On the morning of January 4, at Ngu Ha Vien, the project “Reviving Chuon village traditional scroll (lien) making craft” was officially launched to the public, marking an emotional milestone in the journey to rediscover and restore a part of cultural memory that was once on the brink of extinction.

Among the approximately 70 traditional villages living on practicing crafts in Hue, the craft of making parasols is a special one. Beyond the meticulous craftsmanship required in the crafting process, this craft is also special because the finished products carry profound symbolic value in the local cultural life. Far exceeding their practical function of shielding from sun and rain, the parasols serve as markers of order, ritual, and reverence.

Born in Hue - a place where traditional crafts are deeply intertwined with spiritual life, Tran Phuoc Hoang (28 years old) chose to dedicate himself to the craft of carving ancestral tablets. After nearly 10 years in the craft, he has quietly preserved traditional values through every product meticulously created with his passion.

For Hue City, a land rich in cultural heritage, local specialties, and traditional crafts, e-commerce is opening new pathways and laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth.

On October 21, the Luxembourg Project Management Board, in coordination with Maries Co., Ltd., organized an event to announce activities within the framework of Project VIE/039 “Initiative to enhance the capacity of women working in Bang grass (Lepironia articulata) handicraft, contributing to preserving the traditional craft and creating sustainable livelihoods in Phong Binh (now Phong Dinh Ward), Hue City”.

Going through many generations, the traditional drum-making craft of the Co Tu people has gradually faded, remaining only in the memories of a few elders. In Doi Village, Khe Tre Commune, artisan and village elder Vuong Van Cua is one of the last people still preserving the ancient secrets of making traditional Co Tu drums.

Unable to rely solely on love for the craft or pride in the past, Hue’s craft villages must step beyond traditional pathways toward a new journey: Transforming production thinking, applying technology, embracing green transition, elevating quality, and telling cultural stories in more modern ways.

With the development trends of the new era, many craft villages have fallen into decline, with fragmented production, a lack of capital, and outdated technology. These difficulties are major barriers that cause traditional crafts to lose their place in today's socio-economic life gradually.

For centuries, the land of Hue has been renowned for the skillful hands of its artisans. This region is a place not only preserves the cultural heritage of the imperial court, but also serves as the cradle that maintains and develops hundreds of unique traditional craft villages. However, in the face of global integration trends, Hue’s craft villages are confronting numerous challenges.

Artisans from Thanh Lieu craft village (Hai Duong) have recently given a performance and recounted the journey of reviving and preserving the traditional art of woodblock printing passed down by their ancestors.

Taking place from April 28 to May 5 with the theme "The Quintessence of Vietnamese Craftsmanship", Hue Traditional Craft Festival 2023 brings together 21 craft groups with the participation of 69 craft villages, craft establishments, and over 350 artisans coming from famous craft villages in the country.