Bát Tràng Ceramics and Vạn Phúc Silk Villages – Members of the Global Network of Creative Craft Cities.

With 1,350 craft villages and villages with professions, of which 337 craft villages and traditional craft villages have been recognized by the City People's Committee. Through many ups and downs, Hanoi's craft villages still retain their unique characteristics, unmatched anywhere. With a long history and meaningful stories hidden in each product, the craft villages have persistently developed over time, deeply engraved in the soul of every Vietnamese person. Today, craft villages are increasingly asserting their position when they have been actively contributing to the restructuring and development of the rural economy, creating the premise for the successful implementation of the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program and building new rural areas in the city. The products of Hanoi craft villages are diverse in type, beautiful in design, and good in quality, some have competitive advantages in the domestic and foreign markets, there are over 1,000 OCOP products, and craft village products have been sold in supermarkets and shopping centers in the city. Hanoi craft village products have been exported to over 40 countries and territories, such as Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China, Korea, and Japan, especially countries in the European Union EU such as Italy, Germany, and Sweden..., including products such as garments, ceramics, silk weaving, embroidery, rattan weaving, lacquer, mother-of-pearl inlay, and wooden handicrafts

The most typical is Bat Trang ceramic village, located next to the Red River, Bat Trang is not only the cradle of Vietnamese ceramics but also a symbol of endless creativity. Bat Trang is famous for its pottery-making craft from over 500 years ago, ceramic artisans with extensive experience and creativity have restored ceramic models from ancient times such as the Ly, Tran, Le, and Mac dynasties... Bat Trang ceramics are made from extremely meticulous and precise glaze and kiln firing techniques, bringing harmony in both the shape and color of the ceramic, a place where traditional and modern ceramics of Vietnam intersect. Ceramic products are not only sophisticated in form but also diverse in design, thereby increasingly attracting the attention of domestic and foreign consumers

Besides Bat Trang ceramic products which are the crystallization of heaven and earth, the softness of Van Phuc silk has long been the pride of Hanoians, because this is the symbol of elegance and sophistication. With a history of thousands of years, for generations, the artisans of Van Phuc silk weaving village have preserved and developed the art of silk weaving, with silks that are not only beautiful in color but also sophisticated in every line and pattern. Van Phuc Silk weaving village has become a famous tourist destination in the capital for visitors to explore and learn about the traditional beauty of our ancestors.

With traditional history, inherent quintessence, and the full convergence of strengths of typical craft villages, the two craft villages of Bat Trang Ceramics and Van Phuc Silk Weaving have been honored to officially join the World Craft Creative Cities network. This is an opportunity for craft villages to promote their images and products to the world, and at the same time, it is a premise for exchange, learning, and creating products that meet the contemporary consumption needs of the world while still preserving the soul and Indigenous culture. In November 2023, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was assigned by the City People's Committee to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Craft Council. Since the beginning of 2024, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has proactively advised the City to coordinate with the World Craft Council to complete the dossier to recognize the two ceramic craft villages of Bat Trang, Gia Lam district, and Van Phuc Silk Village, Ha Dong district, Hanoi city as members of the network of Creative Craft Cities worldwide. With the coordination of the Vietnam Handicraft Export Association and the participation of localities and the enthusiastic response of artisans of the two craft villages; both craft villages have met the selection criteria of the World Craft Council based on 4 pillars: economy, culture, society, and environment. This set of criteria emphasizes global recognition, local innovation, cooperation opportunities, and environmental protection factors in the production process. Craft villages have also demonstrated their ability to connect and cooperate internationally, willing to learn from friends around the world to enrich their knowledge and techniques. Craft villages also have many artisans who work with passion, passing the torch from generation to generation, not only to preserve but also to develop their traditional culture. Finally, the community element is indispensable. Meeting and surpassing these criteria has paved the way for Vietnamese craft villages, including Bat Trang and Van Phuc, to join the Global Creative Craft Cities Network.

The international jury visited and assessed the craft villages of Bat Trang and Van Phuc in October 2024 and highly appreciated the achievements of the craft villages and artisans. Many artisans of the two craft villages left a strong impression on the survey team of the World Craft Council. After the assessment and evaluation process, the two craft villages of Bat Trang Ceramics and Van Phuc Silk Weaving Village of Hanoi were officially recognized as members of the network of Creative Craft Cities worldwide. These are the first two traditional craft villages in Vietnam to be approved to become members of the network of Creative Craft Cities worldwide. This result has helped Hanoi affirm its position on the world cultural map and is also an opportunity for craft villages to improve their competitiveness, preserve traditional values, expand markets, promote international cultural exchanges, and promote sustainable development. The World Crafts Council (WCC-International) has its office in Kuwait, an international non-profit organization established in 1964, to promote the preservation, promotion,n, and development of global crafts and traditional crafts. The World Crafts Council manages five (05) member Crafts Councils including the Asia Pacific Crafts Council, the European Crafts Council, the African Crafts Council, the North American Crafts Council, and the South American Crafts Council. Up to now, the World Crafts Council has more than 100 member countries (Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iran, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Canada...) and the President of the World Crafts Council is Mr. Saad Al-Qaddumi. After 60 years of establishment, the World Craft Council has recognized 68 world craft villages from 27 countries around the world, of which Bat Trang ceramic and Van Phuc silk villages of Hanoi are the 67th and 68th craft villages to be recognized, and Vietnam is the 28th country to have a craft village recognized as a world craft village.

The participation of Hanoi's traditional craft villages in the network of Creative Craft Cities worldwide brings many important values ​​and benefits. Strengthening the promotion of images, brands, and products helps Hanoi's craft villages to be widely and deeply promoted to domestic and international consumers.

With the aspirations of the Capital in the new era, the era of national development; Hanoi identifies craft villages as a highlight in the decade of cultural industry; this is one of the key tasks in the socio-economic development of localities.