Each village space at last month’s Hue Festival told a story of the history of a craft and introduced its handicraft products characterized by Vietnamese identities and international integration.
Phuoc Tich village in Thua Thien-Hue province, for example, is famous for its pottery, whose reputation has been celebrated in the Central region for 500 years. Phuoc Tich pottery is renowned for its durability, delicacy, and rustic Vietnamese beauty.
Ho Dang Ngoc Hanh, Director of the Embroidery Art Museum of XQ in Hue, said the XQ Embroidered Painting Company has cooperated with Bat Trang Ceramic and Pottery Village in Hanoi to create Huong Sa ceramic products which are made of Bat Trang pottery and alluvial soil from the Huong River in Hue.
The most typical characteristic of Huong Sa ceramics is that they are much lighter than ceramics from other regions.
“This is the first time we have participated in the Hue Traditional Craft Festival. We hope to introduce our products to tourists and help them understand the cultural institutions, the harmonious combination of craft villages, and the quintessence of Vietnam’s traditional products,” said Hanh.
At the flower space, various kinds of flowers from Da Lat and other parts of Vietnam are displayed.
Painter and craftsman Than Van Huy of Thanh Tien, a paper flower craft village in Phu Vang district, says this is the 4th time he takes part in the Hue traditional craft festival.
At each festival Thanh Tien paper flower products have become more widely known at home and abroad.
Huy said, “Our village has worked with tourism to develop its traditional craft. Visitors to the village can take home paper versions of the lotus, Vietnam’s national flower. Hue Traditional Craft Festival has created opportunities for craft villages like Thanh Tien to introduce their products to bigger markets.”
One of the most interesting spaces at this year’s festival showcased 30 Rường houses, the masterpieces of Hue wooden carving.
Bamboo and rattan products from the northern province of Hung Yen were first introduced at Hue Festival 2019.
Bamboo and rattan artisan Huynh Thi Trung from Hung Yen said, “My craft village is more than 20 years old. All of our bamboo and rattan fine art and handicraft items are for export. Our products are facing fierce competition. I hope the festival will make Hung Yen bamboo and rattan products more popular.”
Brocade products of different Vietnamese ethnic groups on display include Zeng weaving of the Ta Oi ethnic people of Hue’s A Luoi district, brocade products of the H’Re group in Ba To, Quang Ngai province, and Cham brocade from My Nghiep village in Ninh Thuan province.
Ka Thoa, a Ma ethnic person from Da Nghich village, Lam Dong province, said, “We hope the Hue Festival will introduce our brocade products to more people so local women will have more stable jobs and higher incomes. We want to find stable outlets because all 350 households in the village are engaged in weaving.”
The traditional brocade clothing of the K’ho and Chau Ma ethnic minority people was first introduced at the Hue Craft Festival.
Using looms made of wood or bamboo, the K’ho and Chau Ma create colorful and beautiful brocade clothing, bags, and decorative items.
