Gen Z returns to the village to rekindle traditional crafts.

In recent years, in many traditional craft villages in Hanoi, the number of young people who, after receiving formal training, have chosen to return to their hometowns to continue and develop the traditional crafts of their ancestors has been steadily increasing. With new mindsets, good technological application skills, and flexible market approaches, they are contributing to the revival and strong development of these craft villages.

Mr. Le The Huy (right), owner of a carpentry workshop in Phu An craft village (Hat Mon commune), contributes to promoting the development of the local traditional craft. Photo: Nguyen Mai

From the lecture hall to the workshop

Beside the wooden shelving units being finished for shipment to downtown Hanoi , Mr. Le The Huy, the owner of a carpentry workshop in Phu An craft village (Hat Mon commune), is carefully inspecting every detail before handing them over to customers. From the smoothness of the surface to each small joint, everything is meticulously checked. Few people know that before dedicating himself full-time to carpentry, Mr. Huy was a student of interior design at Hanoi Open University.

Born into a family with a tradition of carpentry, Huy was familiar with the smell of wood and the sound of saws from an early age. However, instead of following in his ancestors' footsteps, he chose a formal education to build a solid professional foundation. “After graduating, I worked at several interior design companies, but then realized I was better suited to returning to my hometown. The knowledge I gained helps me advise clients on design, optimizing functionality and aesthetics, thereby building credibility and expanding the market,” Huy shared.

Huy's carpentry workshop, spanning approximately 250 square meters, is equipped with modern machinery such as CNC cutting machines and gluing machines. The main products are custom-made furniture for homes, cafes, and offices. Instead of relying on regular customers, Huy utilizes social media platforms to promote his products and connect with clients nationwide. As a result, the workshop generates billions of dong in revenue annually, providing stable employment for 4-5 local workers.

Also a university graduate who chose to return to the traditional carpentry trade, Nguyen Chu Quang (born in 1996), the owner of a workshop in Thiet Ung fine art wood carving village (Thu Lam commune), is gradually innovating the approach to village products. According to Quang, local products are very diverse, ranging from furniture such as cabinets, tables and chairs, and religious items, to sculptures and relief paintings… Not only do Quang and his colleagues sell products, but they also convey the story behind each piece. “We want customers to understand that to create a complete product, the craftsman must go through many stages: from selecting the wood and processing the raw materials to carving each detail. When they understand this process, they will appreciate the labor and culture of the village more,” Quang shared.

In his family's product display space, Mr. Quang is not only a salesperson but also a storyteller, guiding customers on a journey from raw, rustic wood to exquisitely carved details... This approach clearly demonstrates the transformation of the craft village: preserving traditional techniques, innovating market thinking, and increasing the value of the products...

Demands from practice

According to Nguyen Tien Quyen, Secretary of the Phu An village Party branch (Hat Mon commune), the wave of young people returning to the craft village brings with it many distinct advantages. They have skills, new ways of thinking, and extensive networks. More importantly, they don't follow the old ways but know how to apply technology and innovate production methods, thereby improving economic efficiency. Phu An currently has nearly 200 carpentry workshops among a total of about 500 households. Not only focusing on production, many households also develop commerce, selling goods through social media or opening stores in other localities. Notably, many workshop owners, aged only 25-35, have already operated large-scale businesses, achieving high revenue and creating jobs for many workers.

According to Lai Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thu Lam commune, to promote the role of young laborers, the locality cooperates with artisans to organize vocational training classes, encouraging young people to learn crafts in a systematic way. At the same time, the government also creates conditions for young artisans to participate in design competitions and trade fairs to improve their skills and expand trade opportunities. "We aim to build a creative design center, applying digital technology in product promotion and market connection to ensure the sustainable development of the craft village," Mr. Lai Manh Cuong said.

According to Ms. Ha Thi Vinh, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Handicraft and Traditional Village Association, the city currently has approximately 1,350 craft villages, of which more than 330 have been officially recognized as traditional craft villages. Many craft villages such as Bat Trang, Son Dong, Ha Thai, and Duyen Thai are thriving thanks to the active participation of young people. Many young people, even those earning 15-20 million VND per month working in the city, choose to return to their craft villages. This demonstrates the enormous market potential and affirms the increasing appeal of traditional crafts in the new context...

However, for this trend to be sustainable, comprehensive and long-term support policies are needed. Many experts believe that, in addition to vocational training and skill transfer, attention should be paid to access to capital, planning production space, promoting digital transformation, building brands, and protecting intellectual property rights for craft village products. On the other hand, along with creating a creative environment and encouraging young people to develop new ideas, preserving the traditional identity of craft villages is also a crucial factor...

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/gen-z-ve-lang-thap-lua-nghe-truyen-thong-744314.html