Handicraft trade in Vietnam

Posted on 11 apr 2008

Vietnam is a state which has always produced a large assortment of hand-made products. Vietnam is considered to be a very poor state but also with a very art and culture loving society. The Vietnamese Government decided to make a plan for to grow handicrafts industry in order to foster economic development across all regions of the country, reducing unemployment, especially in the rural areas, and raising exports.

More than 1500 villages from Vietnam are ancient handicrafts villages that are assemble around the Red River and Mekong Deltas in the North and the South, Central Vietnam is also blessed with abundant natural materials and thus, has been targeted as a major supply center. That’s why Vietnamese Government thought that the state economy can be saved and increased only by handicrafts industry help.

In Vietnam Handicraft Industry had very big advantages, firstly because it gave to many people jobs that elevated their living standards and secondly handicrafts trade helped to preserve ancient traditions among people. And also handicrafts villages from Vietnam attract an increasing numbers of tourists every year. Valued craft objects from Vietnam include wooden furniture, porcelains, lacquers, embroidery, candles, jewelry, imitation flowers and glass products.

The handicraft industry export does not compare to other industries such as oil and gas or textile, handicrafts have an advantage of low overall production costs. In 2005, handicraft export turnovers were valued at $565 million. According to the Ministry of Trade, the target for this year is $800 million, and turnover is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2010.

At present there are three major export markets: USA, Japan and the EU. USA is one of the main importers of Vietnamese home decorations and handicrafts. But China and Thailand play the role of concurrent countries for Vietnam.