Chuyen My Mother-of-Pearl Inlay: From the quintessence of a thousand years to the aspiration to integrate into the world

Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of city life, following National Highway 1A to the southern gateway of Hanoi, people come to the countryside of Chuyen My - where the Nhue River winds, embracing the famous mother-of-pearl and lacquer craft villages that have existed for thousands of years.

Artisan Vu Van Vinh, Chuyen My commune, introduces to customers his family's set of lacquered mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden tables, cabinets, and parallel sentences worth more than 3 billion VND.

In the houses next to each other, the talented and diligent Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay artisans turn each piece of mother-of-pearl and snail into works of art. Chuyen My today is proud to be a craft village that carries within it the soul of Vietnamese culture.

The essence of a thousand years

Over a cup of hot tea at the shrine of the founder of the mother-of-pearl inlay craft in Chuyen My commune, artisan Nguyen Dac Luyen recounts the story of the thousand-year-old mother-of-pearl inlay craft village. According to ancient documents, the mother-of-pearl inlay craft in Chuyen My dates back to the 11th century. The founder of the craft was a deputy general under the command of the famous general Ly Thuong Kiet. When the country was in danger, he and Ly Thuong Kiet commanded the army and people to defeat the Song invaders and protect the country.

After the country was at peace , the deputy general resigned to become a monk. During this time, he invented the craft of mother-of-pearl inlay, and then taught the people of Ngo Ward (now Chuon Ngo village, Chuyen My commune) the craft of filing and inlaying mother-of-pearl in exquisite detail. Ancient documents recorded that he was born on January 9, 1053 and died on August 9, 1099. When he passed away, the royal court issued a decree to establish 13 temples across the country, and granted 500 quan of money to build a temple in Ngo Ward; at the same time, exempted all taxes so that the people could worship him forever.

Since then, mother-of-pearl inlay has become the pride of the people here - a profession that not only honors talented hands, but also crystallizes the intelligence, patience and Vietnamese soul. Throughout history, many generations of Chuyen My people have painstakingly sawed, polished, and assembled each piece of mother-of-pearl and snail to create products of high artistic value, from horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, mahogany beds, tea cabinets... to decorative items and mosaic paintings imbued with the national soul.

Throughout history, many Chuyen My artisans were summoned by the feudal court to the capital Hue to create works of royal decoration. Notably, Mr. Nguyen Van Phu (from Chuon Ngo village) was summoned by the Hue court to the capital, promoted to the rank of Ninth Grade and awarded the title "Han Lam Dai Chieu". Since the 1970s, artisans such as Nguyen Van To, Tran Ba ​​Chuyen, Tran Ba ​​Dinh have continued the tradition of creating many famous mosaic works. Among them, the group of artisans led by Mr. Nguyen Van To once crafted more than 100 Uncle Ho badges to serve an important political event of the Central Government. Not only that, the artisans here also carved portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Cuban leader Fidel Castro and many world celebrities using sparkling mother-of-pearl and mother-of-pearl materials.

Keep the profession, build a career from talented hands

Artisan Vu Van Vinh, with 40 years of experience in the profession, is still passionate about creating mother-of-pearl lacquer inlay works and keeping the flame of the profession alive for his homeland.

Over time, the mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft have not only been preserved but also become the economic pillar of Chuyen My commune. According to Mr. Vu Van Dinh (Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director of Phu Chuyen Agricultural Cooperative), Chuyen My commune currently has 99% of households participating in traditional craft production, including mother-of-pearl inlay. The mother-of-pearl inlay craft has helped people have stable jobs, improve their lives and contribute to ensuring local security and economy.

Previously, Chuyen My mother-of-pearl inlay products were mainly exported to China. However, in recent years, the market has expanded to Western European countries and many Southeast Asian countries. The products are also consumed strongly in Hanoi and many provinces and cities across the country.

