Supporting the development of rural occupations
Quang Nam has 10 traditional occupations, 30 craft villages and traditional craft villages. Among the craft villages recognised by the Provincial People's Committee, there are 11 craft villages in the group of processing and preserving agricultural, forestry and fishery products; four craft villages in the group of handicraft production; and 15 craft villages of industries producing wooden products, rattan and bamboo weaving, ceramics, glass, textiles, yarn, embroidery, knitting, and small mechanical products.
According to Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Pham Viet Tich, the recognition of traditional occupations, craft villages and traditional craft villages has contributed to the restoration, preservation and development of many traditional occupations and the development of new occupations.
In fact, when craft villages are restored and developed, they not only create jobs and increase people’s income, but also play an important role in preserving the area, the landscape of craft villages, and the traditional cultural beauty as well as have great potential in developing green tourism.
In recent years, the provincial departments and branches have advised the Provincial People's Council and the Provincial People’s Committee to issue a number of mechanisms and policies with related contents to support production establishments participating in rural industry activities according to the government’s Decree No.52/2018/ND-CP, dated April 12, 2018.
Specifically, in 2022, the province issued Resolution No.38/2022/NQ-HDND, dated December 9, 2022, stipulating mechanisms and policies to support the development of rural industries and craft villages in Quang Nam Province in the 2023-2025 period.
Accordingly, the province supports the construction or repair and upgrade of environmental treatment systems at rural industry establishments, with a maximum support level of 50% of the cost, but not exceeding 240 million VND per rural industry establishment; support interest rates on loans to purchase raw materials; invest in factories, machinery, equipment, and technological lines, with a maximum support of 50% of the interest rate for loans within the first two years, but not exceeding VND 400 million per rural industry establishment.
At the same time, the province also supports opening vocational training classes, with a support level equal to 100% of the cost of vocational training at the elementary level for up to three months according to current regulations and approved by competent authorities.
In addition, the province also supports paying health insurance for folk artisans and excellent artisans working in rural industries, craft villages, and traditional craft villages with a support level of 100% of the health insurance payment according to regulations, with a maximum support period of 3 years from the date of policy benefit.
The total amount of money for this support work is nearly 80 billion VND. Of which, the provincial budget capital is more than 36.8 billion VND, the district budget is 11.9 billion VND, whereby the capital is combined from other programs, projects, and projects; while capital mobilised from rural industry establishments, craft villages and other legal capital sources totals more than 28.559 billion VND.
Ho Quang Buu, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, said that the preservation and development of traditional crafts in Quang Nam Province still faces many difficulties and limitations. Production in rural industries and craft villages is fragmented and small in scale, with outdated and manual production equipment; some raw material sources are becoming increasingly scarce, unstable, and expensive; the production space in many craft villages is too narrow or unable to expand, while production activities are mainly within the premises of households, interspersed in residential areas. Some establishments also lack capital for production, but access to loans is still limited and loan interest rates are still high.
Most of the workers in craft villages are middle-aged, elderly, or weak, and have lost their ability to work; they have a small-scale production mindset, with work-based production, and are afraid of change. Craft village products are similar, designs are still monotonous, and product prices are still high.
In addition, consumer demand has changed, shifting to more convenient products. Therefore, products are consumed slowly, and production and business activities face many difficulties. According to a recent survey, out of 30 traditional craft villages recognised by the Provincial People’s Committee, 16 craft villages are operating at a stable level, 14 craft villages are operating at a moderate level but are not regularly maintained, and some craft villages are at risk of fading away.
Preserving and developing craft villages in the integration period
In order to revive craft villages, in addition to effectively implementing Resolution No. 38/2022/NQ-HDND, Quang Nam has synchronously deployed many other solutions. Recently, the province organised the Traditional Craft Festival – Quang Nam 2024, attracting the participation of generations of artisans, researchers, domestic and international organisations, and individuals.
Furthermore, the province organised a seminar on "Solutions to preserve and develop traditional occupations in the integration period" to learn about and gain more experience in developing traditional occupations in other provinces, while at the same time listening to associations and owners of rural occupations in the province reflect on the difficulties, obstacles and shortcomings in production and business activities. As such, there are timely solutions to preserve and develop traditional occupations in Quang Nam Province in the integration period.
According to Nguyen Thanh Hong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam Province, in addition to focusing on investing in developing tourism in Hoi An Ancient Town, Cu Lao Cham, My Son, and sea and island tourism, Quang Nam is focused on developing community tourism, rural tourism, and tourism in craft villages and traditional craft villages.
Community tourism associated with craft villages in Quang Nam Province in recent times has been one of the products attracting tourists to the province. Some effective community tourism models associated with craft villages include: Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Tra Que Vegetable Village, and Kim Bong Carpentry Village in Hoi An City; Dai Binh Fruit Tree Village (Nong Son District), Triem Tay Split Mat Village (Dien Ban Town), and brocade weaving villages such as: Zara Village in Ta Bhing Commune (Nam Giang District); Dhroong Village, Bho Hoong Village (Dong Giang District); and Por’ning Village, Lang Commune (Tay Giang District).
It is worth noting that traditional craft village products also attract more spending from tourists at community tourism destinations. For example, fish sauce products from Tam Ap Fish Sauce Village, Tam Thanh Commune (Tam Ky City), Cua Khe Village, Binh Duong Commune (Thang Binh District), and Tam Tien Fish Sauce Processing Village, Tam Tien Commune (Nui Thanh District); and hammock weaving from parasol bark on Cu Lao Cham Island (Hoi An City). In addition, tourist attractions are places to display and recreate traditional crafts such as:
Au Lac wood art at Cam Phu Community Tourism Village and Hoi An Silk Village with sericulture are also very attractive to tourists. It is estimated that 15% of the total number of tourists to Quang Nam visit and experience craft villages.
To overcome difficulties in developing community tourism associated with craft villages, Ho Quang Buu, Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee, suggested that relevant agencies of the province and localities need to: focus on attracting tourists to the tourism craft villages that are being managed and exploited, focusing on environmental protection and the quintessence of the craft villages; and pay attention to the work of protecting, restoring and embellishing historical and cultural relics as well as restoring and developing traditional folk cultural activities in the craft village area to preserve the cultural identity of the craft village, creating attraction for tourists.
More attention should be paid to building a cultural tourism environment in craft villages and organising short-term training courses in craft villages to equip local officials and craft village residents with basic knowledge and skills in tourism activities. In the coming time, the province will increase funding for activities to promote craft village tourism and provide financial support for craft villages to participate in craft village festivals, craft village festivals, domestic and international tourism fairs as well as continue to organise festivals and major craft village events in the province to attract tourists.
