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Wooden clocks with carved Hue landscape will be introduced at Hue Festival 2018
In a hurry
After more than three years of research and investment in machinery for producing products for events and conferences to supply to the market of Quang Nam, Nghe An and Ho Chi Minh City, in early 2018, the clock – wooden gifts company, HP Design, at 7 Ong Ich Khiem, Hue, started to turn to designing and producing souvenirs and gifts for the tourist market, and to exhibit at Hue Festival Fair which will be held in late April 2018.
The owner – Mr. Pham Van Phuc said that Hue is a potential market for the design and sale of souvenirs and gifts. Although there are many souvenir products and handicrafts with different materials and designs, few products catch the eye of tourists. This is the reason why the company invested in designing this product.
Preparing for Hue Festival 2018, the facility is focusing on the production of about 1,000 table clocks and wall clocks which have Hue scenery carved onto them, as well as the production of key chains and toys made from industrial wood.
To meet the needs and tastes of customers, the products are small and compact, at a reasonable price of from VND 120,000 - 2 million per product and have beautiful packaging.
With the increasing demand of tourists for gifts and souvenirs made from paper lotus flowers, this year, artisan Than Van Huy from Thanh Tien Paper Flower Village, Phu Mau commune (Phu Vang) has designed and produced paper lotus lamp boxes in addition to the traditional lotus products.
Artisan Than Van Huy said, along with more than 1,000 paper lotus products, he will bring the new paper lotus lamp boxes to this year’s fair to introduce to customers.
With a compact design and a glass box included, visitors can easily pack the lamp. In addition, the paper lotus flowers can be kept for many years without fear of mold or fading. With the support of design from collaborators, the facility is continuing to integrate sound and music into the light box to create a magical glimmering night.
Opportunity for Hue products
After two years of launching the program to design new souvenir and gift products that carry Hue’s identity, the market has witnessed the birth of many beautiful and sophisticated designs made from copper, stone art, bamboo, bone, porcelain enamel, gold and composite.
Along with individual products, collections of souvenirs and gifts have appeared on the market, which meet visitors’ tastes and demands, such as models of the Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue Flag Pole, Phan Boi Chau statue, Nine Tripod Cauldrons, Truong Tien Bridge and the mythical Nghe animal.
The Department of Industry and Trade has handed over the designs to eight companies manufacturing souvenirs and gifts to produce large quantities to supply to the market. After receiving the orders, the facilities have organized production using traditional materials such as stone, copper, bamboo, bone, porcelain enamel, gold, and composite.
The owner of Tre Viet – Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hung said that, together with the orders of domestic and international partners, his company is focused on producing 50 designs and more than 500 souvenirs, gifts and homeware to bring to the fair for tourists during the festival days.
Amongst the designs, five were handed over by the Department of Trade and Industry, such as the model of the Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, Hue Flag Pole, etc. Along with other companies in the area, this facility is actively producing products to establish a collection of souvenirs and gifts “made in Hue.”
Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, Mr. Nguyen Thanh affirmed: In line with the investment towards designing souvenirs and gifts, in March 2018, the Department has issued a certificate on the right to use the "Seal of Hue handicraft products" for 11 production establishments which have met the criteria of quality, design and meeting the market demand. Identification stamps will be printed, engraved or affixed on the products so that customers can easily distinguish what products have been "made in Hue," and what products originated from other provinces or China. This is to confirm the brand name and the status of Hue handicrafts.
Story and photo: Thanh Huong