In the commune, a center for introducing craft village products has been established, becoming a highlight connecting tourism to promote OCOP products associated with cultural experiences. Currently, the Cooperative has more than 8 products recognized as OCOP, of which 3 products won the third prize at the city level, including: "Hibiscus - Pheasant" mother-of-pearl inlaid painting, mother-of-pearl inlaid vase and souvenir jewelry box. All are exquisite handmade products, with high artistic value, loved by domestic and foreign consumers.

“Being included in the World Network of Creative Craft Cities is an honor, and at the same time creates a strong push to change the mindset of craft village people in improving product quality, sophistication, diversifying markets, and expanding exports to the world,” Mr. Dinh added.

In a spacious house, artisan Vu Van Vinh, who was awarded the title of “Artisan of Vietnamese Craft Villages” in 2016, is diligently working at a wooden table covered with shimmering mother-of-pearl chips. He has been involved in the profession for over 40 years, starting when he was just 9 years old.

“My products mainly follow the traditional style of my ancestors. In addition, I also create modern paintings to meet new tastes,” Mr. Vinh shared.

Products such as rosewood beds, cabinets, horizontal lacquered boards, and parallel sentences are still the most popular items among customers. What is special is that each pattern and line is created by the craftsman himself. The products are not the same. “The beauty of the inlay craft is that each work is a separate entity, expressing the “soul” of the craftsman,” Mr. Vinh confided.

The cabinet inlaid with lotus flowers - one of the most expensive works he has ever made - is worth about 1.2 billion VND. This is a testament to the intricacy of the profession. From the time he had the idea to completion, it took him years just to select, saw and grind each piece of screw. "Each stage requires calmness, patience and creativity," said Mr. Vinh.

Amidst the pace of industrialization, many young people in Chuyen My still choose to stick with their profession, seeing it as a way to preserve the culture of their homeland. Talented hands not only create products, but also portray their love for their profession and country through each shimmering piece of mother-of-pearl.

Innovation for integration

Workers work diligently day and night to create Chuyen My lacquer mother-of-pearl inlay products.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Huong, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Committee of Chuyen My commune, the mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft village has completed 9 criteria to join the World Network of Creative Craft Cities, recognized by the World Craft Council.

“We have met all 8 criteria and are currently focusing on completing the 9th criterion - creating new product models and designs. This is an important criterion for Chuyen My to be recognized as an official member. Currently, the dossier has been submitted to the World Craft Council, and it is expected that in mid-November 2025, the Council will score to recognize the craft village to participate in the World Creative Craft Cities Network,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Huong.

To meet that demand, Chuyen My artisans and mosaic workers are working together to create new, compact, unique products as gifts and souvenirs for tourists. More than 100 new product models have been completed, from mother-of-pearl inlaid pen boxes, ballpoint pens, vases, trays, photo frames to mother-of-pearl inlaid miniature paintings that both maintain traditional features and are suitable for the modern market.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that Chuyen My becoming a candidate to join the World Network of Creative Craft Cities is not only an honor for the locality but also a long-term strategy of Hanoi in preserving and promoting the value of traditional craft villages.

Chuyen My has all the elements of history, people, technology, creativity and integration spirit. This will be a potential land for developing craft villages associated with experiential tourism and indigenous culture. However, the locality needs to focus on perfecting the traditional craft ecosystem, supporting young artisans, improving production conditions and promoting the Chuyen My craft village brand to the world.

The story of Chuyen My is not only that of a craft village but it is also a testament to the vitality of Vietnamese culture - where tradition and modernity blend together, where the hands of craftsmen who preserve the nation's soul are reaching out to the world.

From the sparkling light of mother-of-pearl and snail pieces, the thousand-year-old quintessence of the mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquer craft village of Chuyen My is being renewed every day by the desire for integration and constant creativity of the talented people here.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/kinh-te/kham-trai-chuyen-my-tu-tinh-hoa-ngan-nam-den-khat-vong-hoi-nhap-the-gioi-20251026085609718.htm