Part 3: Traditional craft villages "awaken" along the rivers.

With over 70 traditional craft villages spread across the land, each with its own unique characteristics, Vinh Long not only possesses rich cultural heritage but also has the opportunity to transform these values into one of the "golden keys" to achieving the goal of developing the cultural industry in the new era.

The Tu Buoi pottery workshop preserves the story of the once-red

The Tu Buoi pottery house preserves the story of the once-red "kingdom".

Keeping the flame of traditional crafts alive.

Some traditional craft villages haven't completely disappeared, but quietly continue to exist amidst the rhythm of contemporary life. Today's young generation has access to technology, possesses open-mindedness, and is creative. Many young people remain in their hometowns, determined to stay rooted in their land and villages, reconnecting and reviving what was thought to belong to the past. From there, these legacies are resurrected, continuing to be present in contemporary life in a different way.

The province's ethnic minority population numbers over 373,000 people, accounting for 11.03%. The Khmer people have left a profound mark on cultural life with their language, writing system, folk performing arts, and distinctive cuisine .

According to statistics, the province has approximately 500 households with over 2,000 Khmer laborers engaged in the craft of making flattened rice flakes. Previously, the Khmer people in the province only made flattened rice flakes to offer to the Moon God during the Ok Om Bok festival on the full moon of the 10th lunar month. Nowadays, flattened rice flakes are made year-round to meet market demand and serve tourists.

When the glutinous rice grains are roasted until fragrant in an earthenware pot, the hot rice is poured into a large wooden mortar. The rhythmic pounding of the wooden pestle creates a lively sound. The wooden mortar, wooden pestle, and earthenware pot are "treasures" passed down from the time of Thach Thi Thanh Thuy's great-grandfather.

She is the fourth-generation heir in a family with a tradition of making flattened rice flakes in Song Loc commune. Along with her father, Mr. Thach Sang, and her mother, Ms. Thach Thi Sene, Ms. Thuy strives to preserve the traditional handcrafted method of making flattened rice flakes, contributing to the preservation and development of this local tourism product.

According to Ms. Thuy: “At the Khmer Cultural Tourism Village in the Ao Ba Om area, tourists can learn about the distinctive features of Khmer culture through activities experiencing daily life, traditional crafts, and local cuisine. The craft of making flattened rice cakes is always a popular choice for visitors to explore and enjoy this specialty dish that embodies the rich culture of the Khmer people. Born and raised here, the village has created stable jobs and increased income for the local people.”

Nestled beside the Co Chien River, the Mang Thit brick-making village in Vinh Long province has existed for hundreds of years. This region is known as the "red kingdom." Thanks to the province's policy efforts, the brick-making village is expected to become a valuable heritage site of international significance, with a sustainable development strategy based on preserving and promoting cultural heritage values and the local ecosystem.

With over 30 years of deep affection for pottery, Mr. Nguyen Van Buoi is always concerned about how to preserve the traditional craft passed down from his ancestors. He owns two massive houses entirely made of red pottery in Thanh Duc ward. The pottery house holds the Vietnamese record for "The largest traditional three-bay, two-wing house made of red Vinh Long pottery in Vietnam." The India Global Trade and Technology Council has also certified the Tu Buoi Pottery House Tourist Area as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Global Brands.

Artist Le Trieu Dien, who has had numerous exhibitions both domestically and internationally, once revealed: "Vinh Long pottery, made with fired alum clay, has colors similar to Italian pottery and is very popular with Europeans."

Mr. Buoi confided: "With the desire to revive the craft village and keep the traditional flame alive, I was determined to build this pottery house so that my descendants will forever remember the 'red kingdom' of a golden age. Every small detail in the house retains the essence of the culture and history of the Southern region."

