Traditional craft village in Champa Island Nha Trang
On August 24, Champa Island has opened a traditional craft village called Cham Oasis. The combination of tourism development and cultural conservation is a promising direction in the context of the gradually declining traditional culture.
On August 24, Champa Island has opened a traditional craft village called Cham Oasis. The combination of tourism development and cultural conservation is a promising direction in the context of the gradually declining traditional culture.
Located on an area of more than 2,500m2 on the Cai River, Cham Oasis traditional craft village immerses itself in the green space on Champa Island, where there are beautiful traditional wooden houses. There, Champa Island introduces tourists to traditional crafts of the South Central region such as hat making, Cham pottery making, embroidery… by displaying products, performing manipulated stages. “We thought of building a traditional craft village to preserve the quintessence of Khanh Hoa's culture, as well as a destination for tourists and children to learn about traditional culture”, Ms. Le Thi Hong - Deputy Executive Director of Champa Island tourist area said.
Artisan from Bau Truc pottery village performs making Cham pottery at Cham Oasis craft village
Arriving at Cham Oasis craft village, from afar, I saw Cham pottery pots put on green grass, which reminiscents of a very old feeling. On the porch, terracotta reliefs look like the reliefs on the legendary Cham towers. The artisans from Bau Truc pottery village (Ninh Thuan province) were working hard to make ceramic ashtrays ... A few foreign tourists are avidly watching the talented hands of Cham women gliding lightly to shape. Many tourists were excited to try do make pottery. "We are very happy to introduce the traditional pottery making of the Cham people to Nha Trang people and tourists," said the artist Dang Thi Lon (from Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province).
Cham Oasis craft village has Champa hand embroidery gallery. There, visitors can see artisans embroidering pictures on silk and enjoy vivid embroidery paintings about Ponagar Tower, porcelain flowers and lotus flowers. Also at Cham Oasis, artisan Nguyen Thi Loi from Dien Son commune, Dien Khanh district introduced the traditional conical hat making of Khanh Hoa Province. At the age of over 60, Mrs. Loi can still make hats very fast and skillfully. “Many tourists like conical hats I make. I’m very happy”, Ms. Loi said.
Cham Oasis craft village shows a remarkable effort of Champa Island in preserving traditional crafts. However, the village is not large enough to introduce many other professions such as weaving mats, making incense, making rice paper, etc. Ms. Le Thi Hong - Deputy Executive Director of Champa Island tourist area said that in the coming time, Champa Island will endeavor to supplement and improve the space and products of Cham Oasis craft village.
