Craft Link

Craft Link is a not-for-profit fair-trade shop at 43 Van Mieu in Dong Da District, Hanoi, Vietnam, directly opposite the Temple of Literature. Founded in 1996, it sells handicrafts made by ethnic minority artisans, traditional craft villages and disadvantaged producers across northern Vietnam, and it returns a share of sales to those communities. The goods differ from generic souvenir shopping because each item is traceable: prices are printed, and many products carry a card naming the community or group that made it. The range includes indigo-dyed Hmong textiles, Dao embroidery, bamboo basketry, lacquerware, ceramics, silk items, home accessories and small gifts. Vendor quality is consistently higher than at most Old Quarter souvenir shops, and the ratio of authentic handmade goods to imported trinkets is very high, since the shop's mission rests on provenance. There is no bargaining, as every item carries a fixed price, typically from about 50,000 to 3,000,000 VND. Payment is accepted in cash and, in general, by card, and the shop can advise on packing and shipping for larger or fragile pieces. Visitors seeking a tax refund should ask for a VAT invoice, though eligibility depends on the retailer's registration and the traveller's status. The atmosphere is calm and uncrowded compared with the market streets, with air-conditioned display rooms and staff who explain the techniques and origins of the work. There is no food service inside, but the Temple of Literature area has cafes, and the Old Quarter is a short ride away. The must-see corners are the textile section, where hand-embroidered and batik pieces are displayed, and the small-gift shelves with items that pack easily. Shoppers who are comparing quality can visit here first and then use the shop as a reference point for what fairly priced handmade work looks like elsewhere in Hanoi.