Hanoi handicrafts reach out to the world

In recent years, handicrafts have always been among the export products with large turnover, playing an important role in transforming the rural economic structure of Hanoi. The city has implemented many solutions to enhance trade promotion and expand the market for this product.

Recently, at the National Exhibition Palace of Architecture and Construction Planning (Tu Liem Ward), the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade opened the 15th Hanoi International Handicraft Gift Fair (Hanoi Giftshow 2025).

The event has a scale of 450 booths of domestic and foreign enterprises and production facilities, attracting more than 18,000 visitors and transactions both directly and online. The booths are scientifically arranged in many sub-sectors of lacquerware, wooden products, rattan and bamboo, ceramics, embroidery, textiles, silk, wood carvings, mother-of-pearl inlay, bronze, stone and OCOP products... with many new and creative designs, high economic, technical and aesthetic value.

In addition, the Organizing Committee arranges a team of interpreters and volunteers who are knowledgeable about the handicraft industry and fluent in foreign languages, to support importers and international visitors; organize online trade connections, and promote products on domestic and foreign e-commerce platforms.

Foreign visitors visit products at Hanoi Giftshow fair.

Over 14 years of organization, Hanoi Giftshow has affirmed its role as a prestigious handicraft export fair in the Asia-Pacific region, with nearly 5,500 booths of more than 2,200 enterprises and production facilities from more than 30 countries participating. Through the fairs, Hanoi Giftshow has recorded more than 150,000 visitors, including more than 13,500 importers and international trade visitors, signed thousands of contracts and export memorandums of understanding, contributing positively to the export growth of the handicraft industry from 6-8%/year.

Not only participating in international fairs in Hanoi, businesses also actively participate in trade promotion activities abroad. In early September 2025, nearly 15 businesses joined a delegation from the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade to participate in the International Handicraft Fair in Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo International Gift Show - TGIS 2025). This is an annual fair specializing in handicrafts and gifts held in early September every year, one of the largest and most prestigious international fairs in the world, organized by Business Guide-Sha, Inc.

This year's fair has a scale of up to 300,000m², gathering nearly 3,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and territories, attracting about 50,000 customers, including major importers from Japan and many other countries around the world to visit and trade.

Leaders of Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade and businesses participate in the International Handicraft Fair in Tokyo, Japan.

Recognizing this as a good opportunity for Hanoi's handicraft products to access the international market, the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has selected enterprises and handicraft production facilities with business registration, directly investing in production in the suburbs of Hanoi, with export potential and strengths, and at the same time, having the ability to negotiate and transact directly with international importers to participate in the fair. In addition, a number of other units also sent promotional materials at the Hanoi booth.

The Hanoi booth at this year's fair has the participation of nearly 15 businesses and units displaying handicraft products, gifts and traditional products of Hanoi craft villages such as lacquer, ceramics, rattan and bamboo weaving, embroidery, silk fabrics... During the fair, the Hanoi booth welcomed about 2,500 customers and importers to visit, learn and connect with trade.

A representative of Hoang Minh Ceramics Co., Ltd. (Bat Trang Commune, Hanoi) said that participating in international fairs not only helps businesses promote and introduce products, but also creates opportunities for business connections, meeting partners and finding new customers. This is also an opportunity to introduce traditional Bat Trang ceramic art, enhance brand recognition and craft village values. Through events such as TGIS, businesses hope to promote the export of high-quality products, while contributing to the preservation and sustainable development of traditional Vietnamese crafts.

Along with large-scale trade promotion activities, Hanoi city also regularly organizes specialized fairs and exhibitions for various handicraft industries. The products are selected from many craft villages and rural industrial establishments in Hanoi, demonstrating the ingenuity and persistent creativity of many generations of artisans.

The highlight of these exhibitions is the participation of artisans, skilled workers, young designers and businesses, creating an open space for exchange, where traditional craft experience is combined with modern design trends. The exhibition is therefore not only a place for display, but also a creative forum, contributing to affirming the position of Hanoi handicrafts in the domestic and international markets.

Meritorious artisan Nguyen Van Tinh, Chairman of Phu Vinh Bamboo and Rattan Craft Village Association (Phu Nghia Commune, Hanoi) said that artisans in many professions are excited when Hanoi regularly organizes specialized programs and exhibitions to introduce and promote craft village products. This is a practical activity, not only creating a space for exchange and learning, but also contributing to enhancing the position of the capital's handicraft products.

