Training workshop on Preservation of Dia Tren traditional paper-making village for tourism development and livelihood improvement

On April 26^th, the Management Board of Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in collaboration with the People’s Committee of Phuc Sen commune, Quang Hoa district organized a training workshop on preservation of traditional craft village for tourism development and livelihood improvement at Dia Tren traditional paper-making village (a village of 64 households, 100% are Nung An ethnic people practicing paper-making craft for many generations), Phuc Sen commune, Quang Hoa district. There were representatives of Zo project company (a social enterprise focusing on preservation and promotion of poonah paper), artisans from a poonah paper-making village in Bac Ninh province and 64 households in Dia Tren village.

At workshop, the Management Board of Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark informed to the villagers of Dia Tren of the activities on craft village preservation for sustainable tourism development carried at Dia Tren village recently and in the upcoming. Representative of Zo project company gave brief information about Zo project, the demand, aims and potential for cooperation establishment between Zo project and Dia Tren village. The representatives of Zo project also introduced some their handmade souvenirs made of poonah paper for tourists that can be applied by Dia Tren villagers. The two sides also discussed issues related to improvement of paper quality, development of material sources for the manufacturing demand, manufacturing plan to ensure the supply of Dia Tren paper to Zo project to sell in domestic and oversea markets; and the cooperative mechanism between Zo project and paper-makers of Dia Tren village.
 

In addition, at the workshop, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Do, an artisan from a traditional paper-making village in Bac Ninh guided the villagers of Dia Tren the solution screening technique for high quality paper products (size, smoothness, thickness, etc) to meet the requirements of domestic and international markets.

Before this workshop, from March 29^th to April 1^st, 2023, the Management Board of Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark conducted a study tour on preservation of traditional craft villages for community-based tourism development at some craft villages and community-based tourism villages in Hanoi and Hoa Binh province for villagers of Dia Tren and Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark’s official and aspiring partners.