Ninety award-winning products from the Hanoi Handicraft Design Contest 2023 will be showcased at the Vietnam Craft Village Festival 2023, held on November 9 at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi.

Hanoi honors award-wining products from the contest at a ceremony. Photo: VGP

The city's People's Committee awarded 90 winning products, including 6 first prizes, 18 second prizes, 24 third prizes, and 42 consolation prizes in six categories of handicrafts.

With the theme of "Elevating Creativity - Spreading the Essence of Hanoi's Handicrafts", the contest attracted 146 organizations, individuals, and artisans who submitted 355 entries in the categories of ceramics, lacquer, bamboo, rattan, pearl inlay, stone, wood, art horn, silk embroidery, and other handicrafts.

The city's handicrafts continue to uphold important traditional values and contribute to the unique cultural identity of Thang Long - Hanoi, according to Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Deputy Director of Hanoi's Department of Industry and Trade.

She added that handicraft products are increasing the share of value-added in industrial, small-scale and service production, creating employment opportunities for suburban workers and contributing to the city's sustainable socio-economic development.

However, the city's handicraft industry has not fully realized its potential and strengths. Its products have not met market demands and are not highly competitive with similar products from other countries in the region, such as China, India and the Philippines, she said.

Many artisans and craftspeople create beautiful artistic designs but lack commercial viability, fail to meet customer preferences, or face challenges in fulfilling large orders. There are also simple and low-value products.

The competition will provide a playground to promote design and creative handicrafts for businesses, organizations, individuals, artisans and rural industrial production units in the handicraft sector. It is also intended to meet market demand while enhancing competitiveness in international economic integration.