Developing craft villages associated with tourism
Over hundreds of years of history, traditional craft villages not only embody the quintessence of national culture but also contain values of natural landscapes, architecture or historical relics. However, over the years, under the impact of market mechanisms and industrialization, traditional craft villages are facing the risk of being lost.
Tourists experience making traditional Mid-Autumn toys at Hau Ai village
As someone who has been accompanying craft villages for many years, Director of the Center for Research - Application - Development of Vietnamese Craft Village Products Ngo Quy Duc said: "Although there is a lot of potential for development, traditional craft villages are still facing many difficulties and challenges. Because, nowadays, with the development of the modern economy and industry, consumer demand is changing, cheap and convenient industrial products are often preferred. Along with that, although the skills of craft village artisans are very good, they only follow old models, so the applicability is not high, no longer suitable for the aesthetic needs of customers, leading to handicrafts increasingly falling into a "difficult" situation, being produced but having no market for consumption.
In particular, the current shortage of young human resources and the lack of human resources to inherit traditional occupations are also the reasons why craft villages are gradually fading away. The fact that only older artisans are still practicing their craft makes it difficult for them to access capital, technology and markets. In addition, policies to support and encourage the development of craft villages have not met the actual needs. Therefore, the story of craft villages today needs more hands to extend the path for traditional occupations."
Faced with these difficulties, over the years, Mr. Ngo Quy Duc has implemented the project "Back to the village" connecting with artisans and craftsmen to create activities to spread and revive products that seemed to have been lost. The highlight of the project is the tours to traditional craft villages.
Tourists experience making Dong Ho paintings in the tour "Back to the village - Old Tet in Kinh Bac region"
Mr. Ngo Quy Duc shared: "Previously, craft village tourism was usually only for foreign visitors when coming to Vietnam, but we want to conquer domestic tourists through our own exploitation, targeting craft villages that have almost no tourism imprint and looking for target customers to optimize the experience. This is a direction that few tourism businesses exploit and implement, because craft villages do not have available tourism services or they will have to invest in accompanying services. Therefore, they choose to be safer than investing in new tourist destinations with high costs. However, because I want to do something new, different as well as to help the villagers, I am still determined to pursue it."
Thereby, with their passion and perseverance, some tours under the project when implemented have received positive reviews from tourists about the novelty and attractiveness of the journey such as: "Back to the village - Golden silk thread woven through the century" tour takes tourists to Nha Xa silk weaving village (Ha Nam) and Trach Xa traditional ao dai sewing village (Hanoi); "Back to the village - Old Tet in Kinh Bac region" tour takes tourists to Dong Ho village...
"During the process of visiting the craft villages, people will know how elaborate, meticulous and skillful it is to make a handmade product. Through such trips, tourists will appreciate more the traditional handicraft products of the nation" - Mr. Ngo Quy Duc added.
Need to "legalize" to promote skilled development
However, according to Mr. Ngo Quy Duc, tourism only contributes a small part. To support the development of craft villages, many other factors are required. In particular, craft villages and artisans need more specific and in-depth attention from the State and functional agencies. Ensuring the livelihood of artisans is also a problem.
Doi Tam drum making village (Ha Nam)
"In some countries like Japan, Korea, China, etc., they have ensured the livelihood of artisans quite well. Those artisans only need to come up with ideas and create according to their own creativity without having to worry about ensuring their daily life. But that is a very small number, while in Vietnam there are too many artisans and craft villages. Therefore, in my opinion, we need to be selective and research the origin of craft villages, choose suitable areas to have plans to preserve the original values" - said Mr. Ngo Quy Duc.
Meanwhile, the President of the Council of Science and Training, Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts, Prof. Dr. Tu Thi Loan, said that currently, the whole country has more than 5,000 craft villages, in which handicraft products in traditional craft villages are one of the "backbone" fields that generate income for people, contributing to the country's economic development. However, we still do not have a law on craft villages to create opportunities and conditions for artisans and craft villages to develop. Meanwhile, in countries around the world such as Korea, Japan, ... have had laws on traditional craft villages for a long time, thereby helping to orient and exploit the maximum development resources for the country. Therefore, I think that Vietnam also needs to develop and promulgate laws on craft villages, because when there are laws, artisans and craft villages will have access to more preferential policies and mechanisms, along with overall planning and long-term development strategies for each craft village, creating a more open and competitive business environment, without overlap.
"In addition to improving the legal aspect, the State also needs to continue to issue policies to encourage artisans to develop their profession. Complete regulations on standards, processes, procedures, and records for considering the awarding of the title of People's Artisan and Meritorious Artisan" - Professor, Dr. Tu Thi Loan added.
Black incense making profession in Choa village (Hanoi)
Sharing the same view, Chairman of the Vietnam Craft Villages Association Trinh Quoc Dat said that the development and promulgation of a law on craft villages is extremely necessary. When there is a law on craft villages, it is like a door is opened wide, contributing to promoting and preserving the development of craft villages. The Craft Villages Association has also raised this issue for a long time, because the law will regulate the relationship between development and preservation from the perspective of harmonizing community interests with national interests. At the same time, when the law is enacted, it will ensure the sustainable development of today's craft villages.
"In particular, the issue of protecting intellectual property rights is also very urgent. Nowadays, many people just see something good and beautiful and copy it, even steal ideas and designs and then imitate it widely, causing unfair competition. So, when there is a law, I think this issue will also be resolved more thoroughly" - Mr. Trinh Quoc Dat said./.
Source: https://toquoc.vn/phat-trien-lang-nghe-truyen-thong-can-co-su-quan-tam-cu-the-hon-tu-phia-nha-nuoc-20240913101828371.htm
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