Hanoi honors artisans at 2025 Handicraft Product Contest for cultural preservation spirit
The award ceremony celebrated Hanoi’s artisans and craftsmen, highlighting creativity, sustainability and efforts to bring local crafts to global markets.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment on October 23 honored and awarded the five winners of the 2025 Hanoi Handicraft Product Contest for their spirit in preserving traditional craft values.
The event marks the opening of the 2025 International Festival for the Conservation and Development of Craft Villages, which is scheduled to take place in mid-November in the capital.
The organizers present awards to the authors of the first prize-winning works at the contest. Photo: Tung Nguyen/The Hanoi Times.
After six months of implementation, the contest attracted 328 entries from 175 participants, including 33 artisans and 148 skilled craftsmen.
The judging panel selected 125 outstanding works for awards, comprising 5 first prizes, 15 second prizes, 25 third prizes, 30 consolation prizes and 50 additional prizes.
The awarded products cover five main craft categories, including bamboo, rattan and sedge weaving, lacquer, mother-of-pearl inlay and woodcraft, ceramics and glass, weaving and embroidery, as well as other crafts like stone carving, metalwork, floral art and painting.
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The five first-prize-winning products went to: - “Bamboo Weaving Box” by Nguyen Van Vinh from Phu Nghia Commune. - “Lotus Tea Tray with National Title” by Nguyen Duc Biet from Chuyen My Commune. - “Ceramic Flower Lamp” by Pham Hong Vinh from Ha Dong Ward. - “Worship Shoes of the First Mother Goddess” by Nguyen Van Chung from Thuong Phuc Commune. - “Kite with Flute: From Tradition to Modernity” by Nguyen Van Quyet from O Dien Commune. |
Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, said the contest aims to preserve traditional craft values and encourage creativity.
He added that it also strengthens links between craft development, tourism, sustainability and rural livelihoods and help craft villages raise incomes and move toward greener, more modern development.
The contest will serve as a platform for artisans, businesses and skilled workers to share new ideas and showcase creativity and encourage the creation of practical, high-quality products that meet market demand at home and abroad, the director said.
The department also called on ministries and agencies to continue supporting trade promotion and strengthen cooperation among craft villages, helping Hanoi’s products expand their presence in international markets.
Award-winning works showcased at the contest. Photo: Tung Nguyen/The Hanoi Times.
Hanoi is home to about 1,350 craft villages and communities, including more than 330 recognized traditional craft villages, accounting for over one-third of all such villages nationwide.
The capital is also the birthplace of 47 out of Vietnam’s 52 traditional crafts, ranging from ceramics and silk weaving to lacquerware, metal engraving and wood sculpture.
Villages like Bat Trang pottery village in Bat Trang Commune and Van Phuc silk village in Ha Dong Ward have become renowned destinations that combine production, cultural preservation and tourism.
The development of craft villages is closely tied to Hanoi’s One Commune One Product (OCOP) initiative, which has made significant progress in recent years. The city has evaluated and ranked more than 3,460 OCOP products, representing around 20% of the national total.
These products are diverse, ranging from regional specialties and processed foods to handicrafts, herbal cosmetics and community-based tourism services. Many of them originate from traditional craft villages, where artisans blend time-honored techniques with modern design, branding and digital commerce.
To promote market access, Hanoi has organized regular OCOP exhibitions and trade fairs, including large-scale showcases featuring more than 1,000 products from across the country.
The city also encourages digital transformation through online promotion, livestream sales and QR code traceability, helping OCOP products reach both domestic and international customers.
