Culture of Trade Villages: From Tradition to Modernity

Abstract

This article presents the current status of the trade villages in Vietnam. The trade villages’ establishment is largely based on agricultural villages’ foundation and will therefore be examined in relation with the traditional social structure, culture, trade secrets and transmission, gender-related issues and division of labor. With the rapid changes in social structure and economic development, traditional handicrafts and trade villages have changed the face of many rural areas. Part of this process has developed problems in environmental, educational and ethical trade issues, which the author believes should be considered and resolved. The author suggests the preservation and development of trade villages should be associated closely with safeguarding and development of trade villages’ culture and should be concretized by the state policies towards sustainable development.