These days, Van Phuc Craft Village is bustling with activity as it prepares for the upcoming cultural tourism and trade week scheduled to take place here.
The program, themed “Van Phuc – Colors of Integration,” is part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of Van Phuc District’s establishment and the recognition of Van Phuc silk craft as a national intangible cultural heritage.
The Van Phuc Cultural Tourism and Trade Week 2023 will be held from October 26 to November 2 in Ha Dong District, Hanoi. The event aims to promote traditional silk weaving and boost tourism in the traditional trading village.
Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy various activities on Silk Street, Food Street, Ornamental Flower Street, Antique Street, and stalls selling handicraft products from Bat Trang Ceramic Village, Kim Lan Ceramic Village (Gia Lam District), Quat Dong Embroidery Village (Thuong Tin District), and Phu Vinh Bamboo and Rattan Weaving Village (Chuong My District).
Additionally, there will be experiential tours and visits to historical and cultural sites such as the Ho Chi Minh Memorial House, communal houses, pagodas, and ancestral temples. Visitors can learn about traditional silk weaving and experience weaving at Van Phuc Silk JSC, Nguyet Nam Silk, Mao Silk, Lan Son Silk, or Vun (Scrap) Art Cooperative.
According to Nguyen Van Du, Chairman of the Van Phuc Ward People’s Committee and head of the organizing committee, all preparations for the event are now complete.
He added that the entrance of Van Phuc Silk Street has been splendidly and impressively decorated with the traditional colors representing the “Silk Village.” The street features vibrant and colorful silk lanterns stretching hundreds of meters, beautifully arranged spinning wheels, and paintings depicting the village’s silk production process. Furthermore, a glass bridge is currently being installed to enhance the tourist experience.
Bui Manh Hiep, the leader of the Moc painting team in Van Phuc Ward, together with the young members, is currently working on a large painting in the flower garden in front of the village temple. The 100m2 painting showcases the process of silk farming, from raising silkworms to producing silk in Van Phuc Village. Hiep mentioned that the painting has been a collaborative effort involving teachers from Van Phuc Kindergarten and Quang Trung Kindergarten, as well as residents of the village.
Alongside the activities of the Culture and Tourism Week, the authorities and people of Van Phuc remain committed to promoting the village’s handicrafts and local tourism products, thus contributing to the improvement of the local livelihoods.
Chairman Nguyen Van Du of the Van Phuc Ward People’s Committee noted that since 2022, Van Phuc Silk Village has been included in two tour itineraries. Notably, the influx of tourists visiting Van Phuc in 2023 has shown a significant increase compared to the previous year.
Nguyen Thi Nguyet, owner of Minh Ngoc Silk Shop in Van Phuc Village, mentioned that the Silk Road attracts a considerable number of tourists due to its exquisite decoration, providing great photo opportunities. Tourists not only visit for exploration but also for shopping, particularly during this event. As a result, her family is increasing production to diversify their offerings and meet the heightened demand from tourists.
Van Phuc Village produces approximately 70 different varieties of silk, satin, brocade, and linen, each showcasing unique patterns. The village supplies the market with over one million meters of these diverse silk products annually, generating revenues that exceed VND 100 billion (US$4 million).