Regularly accompanying the Center for Industrial Promotion and Industrial Development Consulting in trade promotion programs, Artisan Nguyen Van Su (Thuy Ung horn comb craft village, Thuong Tin commune, Hanoi) said: "Previously, our products were mainly sold by order or served the traditional market. After participating in promotion programs, especially major events of the city, the products have been known to many customers, consumed better and have the opportunity to expand distribution channels."

With its existing potential and the support of businesses, artisans and managers, Hanoi handicrafts will continue to affirm its brand and reach far on the global creative map.

Mr. Hoang Quan,
Deputy Director of Hanoi Center for Industrial Promotion and Industrial Development Consulting

Mr. Hoang Quan, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Center for Industrial Promotion and Industrial Development Consulting, said that the fairs and exhibitions gathered many sophisticated products with high aesthetic and functional values, meeting the needs of the market and exports. With the available potential and the support of businesses, artisans and managers, Hanoi handicrafts will continue to affirm its brand and reach out on the global creative map.

The ability to supply handicraft products of Hanoi craft villages is currently assessed as relatively stable, with great potential for supplying to the international market. However, reality also shows that the capacity to expand the scale is still limited, especially in traditional handicraft product groups, requiring high technology and complex processes. Hanoi's handicraft industry has not yet fully exploited its potential and advantages, and is still lacking in competitiveness compared to similar products from China, India or the Philippines.

According to the Vietnam Handicraft Export Association, currently up to 90% of handicraft products in Vietnam in general, and Hanoi in particular, are produced according to designs and labels of foreign customers ordered by craft villages.

The main reason is that most of the production facilities are still small-scale, lack brand strategy, and have not taken advantage of digital technology in promotion and market access. In fact, many artisans have created many handicraft models with high aesthetic value but lack commercial value, are not suitable for customer tastes or are difficult to produce large orders, and there are also simple products with low value...

The artisans of Hanoi's craft villages have talented hands.

Chairwoman of the Hanoi Handicraft and Craft Villages Association Ha Thi Vinh shared that most artisans have the mentality that "craft villages have a long tradition so people will automatically know the brand", so they are not aware of the importance of building and developing a brand. This causes many craft village products, although having high artistic value, to lack identity, and are easily copied or lose their brand in the international market.

In Hanoi, there are currently more than 1,350 craft villages with about 176,000 households working in the profession, accounting for 45% of the total number of craft villages nationwide.

According to statistics, Hanoi currently has more than 1,350 craft villages with about 176,000 households, accounting for 45% of the total number of craft villages in the country. The capital's handicraft products are diverse in types, designs and quality.

Hanoi is considered the cradle of many traditional crafts, not only rich in economic potential but also a place to preserve and spread national cultural identity through hundreds of years of history.

The leader of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade said that the city aims to increase the export value of handicrafts by 2030 through promotion activities, while supporting craft villages to preserve and develop sustainably.

In order to support craft villages in building brands and improving product quality, the Hanoi People's Committee has issued Plan No. 368/KH-UBND on industrial promotion work in Hanoi in 2025. Specifically, the city strives to increase the export turnover of handicraft products by 6-8%/year by 2025; Create 650-800 new designs to serve domestic and foreign markets; Support 600-650 businesses to participate in domestic and international fairs; 10-15 establishments to invest in new, modern, advanced equipment for production; 2,000-2,500 leaders and managers of rural industrial establishments to be trained to improve their management capacity...

To achieve this goal, Hanoi city has implemented solutions to support the development of high-quality human resources; build technical demonstration models, transfer technology, and modern advanced equipment into industrial and handicraft production. In addition, organize fairs and exhibitions; participate in international fairs of Vietnamese handicrafts, wooden products and gifts, invite foreign importers to visit and trade in Vietnam...

According to experts, in order for Hanoi’s handicraft products to “reach the world”, it is necessary to focus on three strategic breakthroughs: creative design - digital transformation - brand building. Along with that, Hanoi must promote the combination of handicraft development with cultural tourism, forming craft village tours where visitors can experience the manufacturing process, learn about history and buy products on the spot - a “2 in 1” model that both promotes and increases sustainable economic value.

With a long-term vision, a synchronous development strategy and a spirit of persistent creativity, Hanoi's handicrafts can absolutely rise to become a key cultural export industry, contributing to affirming the position of the Creative Capital in the era of integration and sustainable development.

Publication date: October 16, 2025
Implementing organization:
NGOC THANH-KIEU HUONG-XUAN BACH
Content and photos: NGUYEN TRANG
Presented by: NGOC BICH

Nhandan.vn

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