Culture week to promote Vạn Phúc traditional silk craft

A silk shop at the Vạn Phúc craft village. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI - A culture, tourism and trade week at Hà Nội's Vạn Phúc craft village will promote the traditional art of silk weaving November 30-December 6.

Vạn Phúc is one of the most famous craft villages in Việt Nam, renowned for its beautiful silk products, which are highly refined and have a high economic value.

The village in Vạn Phúc ward, Hà Đông District, is recognised by the Việt Nam Record Book Centre as the Vietnamese record for 'The oldest silk weaving village still operating today'.

Themed Quê Lụa Hà Đông - Tinh Hoa Hội Tụ (Hà Đông Silk Country - The Essence of Convergence) the event will include number of cultural, commercial and tourism activities. All will honour the traditional skills of the village and promote handicraft products to domestic and international visitors, said Nguyễn Văn Dự, Chairman of the People's Committee of Vạn Phúc Ward.

Many activities will be held at the Vạn Phúc Village's culture, tourism and trade week of Hà Nội.

"This is an opportunity for Vạn Phúc and Hà Đông District to strengthen tourism promotion, introduce visitors to the diversity of the local area and spread images and people of Vạn Phúc to a wider community and friends," he said.

The culture week is organised into three parts.

The ritual ceremony themed 'Connecting Heritage and Relics' includes a procession honouring the village's weaving craft and dragon-lion-unicorn dances.

For the festival, there will be music and dance performances by professional singers and actors, while folk games will take place throughout the week at different locations in the village.

A workshop at the Vạn Phúc, one of the national oldest silk villages of Việt Nam.

In terms of trade, there will be commercial activities at many different locations. Local artisans and businesses will introduce Vạn Phúc's diverse and rich silk products while offering tours that help visitors to discover the village's ornamental flower market, silk shops, factories and antiques and time to enjoy typical cuisine.

To connect relics and tourism sites across the ward, organisers will, for the first time, pilot free electric vehicles, to drive visitors to cultural and historical relics including President Hồ Chí Minh's Memorial House, local communal houses, pagodas and temples.

There will also be contests to find young new talents in the craft village and prizes for the best silk weaving skills and pattern designs.