Opening the 18th Vietnam Craft Village and OCOP Products Fair

The “festival” of craft villages

The 18th Vietnam Craft Village and OCOP Products Fair and the 2022 Vietnam Handicrafts Contest are two prime activities in the series of seven activities of the event "Vietnam Craft Village Festival 2022" hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The fair takes place at the Exhibition - Economic and Commercial Transactions Area (No. 489, Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi).

The 18th Vietnam Craft Village and OCOP Products Fair is an annual event of the agriculture and rural development sector organized. The fair creates an open space to promote and commend traditional craft villages, artisans and skilled workers with typical products; introduce unique models of craft villages and craft streets across the country; create connections to consume OCOP products and local specialties through traditional and modern consumption channels; attract investment, encourage the development of cultural tourism and rural industries; restore and develop tradition professions, promote national identity; strengthen the link between the value chain from production to consumption, develop sustainable and environment-friendly products; raise awareness and promote the winning products of the Vietnam Handicrafts Contest.

To make it more convenient for visitors to visit and trade, the fair booth is divided into 3 separate areas:

The general exhibition booth with an area of 200m² is located at the center of the fair. The area is specially designed and decorated to display and honor traditional craft villages such as fine art jewelry (gold, silver, copper, three-metal mosaic inlay); ceramics, crystal glass making; mosaic carving from stone, wood, horn, lacquer; rattan and bamboo leaves knitting; silk embroidery and brocade weaving. This area displays outstanding handicraft products that win prizes at the 2022 Vietnam Handicrafts Contest and serves as a place to honor typical national-level 4-5 star OCOP products.

The booth area includes 150 standard booths on 900 m² of display floor, which is divided into 6 subdivisions following socio-economic zoning: Northern Midlands and Mountains; Red River Delta; North Central and Central Coast; Western Highlands; Southeast and Mekong Delta. In each subdivision, a separate booth area will be arranged for localities, organizations and units to directly display and introduce products; create a space to introduce and promote products as well as local culture; experience and taste regional specialties.

A variety of agricultural, forestry and fishery products, food, regional specialty fruits and handicrafts from traditional craft villages and craft streets throughout the country will be on display. Products participating in the exhibition are guaranteed to have a clear origin, are protected with geographical indications, meet OCOP standards of 3 stars or more and have organic certifications.

The traditional craft demonstration and art performance area is 100 m² wide and specially decorated with typical images of Vietnamese villages. The Organizing Committee, in collaboration with localities, organizations and associations, will invite a number of renowned artisans to perform traditional crafts such as fine woodwork, embroidery, silk weaving, conical hat making, pottery, and bronze crafting.

The Organizing Committee also invites artisans who are winners at the 2022 Vietnam Handicrafts Contest to participate in the demonstrations and product introductions. A number of localities will also organize signature art and culture introduction programs during the fair.

Khu thao diễn nghề và biểu diễn nghệ thuật có quy mô 100m2, được trang trí đặc biệt với các hình ảnh tiêu biểu của làng quê Việt Nam. Ban tổ chức phối hợp với các địa phương, tổ chức, hiệp hội sẽ mời một số nghệ nhân tiêu biểu thao diễn tại chỗ một số nghề truyền thống như nghề gỗ mỹ nghệ, thêu, dệt lụa, nón lá, gốm, nghề đồng….

Bên cạnh đó, Ban tổ chức cũng mời một số nghệ nhân đạt giải tại Hội thi Sản phẩm thủ công mỹ nghệ Việt Nam năm 2022 tham gia thao diễn, giới thiệu sản phẩm. Ngoài ra, một số địa phương sẽ tổ chức các chương trình giới thiệu văn hoá nghệ thuật đặc trưng trong suốt thời gian diễn ra hội chợ.

Honoring artisans and skilled workers

According to the Department of Cooperatives and Rural Development (DCRD – MARD), the MARD launchs the 2022 Vietnam Handicrafts Contest in June 2022 and announces to artisans, skilled workers, designers, organizations, individuals, associations and management agencies in localities.

The Organizing Committee has received 364 products from 190 authors and groups of authors from all three regions. The Northern region has 247 products by 126 authors; the Central region has 32 products by 15 authors; The Southern region has 85 products by 49 authors.

On October 31, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan signed Decision No. 4164/QD-BNN-KTHT on awarding prizes to winning products and recognizing authors participating in the 2022 Vietnam Handicrafts Contest.

Accordingly, the Special Prize has 01 winning product belonging to the rattan dining table by author Kha Van Thuong (Nghe An). 05 products win the First Prize, including: Singing Crested Bulbul (silver carving) by Quach Phan Tuan Anh (Hanoi); Rice (wood carving) by author Vu Van Hoan (Hung Yen); Set of tables and chairs (ceramics) by author Hoang Long (Hanoi); A pair of cranes (only cloth) by author Le Van Nguyen (Hanoi); and decorative flower vase (bamboo) by Ho Mai Huong (Hanoi).

In addition, the MARD also awards 10 Second Prizes, 15 Third Prizes, 17 Consolation Prizes and acknowledges the skill of 196 authors participating in the contest.