Located around Hanoi, Vietnam's craft villages are culturally rich places, where traditional skills have been passed down through generations. Discovering these villages and their unique craftsmanship was something I had dreamed of for a long time.
Yet, the experience was not exactly what i had imagined. If i had hoped to observe these traditions as part of everyday life, I often found myself instead watching demonstrations carefully arranged for visitors and photographers. I enjoyed these encounters and the photographs I took, but I also left with mixed feelings, wondering how much of what I had seen was truly authentic.
These experiences made me reflect on the relationship between traditions and tourism. Behind the Craft Village explores this contrast, celebrating the beauty of traditional craftsmanship and the people behind it, while questioning how these practices are preserved, transformed, and presented to the outside world.
