Hanoi to host inaugural global craft village festival in November

Hanoi is preparing to launch a landmark cultural event designed to elevate the profile of traditional craft villages across Vietnam and connect local artisans with the global marketplace. The inaugural Global Festival for the Conservation and Development of Craft Villages 2026 will feature a comprehensive programme of exhibitions, business exchanges, investment forums and tourism activities throughout November.

Organisers say the festival aims to bridge Vietnamese craftspeople with international partners while promoting the cultural and economic value of traditional handicrafts produced in rural communities. The event is expected to draw attention to the role of craft villages in preserving Vietnam's cultural heritage while supporting sustainable rural development.

The festival will provide a platform for artisans to demonstrate their skills, discuss business opportunities and explore new markets for their products. Through structured investment promotion activities, organisers hope to attract both domestic and foreign interest in supporting craft village enterprises.

The event reflects growing recognition of Vietnam's craft sector as both a cultural asset and an economic driver. Traditional handicraft production remains significant in rural areas, where craft villages represent important sources of employment and income for local communities. By hosting an international festival, Hanoi aims to strengthen the sector's competitiveness and ensure these traditions remain viable for future generations.

Photo: Ceramics on display in Bat Trang pottery village, Hanoi, January 2016. Vuong Tri Binh via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).