Boosting craft village tourism

Dormant potentials

Hai Phong is home to many long-established craft villages, such as Bao Ha woodcarving, Lat Duong sedge mat weaving, Kieu Trung gardenia cultivation, Kha Lam carpentry, Lang Con rice noodle, and Duong Dong pottery. The traditional craft villages in the city’s western regions contribute to a vibrant cultural landscape, including Chu Dau ceramics and Chau Khe jewelry craft village.

However, apart from a few villages that have begun developing tourism services, like Chu Dau ceramics, most craft villages have not developed tourist spaces. Many still prioritize industrial production, with goods consolidated for export or wholesale; they lack well-arranged souvenir stalls or workshops designed for tourist.

Travel operators estimate that less than 10% of tourists currently choose craft village tours.

Awakening potentials

Hai Phong People's Committee Decision No. 1246 dated May 11, 2023, targets at least 20 distinctive rural tourism sites by 2030. With planned resources exceeding VND 100 billion, this roadmap demonstrates the city's determination to restructure the rural economy. To make craft village tourism a true pillar of rural tourism products, the city is integrating craft village projects into its overall socio-economic development planning.

Putting products on e-commerce platforms and creating QR codes at each attraction for automated, multilingual audio guides are necessary steps to reach international visitors. At the same time, the city is actively promoting a craft village tourism model linked to OCOP products. Each craft village will appoint a ‘product ambassador’ to ensure quality, modern designs, and compliance with green, safe, and environmentally friendly standards.

Hai Phong News