Lê Hương

HÀ NỘI Thousands of people have flocked to the pedestrian zone by Hoàn Kiếm Lake in downtown Hà Nội to attend the annual Folk Culture in Contemporary Life Festival.

First held in 2019, the event has become a destination to advertise culture and tourism of the capital, according to Tô Văn Động, director of Hà Nội Culture and Sports Department.

He said the annual event aims to praise the historical and cultural values of Thăng Long Hà Nội – a thousand-year city.

This year, representatives from dozens of handicraft villages displayed their products and performed at the event like Ngũ Xã Bronze Casting Village (Ba Đình District), Vạn Phúc Silk Village (Hà Đông District); Định Công Silverware Village (Hoàng Mai District); Chuyên Mỹ Lacquer Village; Tế Phú Túc Grass Weaving Village (Phú Xuyên District); Vĩnh Thịnh Conical Hat Village, and Trường Tâm Bronze Casting Village (Thanh Trì District).

Customers try on silk products at the booth of Phùng Xá Silk Village. VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Đức

Artisan Phan Thị Thuận, from Hạ Village, Phùng Xá Commune, Mỹ Đức District in the western outskirts of Hà Nội, couldn't hide her excitement at the event, where she introduced her “brainchild” – silk made from lotus stems.

“Three generations in my family have followed the worm silk weaving handicraft,” she told Việt Nam News. “I have tried a new product -- silk from lotus stems. I want to introduce the soul of the handicraft at the festival.” 

Performing his skills to make a figurine from sticky rice dough, artisan Đặng Văn Khương from Xuân La Village, Phượng Dực Commune, Phú Xuyên District, showed his pride in the traditional craft.

“We have kept the craft handed down through generations,” Khương said. “Our products have been sold throughout the nation and even exported. This year, due to COVID-19, we haven’t exported as much as in the previous years. But I believe the situation will be improved soon.”

Retiree Phùng Thị Yến, a resident in the Old Quarter, said she went to the festival every year.

“I think it’s a good idea to make the pedestrian area in the downtown bustling,” she said. “I bring my grandchildren here to tell them about many traditional handmade products in the city. My grandchildren saw here for the first time how products are made like weaving from worm silk and making figurines.

Artisan make toy figurines at the event. VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Đức

“I feel proud of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the city,” she said. “I love the city even more after such an event.”

Mai Thanh Long, 27, said she could not believe Hà Nội is home to so many handicraft villages.

“As a young person living in the city, I think of my responsibility to preserve and develop the crafts. I’m thinking of making a website to introduce these crafts together with my friends.” VNS

Artists perform xẩm (folk singing by buskers) at the event. VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Đức