Young Hanoian keeps traditional crafts alive

Ngo Quy Duc was born in 1985 in the capital city. In 2006, after graduating from university, he came up with the idea of creating a cultural project about Hanoi. The project "My Hanoi" was envisioned as an online library of Hanoi’s culture. In May 2021, Duc launched the "Return to the Village" project, a website providing information about traditional craft villages and showcasing local handmade products.

“In 2006, I conceived the idea of doing something related to Hanoi. I met Hanoi cultural researcher Nguyen Vinh Phuc, who consulted on the ‘My Hanoi’ project. After that project, I became passionate about Vietnamese handicrafts, so I launched the ‘Return to the Village’ project using information I had collected previously about craft villages around Hanoi and expanding it to provinces across the North, Central, and Southern regions of Vietnam”,  said Duc.

Since 2006, Duc has visited more than 500 craft villages. Each village has its own story, and some have left a deep impression on him. “During these trips, I witnessed the exceptional skills of the artisans. Their craftsmanship, passed down through generations and refined over time, produces exquisite products worth global recognition."

Wishing to preserve and spread the values of traditional craft villages, Duc traveled to rural areas for many years to carry out his “Return to the Village” project. He has connected craft villages and businesses, creating new opportunities for them to access markets and facilitating exchanges between artisans and enterprises.

The “Return to the Village” project has received support from craft villages and artisans who desire to preserve and promote their traditional culture.

“I have a great trust in Duc. He is passionate about Vietnamese folk toys. I’m excited to work with him. I hope more young people like him will help preserve the craft of making folk toys," said artisan Nguyen Thi Tuyet of Hanoi.

The “Return to the Village” project gives visitors a firsthand experience of the historical and cultural aspects of traditional craft villages.

For example, the "Return to the Village – Golden Silk Weaving Through the Centuries" program takes visitors to Nha Xa, a silk weaving village in Ha Nam province, and Trach Xa, a traditional long dress (ao dai) tailoring village in Hanoi. Visitors learn about the history and culture of their traditional crafts, interact with the artisans, and get some hands-on experience with the processes of weaving, dyeing, and tailoring ao dai.

The "Return to the Village – Old Tet of the Kinh Bac Region" program takes visitors to Dong Ho village in Bac Ninh province to explore the origins of Dong Ho folk paintings and observe printmaking. In the "Return to the Village – Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Procession" program, children are guided by artisans to create traditional toys.

The programs aim to preserve Vietnam's cultural values and each trip is carefully planned in collaboration with the artisans themselves.

Ngo Quy Duc’s enthusiasm has encouraged many artisans to join his project. Ms. Dang Huong Lan, the only artisan making traditional paper masks in Hanoi, said, “Without passionate young people like Duc, the traditional crafts would fall into oblivion. I’m teaching him the basic techniques of mask-making so he can keep the craft alive.”

Duc has now embarked on a new project called “Hundred occupation guild” to continue preserving and promoting folk cultural values that have been passed down through many generations.

"The artisans express their thoughts and aspirations through their crafts. As a young person, I feel I must take responsibility for preserving their cultural values. Over the years of working on my ‘Return to the Village’ project, I’ve developed close relationships with the villagers. They consider me a friend and always welcome me. My goal is to promote Vietnamese handicrafts both within Vietnam and to the world,” said Duc.

Duc’s "Return to the Village" project has received support from many other young people who share his love for Vietnamese culture.

For his contributions to Hanoi, Duc was honored in 2017 as an “Outstanding Citizen of the Capital”