Hanoi's Bat Trang Pottery Village in Gia Lam District and Van Phuc Silk Village in Ha Dong District became the first traditional crafts communities in Vietnam to gain membership status from the World Crafts Council in late 2024. 

An artisan painstakingly works on a traditional silk product in the Van Phuc Silk Village. Photo: Hanoi Rural Development Department

A special art program titled "Essence of Vietnamese Craft Villages" in honor of the two villages will be held on February 14 at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, announced Nguyen Van Chi, Head of the Hanoi Rural Development Division under the city's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Bat Trang and Van Phuc villages became the first traditional crafts communities in Vietnam to acquire membership status from the World Crafts Council in late 2024.

The President of the Asia-Pacific World Crafts Council, Aziz Murtazaev, who was leading a delegation visiting Vietnam at that time, met with artisans from the two villages in Hanoi and praised their distinctive historical, cultural and economic contributions.

Acknowledging the artisans' dedication to preserving and promoting Hanoi's craft heritage, he said the group was truly fascinated by the history, customs and values of the craft villages.

During the upcoming ceremony, the city plans to host an event showcasing crafts from local and international artisans, with the aim of promoting cultural exchange and enhancing Hanoi's global projection while preserving traditional crafts.

Nguyen Xuan Dai, Director of Hanoi's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized that joining the network will bring significant value and benefits, helping Hanoi reaffirm its position on the global cultural map.

"This is also an opportunity for artisan villages to increase their competitiveness, preserve traditional values, expand markets and promote sustainable development," he added.

Dai said the city aims to have at least two more villages accredited by the World Crafts Council this year, and will invite network members to participate in the International Festival for the Preservation and Development of Craft Villages. Hanoi will also host the annual meeting of the the World Crafts Council.

Through these initiatives, Hanoi seeks to expand international cooperation and explore new opportunities for the capital's artisanal sector, contributing to the preservation and global integration of traditional crafts.