A local resident in Bình Đức incense making village in An Giang Province’s Long Xuyên City. Photo mia.vn

AN GIANG – The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of An Giang aims to preserve and develop traditional craft and craft villages, and diversify their products to improve income for rural people.

The province has 14 craft villages and 15 traditional craft villages which have been recognised for meeting criteria of small industrial villages by its People’s Committee.

They have 3,706 households participating in making and selling craft products such as bamboo and wooden household utensils, fish catching tools and food.

Workers at the villages have an average income of VNĐ8 million (US$340) per person a month.

Under the province’s newly-approved plan of developing rural occupations, preserving and developing craft villages and traditional craft villages in 2023-25, the province aims to have at least one more craft village recognised and implement at least three projects of developing rural and traditional occupations by 2025.

Trần Anh Thư, deputy chairman of the province People’s Committee, said the province will focus on developing rural occupations, craft villages and traditional craft villages in each sector and field.

It will support craft villages to develop brand names and trade promotion, use advanced producing techniques, diversify products that meet the market requirements, and develop tourism services, he said.

The province People’s Committee has asked relevant departments and agencies to provide vocational skills for the workers of craft villages, co-operative groups and co-operatives, and assist craft villages to promote their products and register brand names for their products.

Relevant departments and agencies should assist craft villages to showcase their products at tourism destinations in An Giang and other provinces and cities, it said.

Tourism

The province has developed tourism services in many craft villages such as Mỹ Khánh rice paper making village and Bình Đức incense making village in Long Xuyên City, Châu Giang brocade weaving village in Tân Châu Town, Văn Giáo brocade weaving village and palm sugar making village in Tịnh Biên District, according to its Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The Châu Giang brocade weaving village of Chăm ethnic people in Tân Châu Town’s Phong Châu Commune is well known for its products and has attracted a large number of tourists.

The village makes brocade scarves, hats, coats and bags which are referred to by tourists, especially foreign ones.

Nguyễn Mỹ Tuyết Dung, who is from HCM City and visits the village, said: “This is my memorable tourism trip. I never thought craft village tourism is so interested. I explore the unique culture of Chăm people and buy many brocade products to give my family members and friends as gifts.”

Trần Thị Hoà Bình, deputy chairwoman of the Tân Châu People’s Committee, said in past years households in the village have made brocade products to serve ethnic people and tourists.

Tourists visit the village because they can buy brocade products and have a chance to participate in processes of making them, she said, adding that this is the potential and advantage for developing tourism and create jobs for rural people.

In Tịnh Biên District’s Văn Giáo Commune, the Văn Giáo brocade weaving village of Khmer people is also a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

Văn Giáo brocade products are exported to many countries, including Cambodia, Thailand, the US, France and Australia.

Nguyễn Khánh Hiệp, director of the province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said developing and exploiting traditional craft villages toward offering tourism services bring in benefits of preserving and promoting their culture value and socio-economic development. – VNS