Hanoi OCOP exhibition promotes handicrafts and traditional villages

THE HANOI TIMES — An exhibition and trade fair for One Commune-One Product (OCOP) goods, handicrafts and traditional trade villages organized by the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade is underway to promote the capital city’s products.

Duong Van Chuyen, the owner of Hanh Chuyen Fine Arts Stone Cooperative in the northern province of Lao Cai, said that his unit brought many typical products to the fair, including bracelets, necklaces, agar wood, cordyceps tea and some other OCOP-certified products.

"Many Hanoian customers have visited our booth, showing their interest in the origin, production process and price," Chuyen told The Hanoi Times.

He expressed his hope that through the fair, Lao Cai's specialties would be promoted widely, enabling local businesses and cooperatives to connect with the distribution system in Hanoi and build a stable and long-term consumption market.

Exhibition of OCOP products, handicrafts and craft villages 2025 features 125 booths, including 80 booths displaying OCOP products, handicrafts and traditional trade villages and 45 Vietnamese market booths for businesses in Hanoi and other provinces.

Nguyen Dinh Thang, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said that the event aims to help businesses, production establishments and artisans across Hanoi and other localities to expand distribution networks for their OCOP and handicraft products.

"This is the opening event in the series to promote OCOP products serving tourism during the year. A highlight of the exhibition series will be events held directly in the famous trade villages. Thanks to this model, visitors can gain an authentic view of the production process for handicrafts, instead of only seeing them on display at a single venue," said Thang.

He added that there are performances featuring the production process which is expected to help boost tourism development in the craft villages. Lasting until October 6, the event offers different needs and tastes.

"These activities will help the public gain a deeper understanding of the cultural values and sophistication of the handicraft products, raising awareness and appreciation for preserving traditional trade agreements villages," Thang told The Hanoi Times.

Furthermore, relevant authorities will work together to ensure product quality control and prevent counterfeit and imitation goods to build greater trust among visitors. This collaboration shows the city’s determination to help traditional trade villages maintain and develop sustainably in the future. 

Hanoi is home to over 1,350 craft villages with about 176,000 households engaging in traditional crafts, accounting for 45% of the total number of craft villages in the country.