Nearly 60 Countries Register for the 2026 Global Craft Village Festival in Hanoi

Nearly 60 countries and territories have registered to participate in the inaugural Global Craft Village Preservation and Development Festival 2026, with 166 international exhibition booths. The latest figures, announced at a meeting on 3 November, indicate that international interest has exceeded the organisers’ initial expectations as preparations enter their final stage ahead of the Festival’s opening.

On 3 November, Bui Duy Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, chaired a meeting to review preparations for the inaugural Global Craft Village Preservation and Development Festival 2026.

According to the Department of Cooperative Economy and Rural Development under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, nearly 60 countries and territories had registered to participate by the time of the meeting, accounting for 166 international exhibition booths.

Domestically, 24 of Vietnam’s 34 provinces and centrally administered cities had also registered exhibition booths at the Festival.

These figures represent a significant update to the plans announced in mid-October, when the organisers expected to welcome approximately 200 international delegates from 40–50 countries and territories across five continents.

The number of registered countries and territories has therefore already exceeded initial expectations. However, the figures announced on 3 November reflect registrations rather than the actual number of international delegations or representatives who will attend the Festival.

10,000 Square Metres Across Ten Thematic Zones

The Festival is scheduled to take place from 13 to 16 November 2026, with the Thang Long Imperial Citadel serving as its main venue.

According to Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, the Festival will cover approximately 10,000 square metres, organised into ten thematic zones.

Alongside exhibition areas showcasing Vietnamese and international craft village products, dedicated spaces will focus on creative design, digital transformation, Net Zero initiatives, trade promotion and business networking.

At the meeting on 3 November, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment reported that arrangements for the venue had been agreed with the Thang Long Imperial Citadel Centre. The overall site design had also been completed, providing the basis for contractor selection, construction and exhibition installation.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 7:00 pm on 14 November.

Earlier, on 12 November, craft village visits, hands-on experiences and tourism promotion activities are expected to take place at several craft villages across Hanoi.

Beyond Exhibitions: Connecting the Craft Sector

The Festival is designed to offer more than a conventional trade fair or product exhibition.

The programme currently being prepared includes the Asia-Pacific Handicraft Product Competition, exchanges between artisans and designers, craft fashion shows, investment promotion conferences, business networking activities and guided tours of traditional craft villages.

On 15 November, a programme connecting creative design with exchanges between artisans and designers, centred on the Asia-Pacific Handicraft Product Competition, is scheduled to take place at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

An international cultural exchange and craft fashion showcase featuring Vietnamese and international designs is also planned for the evening of the same day.

The Festival will additionally introduce emerging directions for the development of craft villages, including digital transformation and production practices aimed at achieving Net Zero.

This programme structure places traditional craftsmanship within a broader value chain, extending from the preservation of skills and recognition of artisans to product design, tourism, commerce and international markets.

An Important Update to the October Plans

On 14 October, HanoiCreativeCity.com reported on the Festival’s proposed programme, which anticipated approximately 200 international delegates from 40–50 countries and territories.

The information released at the meeting on 3 November represents a further development: registrations have now expanded to nearly 60 countries and territories, with 166 international exhibition booths and participation registered by 24 Vietnamese provinces and cities.

At this stage, the organisers’ work is shifting from programme development to finalising operational arrangements.

Vice Chairman Bui Duy Cuong called on the relevant agencies to complete detailed event plans, finalise construction and installation work, prepare the opening ceremony, strengthen communications and ensure security and safety for residents, visitors and international delegations.

Under the joint plan issued by the Hanoi People’s Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Festival aims to preserve and promote the values of traditional craft villages while advancing the craft-based economy through stronger links with exports and tourism.

A broader objective is to gradually establish Hanoi and Vietnam as important centres for craft connections at both regional and international levels.

For Hanoi, this ambition carries an additional significance.

The city is home to numerous traditional craft villages that are increasingly embracing creative design, experiential tourism, product innovation and market expansion. Bat Trang, Van Phuc, Chuyen My and Son Dong have also received recognition from the World Crafts Council as part of the international craft network.

The Festival therefore provides an opportunity to bring together initiatives that are already taking shape in individual craft villages, creating a wider platform for connections among artisans, designers, businesses, local authorities and international partners.

The registration of nearly 60 countries and territories is an encouraging sign ahead of the Festival’s opening.

Yet the Festival’s success will ultimately be measured by more than the number of participating countries or exhibition booths. More important will be the connections that endure beyond the event: between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, between craft villages and markets, and between Hanoi and the wider international craft community.

Sources

• Government News – Hanoi Capital Section, “Hanoi Reviews Preparations for the Global Craft Village Preservation and Development Festival 2026”, 3 November 2026.
• Hanoi People’s Committee and Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Joint Plan No. 395/KHLT-UBND-BNNMT, dated 12 October 2026.
• Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, information on the inaugural Global Craft Village Preservation and Development Festival 2026.
• https://hanoicreativecity.com/gan-60-quoc-gia-dang-ky-tham-gia-festival-lang-nghe-toan-cau-2026-tai-ha-noi/