Standing Member of the Hanoi Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen on October 31 chaired a meeting of the Steering and Organizing Committees for the 2025 International Festival on Craft Village Conservation and Development.

The meeting gathered Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung, representatives of ministries, departments and associations, as well as craft village and handicraft organizations from across the country.

Careful and detailed preparations

Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Xuan Dai reported that preparations for the festival were being carried out thoroughly.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Vietnam Handicraft Exporters Association have invited 50 international organizations to attend, including 20 leaders of the World Craft Council and governors of creative craft cities worldwide. About 80 artisans from 30 countries and territories will also participate with 80 booths for exhibitions and live demonstrations.

The Ministry and Hanoi People's Committee have invited 33 provinces and cities to join the exhibition space. So far, 18 localities have confirmed participation, contributing 77 booths, including 20 on craft village conservation, 44 on development, one on net-zero initiatives and three on craft village tourism.

Within Hanoi, 125 organizations and individuals, including 40 artisans, 19 skilled craftsmen, OCOP producers and local enterprises, have registered for 195 booths. Four communes and wards, including Bat Trang and Ha Dong, recognized as World Creative Craft Villages and Son Dong and Chuyen My (candidates for 2025 recognition), will showcase their crafts to international guests.

In addition to broad media promotion, seminars, exhibitions, contests and fairs are being carefully arranged, with all works to be displayed at the festival.

Clear message and strong identity

Vice Chairman Quyen praised the efforts of the ministry and city departments, emphasizing that the festival must convey a clear, unified message that highlights the spirit of preserving and developing craft villages and affirms Hanoi's and Vietnam's status on the global handicraft map.

He urged departments and localities to fulfill assigned tasks, while the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment should finalize and send official invitations to international and domestic delegates.

"Preparations must be thorough to the smallest detail, ensuring stable internet connectivity, smooth Wi-Fi access and an engaging program that turns the festival into a vibrant chain of cultural, economic and tourism events," Quyen stressed.

He also asked relevant units to design thematic workshops focusing on craft village planning, conservation and development in the new era and to sustain activities promoting trade and product connections for sustainable growth.

"The city's goal is not only to develop local craft villages but also to elevate them globally. In the future, Hanoi will continue to improve and make the festival an annual international event," the Vice Chairman affirmed.

Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung praised Hanoi's careful preparation, calling ther the largest international event ever held in the field of craft villages.

He said the festival aims not just to promote and showcase but to lay the foundation for long-term cooperation, spreading the value of Vietnam's traditional crafts worldwide.

Hung urged stronger communication about the festival and reaffirmed that the Ministry would work closely with Hanoi to ensure professional, effective and successful organization.

The 2025 International Festival on Craft Village Conservation and Development will take place from November 14 to November 18, 2025 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Heritage Site.

Jointly organized by the Hanoi People's Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the event will feature leaders of the World Craft Council, governors of creative craft cities from 30 countries and territories, Vietnamese provinces and cities, artisans and skilled craftsmen.

Covering an area of over 4,000 square meters, the festival will have 350 booths divided into five zones: 50 for conservation, 200 for development, 20 for OCOP and cuisine (divided into North–Central–South areas) and 80 for international exhibitors.

The festival will also include a "Brilliant Hanoi Flower Festival" integrated into its layout, celebrating traditional crafts and promoting their sustainable growth in the era of global integration.