Typical traditional handicrafts and craft villages of some ethnic minorities groups in Ha Giang province: values, policy and solutions for preserving and promoting.

Abstract

Handicrafts have been playing an important role in the economic lives of some ethnic minority groups even in developed industrial countries. Being aware of the strength and potential of handicrafts, Ha Giang province has revived and developed traditional handicrafts and craft villages. The collaboration between multi level government, organizations’ supports and local people’s wills has meant that many handicrafts and craft villages within provincial territory have been preserved and their distinguishing values have been promoted in order to contribute to traditional culture preservation and to encourage tourism development. Through analyzing challenges such as inadequate material resources, slow technology changes, limited local consumer market, barriers with external market, and unused tourism service potential, this article points out shortcomings in policies and recommends some solutions to preserve and promote unique cultural values of handicrafts and craft villages in Ha Giang province more effectively in the coming period.