From November 13 to 16, 2026, the First Global Festival for the Preservation and Development of Craft Villages will take place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi, under the theme “Bringing Together the Cultural Identity of Craft Villages – Connecting Global Excellence.” This is an important cultural, economic, and international event that aims to promote the unique values of Vietnamese craft villages to the world.
The festival is expected to welcome approximately 200 international delegates from 40–50 countries and territories, along with numerous artisans, skilled craftspeople, designers, businesses, cooperatives, and representatives of craft villages. Covering an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, the event will showcase traditional handicraft products from Vietnam and many other countries around the world.
A Space Celebrating the Finest Craft Traditions
One of the festival’s main attractions is the combination of exhibitions, live demonstrations, cultural experiences, and trade activities. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore traditional handicraft products, watch artisans demonstrate their skills, and discover traditional techniques that have been passed down through generations.
In addition to exhibition spaces showcasing Vietnamese and international products, the festival will feature areas dedicated to creative design, digital transformation, Net Zero, photography exhibitions, flowers and ornamental plants, culture and cuisine, as well as commercial spaces for business networking. Through these activities, traditional handicrafts are presented not only as cultural treasures but also as an economic sector capable of adapting to modern development trends.
Connecting Craft Village Culture with Tourism Development
One of the festival’s highlights is its aim to transform craft villages into attractive cultural tourism destinations. Alongside activities at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the program will include visits and cultural experiences at several typical craft villages in Hanoi, such as Van Phuc Silk Village, Chuyen My Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Village, and the Vietnam Craft Village Quintessence Center in Bat Trang.
Through these visits and hands-on experiences, tourists can do more than simply purchase handicraft products. They can also discover the stories behind each product, including the history of the craft, traditional production techniques, the daily lives of artisans, and the cultural values preserved by local communities over generations.
This is also a meaningful direction for Hanoi’s tourism development. Combining heritage, craft villages, cuisine, and creative experiences can create diverse tourism itineraries while helping craft villages attract more visitors and expand their markets.
A Variety of Special Activities
The festival’s opening ceremony is scheduled to take place at 7:00 PM on November 14, 2026, in Hanoi. Other activities within the event include an Investment Promotion Conference for Rural Industry Products, networking programs between artisans and designers, the Asia-Pacific Handicraft Products Competition, cultural exchange activities, and fashion showcases featuring traditional handicrafts from Vietnam and other countries.
In particular, the festival provides opportunities for artisans to meet designers, businesses, and international partners. These connections are expected to help craft villages innovate their product designs, increase product value, and expand export markets while preserving their traditional identities.
An Opportunity to Promote Vietnam’s Image
Vietnamese craft villages do more than produce handicrafts; they also preserve the memories, history, and cultural identity of local communities. Every product reflects unique techniques, materials, artistic values, and cultural stories. Therefore, organizing an international-scale festival provides an opportunity to introduce these values to a wider global audience.
The festival also aims to honor artisans, skilled craftspeople, and workers, while encouraging younger generations to inherit and develop traditional crafts. More broadly, the event seeks to help position Hanoi and Vietnam as important centers of traditional craftsmanship in the region and around the world.
A Notable Cultural and Tourism Event in November
Combining traditional culture, contemporary creativity, tourism experiences, and business networking, the First Global Festival for the Preservation and Development of Craft Villages is more than just an exhibition of handicraft products. It is also a space where Vietnamese craft village culture can meet traditional craftsmanship from around the world, opening up new opportunities for cooperation and bringing traditional values closer to both domestic and international visitors.
Held at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel – one of Hanoi’s most remarkable cultural heritage sites – the festival creates a special connection between the historical heritage of the capital and the finest traditions of Vietnamese craftsmanship. The event is expected to become one of Hanoi’s notable cultural and tourism highlights in November 2026.