Hanoi’s village seeks World Crafts Council recognition

THE HANOI TIMES – Hanoi’s 1,000-year-old Chuyen My Mother-of-Pearl Mosaic Craft Village is working toward international recognition as it prepares to join the World Crafts Council's Global Creative Cities Network.

The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, during a working session on August 5, emphasized that authorities in Chuyen My Commune must complete several key infrastructure and cultural projects within this month to support the commune’s bid for international recognition.

The department also instructed the commune’s authorities to finalize their application dossier and meet the criteria set by the World Crafts Council (WCC) for membership in its prestigious global network.

In addition, the commune must complete physical upgrades and highlight the cultural value of each handcrafted item by organizing thematic displays, sharing the stories behind each product, and maintaining a clean, green, and well-managed village environment.

Speaking at the meeting on August 5, Hoang Thi Hoa, Head of the department’s Rural Development Division, said becoming a member of the global network will open up opportunities for branding, international promotion, and development of local products.

“It will also strengthen Hanoi’s international integration in preserving and innovating traditional cultural values,” she said.

Nguyen Thi Thuy Huong, Vice Chairwoman of Chuyen My Commune People’s Committee, said the commune is currently building a traditional craft room and guest reception space at the village’s ancestral temple. Artifacts, historical photographs, official certificates, and drawings by artisans are being collected for public display.

At the same time, a museum-cum-meeting space is under construction at the local OCOP [One Commune One Product] Design and Innovation Center to house illustrated legends, historical narratives, and craft demonstrations.

The commune also launched two vocational training points and identified key locations for assessment, such as the ancestral temple, Trung Hamlet’s church, the Thon Thuong Craft Village Association, and households actively engaged in production.

Participants at the meeting also discussed additional efforts needed to meet WCC criteria, including artifact preservation, environmental sanitation, and logistical preparation for the upcoming evaluation.

In late 2024, Hanoi's Bat Trang Pottery Village and Van Phuc Silk Village became the first traditional crafts communities in Vietnam to gain membership status from the World Crafts Council.