The attraction of local values

Memories are recalled in the light of glass, under the clear afternoon sunlight. Beside the gentle breath of the green rice fields, children take care, adults meticulously draw and shape, and time seems to choose to sit on the porch.

Tourists are fascinated by the experience of making traditional handicrafts at Woodart Vietnam Art Workshop. Photo: YH

Calling memories back...

On a gentle Saturday, when the sun and wind followed each other through the green rice fields, I embarked on an inspiring journey, in the space of LAM Kitchen, in Hoi An Dong ward ( Da Nang city).

Everyone joined the workshop to make “suncatchers” - sparkling pieces of colored glass, choosing a shape that evoked memories: a crane, a boat, or a paper airplane that we folded and flew as children. For us, this was not only a handmade gift, but also a piece of memory, a bit of the soul of Hoi An preserved.

Not far away, Le Duc Ha pottery workshop (Dien Ban ward) was my next stop. The smell of moist clay, the clatter of the wheel, and the patient gaze of the artisan guiding me to shape each curve of a small vase evoked memories of simple, enduring things.

This experience is not just about making pottery, but a journey of co-creation. I am encouraged to freely shape or decorate the product, leaving my own mark on the product.

To me, each jar, still warm from the stove, is a touch to the soul of the land, a whisper about the connection between people, land and culture.

Woodart Vietnam Art Studio, another creative destination I chose to visit, located in Go Noi Commune, has a more modern feel. Here, Tran Duy - a young artisan has breathed life into wooden blocks by combining tradition and images that are both familiar to the younger generation and imbued with Vietnamese identity.

Duy shared that Woodart Vietnam was born with the desire to bring the beauty of craft village culture closer to the world . This is not only a production place but also a destination that attracts international visitors to experience the art of wood carving, making their trip more vivid and memorable.

The appeal of local values

New generation tourists are increasingly looking for opportunities to experience culture, delve into the lifestyle, and access local art activities. This creates favorable conditions for culturally rich lands like Da Nang to create unique features for creative tourism activities.

Travel Blogger Duc Anh listens attentively to Meritorious Artist Le Duc Ha tell his creative story. Photo: YH

Olivia Wilson, a tourist from England, shared that for her, the process of creating a wooden statue is a moment of living with the rhythm of this land, learning from experienced artisans, and bringing back memories imbued with local identity.

That is the unique value that creative tourism brings: emphasizing on increasing the ability to connect, interact, explore, and integrate into activities in the destination community, not simply admiring, watching, and visiting like traditional forms of tourism.

To develop creative tourism, in addition to necessary tourism resources, the human factor plays a particularly important role. Skilled artisans, artists with local spirit and style, indigenous people with valuable traditional experiences..., they are the bridge between tourists and indigenous values.

Mr. Lo Huu Duc Anh, a travel blogger from Hanoi, after visiting the pottery workshop and meeting the excellent artisan Le Duc Ha - the one who breathes life into Quang Nam pottery, expressed his special feelings: “We entered Uncle Ha's working space, a quiet place, with only sunlight and regular rotations. There, time seemed to no longer be measured in hours or minutes, but in layers of dark glaze, and small cracks in the soil. And I saw a life of a person who chose to sit quietly, persistently preserving the fire of the profession. That beautiful figure, engraved in my mind joy, and endless creative inspiration".

Source: https://baodanang.vn/suc-hut-tu-gia-tri-ban-dia-3298518.html