The Department of Industry and Trade of Hanoi has honoured 42 outstanding artisans, five traditional craft villages and many rural handicraft products in the city in 2013.

The move aims to recognise the artisans’ contributions to preserving and developing various traditional trades, including handicrafts, wood sculpture, embroidery, pottery, music instrument production, and weaving.

This year, five more craft villages were added to the list of traditional villages, including Huong Ngai carpentry village in Thach That district, Yen Quan woodwork and carving village in Quoc Oai district, Van Trai Thuong incense village in Phu Xuyen, and a Dao ethnic minority-inhabited herbal medicine village and Da Chong tea village in Ba Vi district.

Nguyen Quoc Su, 72-year-old embroidery artisan who has practiced the craft for 60 years, said he will work to continue preserving the craft and passing it on to younger generations.

Meanwhile, 32-year-old rattan artisan Nguyen Van Binh said the recognition requires him to do more to further promote the craft and get more youngsters involved in the traditional trade.

Currently, Hanoi has 19 eminent artisans, 185 municipal artisans and 286 recognised craft villages.-VNA