Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The biennial Hue Traditional CraftFestival, which honours the value of heritage and raises the quality oftraditional trade villages, has helped Vietnamese handicraft products reach outto the world.

Fostering the revival and development of craft villages is the biggestadvantage that the festival has brought about, said artisan Than Van Huy fromthe Thanh Tien paper flower village.

Thanh Tien paper lotus has been present in many countries like the US, Japanand the Republic of Korea, Huy said, adding that various contracts have beensigned since the village joined the festival for the first time in 2013.

For “Zeng” weaving of Ta Oi ethnic in A Luoi district, Thua Thien-Hue province,the festival served as a launching pad for the traditional craft to berecognised as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2017. The textileproducts have been introduced in Japan and France by fashion designer MinhHanh.

Meanwhile, Bao La village on the northern bank of Bo River in Quang Diendistrict is now much busier than ever before as hundreds of workers are rushingoff their feet to make bamboo products to satisfy large orders in such largemarkets as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Nam province, China and Japan.

According to Vo Van Dinh, Director of the Bao La Bamboo & Rattan Cooperative,the festival opens opportunities for the village to gain favour from bothdomestic and foreign consumers.

Chairman of the Hue city People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thanh affirmed that thefestival creates a platform for artisans across the country to show off theirtalent as well as promote the quintessence of traditional handicrafts.

The eighth Hue Traditional Craft Festival 2019 will take place from April 26 toMay 2. More than 300 artisans from 63 trade villages nationwide have registeredto present their products and perform handicraft skills at the event.

Various products will be featured, including jewellery,embroidery, brocade, silk, bronze casting, ao dai (Vietnamese traditional longdress), wood, textiles, ceramic, bamboo products, conical hats, paper flowers,kites, lanterns and food. Visitors will have the chance to make these productswith the instruction of artisans.

Organised biennially by theHue city People’s Committee, the festival is a part of activities to celebratethe 230th anniversary of King Quang Trung (Nguyen Hue)’s victoryagainst the Chinese Qing invaders (1789), the 120th anniversary ofthe establishment of Hue (July 12, 1899), and the 120th anniversaryof Dong Ba Market and Truong Tien Bridge, two remarkable pieces of architecturein Hue.-VNA