Artisan Vo Dinh Hoang - owner of the Dé Latana Hoi An lantern production facility said that the handicrafts in Hoi An currently depend mainly on the tourism market. Changing the designs and styles is a requirement to adapt to the market.

“Products must be both traditional and modern. Only then can we bring handmade products to many markets. We should not think of handmade products as old-fashioned products, as this makes it difficult to integrate,” said Mr. Vo Dinh Hoang.

Recognizing the significant challenges that traditional craftsmen currently face in the connection stage, from connecting to find sources of raw materials to connecting between establishments and travel agencies, Mr. Hoang said that only connecting can help the profession develop. Support in connecting supply and demand is also what craftsmen desire.

Handicrafts play a role as “geographical indications” of the land. In particular, folk knowledge, including traditional crafts, is vital to creating the space of Hoi An.

Mr. Nguyen The Hung - Vice Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee said that traditional and typical products of Quang Nam are very diverse and unique.

In Hoi An, the symbiosis and mutual support between craft villages will contribute to opening up development opportunities for craft villages. Organizing the introduction of traditional craft villages through festivals is a way to create a bridge connecting traditional craft areas.

Having participated in the Hanoi Creative Design Festival in 2023, artisan Vo Tan Tan said that Hoi An being recognized as a Creative City is a great opportunity for those working in traditional crafts. This title creates a new playground and creates conditions for craftspeople to exchange and promote their products to the world.

“This title also puts pressure on traditional craftsmen to always seek innovation and creativity so that their products have a new breath and good design to promote the image of their land through the products,” said artisan Vo Tan Tan.

Each locality will be granted the title by UNESCO for 4 years. After this period, UNESCO will review the criteria to continue to recognize the locality.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa - an urban expert, believes that if one day, most of the owners of Hoi An are immigrants from other places, bringing completely new business, production and communication styles, the title of a creative city of handicrafts and folk arts will no longer exist.

Recently, Hoi An City People's Council approved the project to build Hoi An - Creative City for the period 2024-2027, with a vision to 2030.

This is an important basis for effectively implementing commitments when joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as well as proposing and applying policies to turn culture into a resource to promote local sustainable development. Local initiatives have been outlined and built according to a specific roadmap.

The flow of creativity and heritage, starting from the positive changes of each traditional product, each craftsman and artisan of the craft village, is sustainable development.