Economic and Cultural Heritage Development in Hai Duong, Vietnam

			This page will keep you updated with all project activities. If you require more detailed or more specialised information please either: download our latest project report, or contact us. Previous newsletters are available for download from the list to the right.
	18.06.04		Book and CR-ROM The project "Economic and Cultural Heritage Development of Hai Duong", which has been running for the last two and a half years, is coming to an end in July 2004. What has been achieved? The craft promotion centre in Hai Duong is established and crafts are sold locally and online (http://www.craftvn.com.vn . Heritage trails have been set up and tourists can discover Hai Duong and the surrounding area by foot, bicycle and bus. In addition the project has enabled Tang Ba Hoanh, a leading authority on Vietnamese handicrafts and a former Director of Hai Duong Museum to compile the book "Traditional Handicrafts of Hai Duong". Tang Ba Hoanh surveys thirty-two different trades and craft villages. He describes craft development under the Vietnamese dynasties, foreign occupations and wars and connects it to modern craft production of local Vietnamese businesses today. Prof Michael Hitchcock from the International Institute of Culture, Tourism and Development at London Metropolitan University has contributed the foreword that sets the book in its regional context. The book has also been translated into English and is now available to order. Publication date for the book and the CD-ROM is 1 July 2004 The books and the CD-Rom are free of charge (while stocks last, one copy per person, p&p free in the UK) To order a copy please email: iictd@londonmet.ac.uk
	18.05.04		Invitation - Reception 14 June 2004 13.00 The Graduate Centre/new Libeskind Building London Metropolitan University North Campus 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8HN The London Borough of Hackney and the International Institute for Culture, Tourism and Development invites you to attend a reception at the Graduate Centre at London Metropolitan University. This special event is being held to celebrate the end of an EU Asia Urbs project run by the London Borough of Hackney (LBH) in collaboration with Limerick Corporation, Hai Duong Municipality, Shannon Development, Anviet Foundation, Renaisi and the International Institute for Culture, Tourism and Development (IICTD) at London Metropolitan University. The project "Economic and Cultural Heritage Development in Hai Duong" has focused on capacity building activities designed to provide support for the traditional handicraft businesses in the town of Hai Duong in North Vietnam, and to develop links with tourism in the region as well as international and trading links with Hackney and Limerick. Programme: Welcome address (Prof Mike Hitchcock, IICTD and Tal Michael, LBH) Launch of CD-ROM (Sue Bagwell and Dr Simone Wesner, IICTD) followed by Vietnamese Buffet Lunch RSVP by 09.June 2004 to J.Kingmalik@londonmet.ac.uk
	17.05.04		Pathways in a jungle - Workshop A workshop for all those interested in running Europe Aid development projects or keen to share their experiences. Date: 14 June 2004 Time: 10.15-15.00 Location: The Graduate Centre/London Metropolitan University This special event is being held to celebrate the end of the project. Managing an EC funded development project can be an extremely rewarding experience, but is usually fraught with problems along the way. Working with numerous partners all pursuing different cultural values and interests, dealing with the European Commissions regulatory maze which is invariably at odds with that of ones own institution, struggling with different exchange rates, and overcoming all the misunderstandings that this can lead to amongst the partnership. This workshop will address how our projects have overcome these difficulties to ensure that the project aims are successfully implemented, and that the partners still come out smiling and live to run another one... For further information please go to: Link to Workshop information
	10.04.04		Second extension The project has been granted a second extension and will now run until the 11 July 2004. We are looking forward to more project hihglights such as the workshop "pathways in a jungle" in London (14 June 2004) and the handicraft book launch in Hai Duong (1 July 2004). In the meantime further business support seminars are being held in the craft promotion centre in Hai Duong and the production of a project CD-ROM is on its way.
	03.02.04		Project extension The project has been granted a three months extension and will now end on 11 April 2004. It gives us the opportunity to catch up with the work programme and enables training activities in Hai Duong to be continued. Hopefully we will also be able to secure future funding for the craft centre in Hai Duong.
	13.12.03		Project Manager change A big thank you to Maureen Jordan who managed the project activities in London for 6 months while on secondment from the Arts Council of England (North-West Branch). Simone Wesner returned from maternity leave in November 2003 and any enquiries regarding project activities should be addressed to her.
	23.05.03		Resume of 3rd Transnational Meeting The third transnational meeting brought craft centre staff and craft businesses from Hai Duong to London from 10th - 14th May where they exhibited a selection of traditional handicrafts in London Metropolitan University, City Campus gallery. The group was accompanied by the Mayor of Hai Doung City and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the People's Council of Hai Duong Province. The group attended a series of seminars and presentations on the support available to small and micro-businesses in Hackney. They also visited Mazorca Projects - the well established agency supporting designer-makers in the East End of London,now celebrating 10 years of 'Hidden Art' open studios events. The group then travelled to Limerick where they met with representatives from Limerick City Council and Shannon Development Agency, the Irish project partners. They also met 'Fusion', which provides a 'shop-window' for Irish craftmakers and which is at a similar stage of development to the craft centre in Hai Duong. A highlight of this visit was a presentation of contemporary design at the Limerick School of Art and Design. It was agreed that the partners will now work together on a business plan for the craft centre in Hai Duong.
	13.03.03		Next transnational visit planned Planning is already underway for the next transnational meeting. Staff, and representatives from the Municipality and Province of Hai Duong, together with four of the local craft businesses will be visiting Hackney and Limerick from 9th to 18th May 2003. They will spend time visiting business support agencies in Hackney before travelling on to Limerick for the next transnational meeting and further visits to Irish craft boards and businesses. It is also hoped that a small exhibition of Vietnamese crafts will be held in Hackney