Vietnam's annual handicraft export reaches 1.7 bln USD

By：Xinhua Update：2017-06-01

Vietnam's handicraft export averages 1.7 billion U.S. dollars a year, the Vietnam Association of Craft Villages said on Monday.

Vietnamese handicrafts made from bamboo, rattan and leaves, pottery and woodwork products are now available in many countries, including the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Sweden, South Korea and Japan.

The number of handicraft-making households in Vietnam's rural areas has grown 8.8-9.8 percent, and production value has increased 15 percent per annul in recent years.

However, many kinds of handicrafts are no longer available or have their brands stolen due to little attention paid to branding, marketing and intellectual property protection.

Vietnam is now home to 5,411 craft villages, including 1,864 traditional ones, with 115 recognized traditional products, and a total workforce of approximately 1.5 million.

The National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam is actively guiding craft villages to register for a collective brand and build geographical indications.