Craftsman Huynh Ri, 74, from Kim Bong village in ancient Hoi An town,still makes wooden carvings, but his age limits his output.
Ri, who was recognised in 1984 as having the skills of 15th centurywood carvers, worries that the village's traditional craft willdisappear in the next few years because few young people wish to learnthe craft.
"I'm the 12th generation of craftsmen inmy village, but young people prefer more profitable businesses. Thecraft takes three years to learn and then a couple of years practising,"he said.
"My son and I have trained about 100 localyoung people at five courses since 1997 with a 4,000 USD grant fromUNESCO. They are now the main carpenters and carvers in the village."
The village, situated on the banks of the Thu Bonriver 10 minutes by boat from the ancient town, is a recognised touristdestination together with Thanh Ha pottery village and Ma Chau silkvillage in Hoi An town.
However, poor promotion and marketing has limited the craft, despite the enthusiasm, of thousands of tourists.
Huynh Suong, 45, who inherits the trade from his father, Huynh Ri,employs 20 carvers and carpenters at his own workshop to produce 5,000products each year.
"Furniture is our major exportsto Australia, France, and the UK, the US, but we face difficulties withdesigns of souvenirs serving for tourists. Our majority designs areBuddha statues, animals, including the four supernatural creatures(dragon, unicorn, tortoise, phoenix)," said Suong.
He said his workshop had received support from UNESCO in 2012-13 inpromoting the production and design, adding he had begun production ofwood arts and crafts since 1992 when tourism was booming in Hoi An.
Pham Thi Thanh Huong, from UNESCO, said the tourism boosting project in the craft village was started in late 2010.
"We began a pilot project to develop tourism in the village with ahope of promoting the trade along with tourism development. Hoi An andMy Son – two UNESCO-recognised world heritage sites – have greatpotential in history, tradition, culture and environment, to promotetourism," Huong said.
"Local people still keep theirmindsets with small and short-term production. They still lack of astrategy of promotion, trading, advertising for their products. Theyshould include tangible and intangible value as well as symbolic imagesof Hoi An in production."
Huong said UNESCO hadco-operated with the Craftlink and the Korea National University of Artsin boosting crafts in Kim Bong so marketable.
"Wesupported 238 households in Hoi An and My Son with design, package andpattern as well as diversifying of production. We also helped themdevelop new products from carpentry, ceramic and lantern trades such asinterior decoration or kitchen tools with eye-catching designs," sheadded.
"We also help local people set up connections withhotels, restaurants and resort in order to introduce products fortourists as well as participating in international fairs."
Suong said he proposed plans to preserve the carpentry at the village."I think it needs to create a financial source to nurture youngcraftsmen in village. Of course, local people should provide an initialfund for young people demonstrating the trade for tourists and fund forpreserving the trade," he said.
"Localadministration should give a monthly payment of 100 million VND (4,800USD) for [about 20] young trainees working at carving shops. They willdemonstrate the trade for tourism. The payment will last in three yearswhen households are allowed to sell ticket for tourists visiting thevillage.
"The support would help preserve both carving and carpentry by creating a stable income for craftsmen."
The central Quang Nam province has invested 9.5 billion VND (452,000USD) in infrastructure projects to ease the transport to the craftvillage.
Truong Chi Trung, director of Hoi AnTown's Centre for Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation, saidthe town had different programmes to preserve the craft.
"Total fund of 400 million VND (19,000 USD) has helped train youngcarvers in Kim Bong Village since 1997, of which 60 per cent from thecity's budget," Trung said. "We also try to seek fund for preservingtrades in the city including pottery, lantern and silk."
Huynh Tan Quoc, 10, grandson of old craftsman Ri, has trained thecraft over past years. "I love carving. My father and grandfather trainme every day. However, I need to be stronger to work well with carpentrytools," Quoc said. "I just try with little and easy wood statues andcarvings. I hope to do on a bigger sculpture."-VNA
