Cultural changes in traditional craft villages of Hoi An under the impact of tourism

Abstract

The study investigates the cultural and social transformations occurring in three traditional craft villages of Hoi An, namely Kim Bong carpentry village, Thanh Ha pottery village, and Tra Que vegetable village, under the influence of tourism. The rapid development of tourism has introduced substantial shifts in cultural values, customs, and social relationships within these communities. The study adopts a qualitative approach, incorporating in-depth interviews with artisans, local residents, and tourists, combined with participant observation to gather data. The findings reveal that while tourism has brought significant economic benefits to the craft villages, it has also disrupted traditional customs, intensified the cultural commercialization, and reshaped the community's social structures. Social relationships within the villages have also been impacted by the transition from an agricultural economy to a tourism- driven economy. The study suggests the implementation of policies that preserve local culture and strategies for sustainable tourism development to safeguard cultural identity while fostering economic growth.