The journey began with a visit to the ancient village of Bat Trang in Gia Lam, Hanoi, one of Vietnam’s most iconic and long-standing ceramic craft villages. As the first stop, Bat Trang opened up a story of deep-rooted craft village culture, the skilled hands of artisans, and the ability to transform traditional materials into aesthetic values with a contemporary spirit.
At the Center for Vietnamese Craft Village Quintessence, the delegation visited a project honored at the National Architecture Awards 2022–2023, while also exploring an exhibition space showcasing outstanding products from Bat Trang ceramic village and many traditional handicraft villages across Vietnam. More than just a place to display products, the center offers a vivid perspective on the journey of preserving and developing Vietnamese craft villages in a new context. Each product on display represents a combination of traditional craftsmanship, local aesthetic sensibility, and modern design thinking.
Continuing the experience of Vietnamese ceramic heritage, the delegation visited the Hon Dat Viet Bat Trang Art Museum, also known as Bat Trang Museum Atelier. This is a space dedicated to preserving historical, heritage, and cultural values spanning nearly 50 years, founded by the late People’s Artisan Vu Thang. Through artifacts, collections, and stories about the creative process, the museum helped delegates gain a deeper appreciation of the beauty of Vietnamese ceramics, from forms and glaze colors to decorative patterns.
At Ecopark, the delegation visited the showroom of Nha Xinh Furniture, one of Vietnam’s leading and reputable furniture brands. The showroom space provided delegates with a direct view of the design capabilities, spatial organization, and product development of Vietnamese furniture enterprises. From material selection, colors, and layout to the overall display experience, each space reflected a harmonious combination of functionality, aesthetic emotion, and modern living needs.
After the visit to Nha Xinh, the delegation continued to tour Ecopark Urban Area, which was honored as the Best Mixed-Use Development in Asia-Pacific at the IPA 2018 and the World’s Best Landscape Architecture at the IPA 2020. With its landscape ecosystem, green spaces, and diverse range of product types, Ecopark offered an experience of a modern urban model where nature, architecture, interiors, and amenities come together to create a distinctive quality of life.
Through this activity, the AFIC Leadership Meeting 2026 not only created further opportunities for exchange among associations and enterprises in the ASEAN furniture industry, but also contributed to promoting Vietnam as a destination rich in identity, creativity, and potential for cooperation within the value chains of furniture, handicrafts, and contemporary living spaces.
