Hue hosts annual handicrafts fair during traditional festival

      The Viet Nam Craft Village Fair 2009 and the Viet Nam Handicraft Contest will be held at Thuong Bac Park, the former imperial city of Hue, from June 10 to 14.
It would be the first time Hue had hosted the events.
They would be part of the city’s Traditional Craft Festival 2009, said Agriculture and Rural Development Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan yesterday.
Previous fairs were held in Ha Noi but would take place throughout Viet Nam from this year to promote the exchange of regional products, he said.
Acclaimed porcelain, jewellery, brass ware, sculptures, wooden products and embroidery would be on display.
The fairs were intended to create opportunities for artisans to exchange knowledge, advertise their products, seek partners, sign contracts, transfer technology and promote trade, he said.
Forums that allow villages to share their ideas would be part of the five days.
Artisans and craft villages would be honoured and visitors would have the chance to be entertained and shop during the fairs.
The organisers hoped the fair would inspire and enhance the creativity of Viet Nam’s artisans and create domestic and international demand for their work.
The deputy minister said the fairs would help promote rural economic development and craft villages.
This would contribute to the eradication of hunger and reduce poverty in the villages while also helping preserve the national cultural identity and development.
Viet Nam has 2,790 craft villages.