysuckle Tea, to Hanoi consumers and visitors alike.

"Our company hopes that Hanoi's industry and trade sector will host more traditional handicraft festivals so that OCOP producers can reach consumers. We also want to introduce our products to modern retail systems and supermarkets for wider promotion and sales," Loan suggested.

At the opening ceremony on October 11, Nguyen Dinh Thang, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, said that the city aims to support over 10,000 businesses and rural industrial facilities through its promotion program, creating jobs for approximately 50,000 rural workers. The city's handicrafts are expected to grow an average of 5% to 8% per year, reaching US$550 million in revenues by 2025.

Therefore, the city encourages artisans to design products of functional and aesthetically appealing while facilitating production to meet market demands. "These efforts help develop the handicraft sector and support the city's sustainable economic growth," Thang emphasized.