The 3rd Hanoi Agricultural Products and Handicrafts Village Festival generated nearly VND30 billion (US$1.2 million) in revenue over five days, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced at the closing ceremony on December 3.

Of the revenue, the ornamental plant sector contributed more than VND25 billion (US$984,523), with 420 works of art sold.

Local consumers visit a craft stall at the festival. Photos: Anh Ngoc/The Hanoi Times

At the festival, dozens of companies, cooperatives, and production households signed memorandums of understanding to collaborate on the supply and consumption of agricultural products and handicrafts.

Based on the event's success, the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed that the city government hold the festival every two years. The program hopes to increase agricultural production and product distribution.

The festival gathered a total of 319 organizations, including 152 in Hanoi, 125 from 25 provinces, and 42 domestic and foreign organizations, including two from Japan.

The festival featured more than 4,000 products, including agricultural produce, handicrafts, and high-tech farming equipment. All products were certified under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program as well as organic and VietGAP certifications, ensuring food safety and hygiene.

In the ornamental plant section alone, about 1,000 artistic bonsai works were exhibited by nearly 300 artisans and entrepreneurs from 20 provinces and cities across the country.

During the five-day event, more than 60,000 visitors came to explore and purchase products.

Visitors experience making "to he” [the traditional figurines] at the festival.

The event showcased and promoted a number of agricultural products, including those produced through sustainable supply chains, organic farming, and high-tech agriculture, as well as traditional Hanoi crafts. It also highlighted models of agriculture integrated with ecotourism, helping to preserve traditional crafts and local specialties.

The event served as an important networking opportunity for policymakers, scientists, farmers, business owners, and consumers from Hanoi and across the country. Participants engaged in trade discussions to promote exemplary agricultural and handicraft products while facilitating contract signing and technology transfer.

Future plans for investment and trade activities

The festival's artisan demonstrations and skills area.

The event is part of the city's successful trade promotion programs to increase connectivity in Hanoi and nationwide. Nguyen Anh Duong, Director of the Hanoi Promotion Agency (HPA), said helping businesses showcase their products and facilitating trade links are among the center's priorities.

Through these trade promotion efforts, many organizations, businesses, and cooperatives have successfully marketed their products, improving competitiveness and expanding domestic and export markets. 

Other promotion events include the annual Regional Specialty Fair, which involves nearly 60 provinces and cities, and initiatives to access major international distribution systems such as AEON Mall (Japan), Lotte (South Korea), and Central Retail's Go!/Big C (Thailand). As a result, products from Hanoi businesses have gained greater visibility and accessibility to consumers at home and abroad, Duong said.

In cooperation with the HPA, the Hanoi Department of Industry has organized numerous activities to help businesses promote their products through trade promotion initiatives.

Nguyen The Hiep, Deputy Director of the department, said the agency has hosted trade connectivity programs for local products, including the Vietnamese Goods Loved by Consumers Fair and the Hanoi Concentrated Promotion Month. These programs aim to raise awareness of local products and facilitate trade activities while raising the visibility of Vietnamese brands.

In addition, the department has implemented mobile sales activities, OCOP product weeks, and fairs and exhibitions featuring Vietnamese products. Special emphasis has been placed on organizing conferences to link OCOP products with distribution channels and outlets.

The department will continue to improve its links with global distribution networks, trade facilitation, and export promotion. This means using traditional trade promotion strategies while expanding them with greater reliance on digital transformation and information technology.

"These activities aim to effectively support trade promotion efforts by maximizing the benefits of technology and digital transformation in information exchange and trade operations," Hiep said.

In 2025, Hanoi plans to organize various investment and trade promotion activities, including investment, trade, and tourism conferences focusing on Hanoi and the Red River Delta and Southeast regions under the theme "Link to Grow". The city will host a fair with demonstrations of traditional trades from its villages.

These efforts have not only brought many agricultural brands and OCOP products from the capital to other provinces but also boosted exports to various countries, Hiep said.