Before flowing into neighboring Laos, the A Sap River gathers alluvial deposits that enrich the riverbanks, creating a vast watershed for the A Luoi region. From this advantage, “fishermen” in the highlands have developed capture fisheries and aquaculture, contributing to the formation of a riverside community - future prosperous “fishing villages” along the river.

No one has captured the Vietnamese sense of living away from one’s homeland better than poet Nguyen Khoa Diem when he wrote: “They carry the names of their communes and villages on every migration journey.” In the highland city on the Lang Biang Plateau, this sentiment holds true as well. Many people from Hue left their ancestral land to settle here nearly a century ago. Though four or five generations have now been born on this new land, the “Hue spirit” in these distant Hue communities has never faded.

While not as large-scale or bustling as many famous flower villages in the North and the South such as Sa Dec (Dong Thap), Cai Mon (Vinh Long), Nhat Tan, Tay Tuu (Hanoi), or Thai Phien (Lam Dong)…, the flower villages supplying Tet flowers in Hue remain vibrant and deeply imbued with local cultural identity.

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.

Over the past few days, people from villages across Dan Dien Commune have been encouraging one another to visit the floating fish farms along the Bo River to buy fish in support of local farmers. Some families bought a few fish, others only one, but everyone said the same thing: “It’s just our way of sharing a little of their hardship”. That’s all they could do, as the recent floods had wiped out tens of tons of fish raised by families living along the Bo River.

According to the information announced by the leaders of the Department of Industry and Trade, on the morning of October 27, in the framework of the Autumn Fair 2025, which is taking place in Hanoi, over 30 businesses, cooperatives, craft villages, and industry associations in Hue City are participating in displaying and introducing their products in the event.

The stretches of forest in A Luoi not only shelter the villages, but also have now become the livelihood foundation for locals. The Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) in the North Central Region has helped people in the mountainous areas gain stable extra income, and more importantly, changed their perspective: Protecting the forest is not just a responsibility, but a right associated with their daily lives.

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.