Visiting the pottery house, tourists can admire a collection of antiques, hear stories about the century-long preservation of the craft, and stay in homestays built from pottery. On weekends, tourists can go to the "country market," enjoy garden vegetables, freshwater fish, free-range chicken, and traditional cakes of the Mekong Delta.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province has more than 70 long-standing traditional craft villages. Traditional craft villages are a "soft" resource with special appeal at tourist destinations. Craft products are usually handmade items, created by the skillful hands of artisans. When tourists come here to buy craft products, they will have the feeling of preserving unique cultural values and enhancing their awareness of the local community's cultural heritage.

Many craft villages are thriving and maintaining their traditional crafts thanks to their close connection with tourism development, bringing sustainable vitality to the villages. People have many motivations to revive the craft villages, and young people continue to carry on the skills of their ancestors, keeping the flame of traditional crafts alive.

Reviving the essence of traditional crafts

Ms. Tran Thi Loan, Head of the Rural Industries Department, Department of Cooperative Economics and Rural Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), affirmed: "To innovate and develop craft village tourism, it is necessary to adopt a mindset that goes beyond simply selling specific products; it must also incorporate the unique cultural characteristics of the craft village."

"We need to innovate our approach to craft village tourism products by shifting from isolated exploitation activities to building a value chain: culture - craft village - trade - tourism. This will both meet the experiential needs of tourists and integrate local culture with modern life, creating sustainable economic value," shared Ms. Tran Thi Loan.

Traditional craft villages are a unique and attractive source of cultural tourism resources.

Following a survey of craft village tourism in Vinh Long, Ms. Lai Thi Thuy Ha, Vice President of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Tourism Club, commented that craft village tourism in Vinh Long demonstrates the appeal of experiential learning, a factor that helps tourists move from observation to interaction, from consumption to co-creation. Activities such as making cakes, tofu skin, or participating in agricultural seasons create positive inspiration and boost spending. To capitalize on this advantage, the solution is to standardize the craft experience script for each village.

Ms. Thuy Ha expressed her wish that each artisan should be a "cultural ambassador." Artisans are not only keepers of the craft but also the "soul of the brand." Therefore, it is necessary to develop training programs specifically for artisans: presentation skills, workshop leadership, digital communication skills, and communication and interaction with international guests. To develop the craft villages, it is essential to both maintain their activities and have people who understand and can share the stories of the craft.

Building a tourism brand for traditional craft villages is not just a local issue, but a national strategy based on culture, creative industries, and community strength.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Director of Innovation for the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project in Vietnam, once said: “The Mekong Delta, with its rich culture, land, and people, can absolutely become a model region for green craft villages and smart rural tourism in Vietnam. Communicating and spreading the cultural and human values of the Mekong as a symbol of “Best Tourism – Kindest People – Happiest Life” is crucial. When each craft village becomes a seed of happiness, nurtured with knowledge, love, and cooperation, we will not only develop tourism but also sow a green future for the entire Mekong region.”

The province has five traditional crafts recognized as national intangible cultural heritage: the craft of making My Long rice paper (Luong Phu commune), the craft of making Son Doc puffed rice cakes (Hung Nhuong commune), the craft of making Ca Hom mats by the Khmer people (Ham Giang commune), the craft of making hats and masks by the Khmer people (Song Loc commune, Cau Ke commune, Tra Vinh ward, Hoa Thuan ward), and the craft of making My Hoa tofu skin (Cai Von ward).

Several craft villages have participated in serving tourists, such as: the coconut candy making village, the coconut handicraft production village, the Chợ Lách seedling and ornamental flower village, the An Thạnh coconut fiber industrial and handicraft village, the Trà Cuôn sticky rice cake making village, the Xuân Thạnh wine production village, the Phước Định yellow apricot blossom village, the Cù Lao Mây rice paper making village, the Tam Bình paper-making village, and the Mang Thít red ceramic brick production village…

Text and photos: PHUONG THU

Source: https://baovinhlong.com.vn/van-hoa-giai-tri/202605/khai-mo-tiem-nang-phat-trien-cong-nghiep-van-hoa-ky-3-lang-nghe-thuc-giac-ben-nhung-dong-song-6526ce6/