Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee has just issued a plan to preserve and develop craft villages in the 2026-2030 period, with the goal of both preserving identity and effectively exploiting economic value from rural tourism.
According to the plan, the province maintains and develops 23 craft villages, 19 traditional craft villages, 24 traditional crafts that have been recognized; and at the same time restores 32 craft villages and 20 crafts at risk of fading.
Notably, 12 craft villages will be developed associated with tourism, aiming to have 75% of craft villages participate in the rural tourism value chain by 2030.
Reality in Sa Pa, Bac Ha shows that when associated with tourism, craft village products not only have use value but also contain cultural stories. Brocade of the H'Mong, Dao people, red Dao bathing medicine or traditional processed agricultural products become attractive experiences for tourists.
To create a unique tourism product, Lao Cai focuses on perfecting the mechanism, preserving traditional crafts, developing new craft villages associated with building new rural areas, training human resources, trade promotion and brand building.
Fields such as brocade weaving, flower cultivation, agricultural product processing, Red Dao bathing medicine, fine art stones... are prioritized for development thanks to their high experience.
In parallel with that is promoting digital transformation, e-commerce, helping craft village products expand markets. The province also sets a target of 100% of production facilities ensuring environmental requirements; about 80% of workers are vocationally trained; 40% of products meet OCOP standards and at least 15% of craft villages have products protected by intellectual property.
Linking craft villages with tourism not only enriches tourism products but also opens up sustainable development for the rural economy.
From traditional values, Lao Cai is gradually turning each craft village into a destination, a place where culture is preserved and people can live by their own craft.
