Mother-of-pearl inlay in Chuyen My: From millennia-old craftsmanship to the aspiration for global integration.

Photo caption — Artisan Vu Van Vinh from Chuyen My commune showed visitors his family's lacquered, mother-of-pearl inlaid wooden bed, tea cabinet, and horizontal plaque with couplets, valued at over 3 billion VND.

In the closely packed houses, the skilled and diligent mother-of-pearl inlay artisans of Chuyen My transform each piece of shell into a work of art. Today, Chuyen My proudly stands as a craft village embodying the essence of Vietnamese culture.

The essence of a thousand years

Over a cup of hot tea at the ancestral temple 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. According to ancient documents, the mother-of-pearl inlay craft of Chuyen My dates back to the 11th century. The founder of the craft was a deputy general under the renowned 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, protecting the nation.

After the country achieved peace , the deputy general requested to resign from his position to become a monk. During this time, he invented the art of mother-of-pearl inlay and taught the people of Phuong Ngo (now Chuon Ngo village, Chuyen My commune) the sophisticated craft of filing and inlaying mother-of-pearl. Ancient records state that he was born on January 9, 1053, and died on August 9, 1099. Upon his death, the imperial court bestowed a royal decree, establishing 13 temples nationwide, allocating 500 quan (Vietnamese currency) to build a temple in Phuong Ngo, and exempting the people from all taxes so that they could worship him for generations to come.

Since then, mother-of-pearl inlay has become a source of pride for the people of this area – a craft that not only honors skillful hands but also embodies the intellect, patience, and soul of Vietnam. Throughout history, countless generations of people in Chuyen My have diligently sawed, polished, and assembled pieces of mother-of-pearl to create products of high artistic value, from horizontal plaques, couplets, wooden beds, and tea cabinets… to decorative items and inlaid paintings that reflect the national spirit.

Throughout history, many artisans from Chuyen My were summoned to the Hue imperial capital by the feudal court to create works of art for the royal palace. Notably, Mr. Nguyen Van Phu (from Chuon Ngo village) was summoned to the capital by the Hue court, granted the rank of Ninth Grade, and bestowed the title "Han Lam Dai Chieu" (Grand Academician). From the 1970s onwards, artisans such as Nguyen Van To, Tran Ba Chuyen, and Tran Ba Dinh continued this tradition, creating many famous inlaid works. Among them, the group of artisans led by Mr. Nguyen Van To created over 100 badges of President Ho Chi Minh for a major political event of the Central Committee. Furthermore, the artisans here also depicted portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and many other world figures using the same shimmering mother-of-pearl and seashell materials.

Preserving the craft, building a career with skillful hands.

Over time, the craft of mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquerware has not only been preserved but has also become an economic pillar of Chuyen My commune. According to Mr. Vu Van Dinh (Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director of Phu Chuyen Agricultural Cooperative), 99% of households in Chuyen My commune are currently involved in traditional crafts, including mother-of-pearl inlay. This craft has provided people with stable employment, improved their living standards, and contributed to the security and economic stability of the locality.

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 selling well in Hanoi and many provinces and cities throughout 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 Creative Cities Network is an honor, and it also creates a strong impetus to change the mindset of people in craft villages in improving product quality, sophistication, diversifying markets, and expanding exports to the world," Mr. Dinh added.

In his spacious home, artisan Vu Van Vinh, who was awarded the title "Vietnamese Traditional Craft Artisan" in 2016, is diligently working at a wooden table covered with glistening mother-of-pearl fragments. He has been involved in the craft for over 40 years, starting when he was just 9 years old.

"My products mainly follow the traditional style passed down from our ancestors. In addition, I also create modern paintings to meet new tastes," Mr. Vinh shared.

Products such as wooden beds, tea cabinets, horizontal plaques, and couplets remain the most popular items among customers. What's special is that each pattern and line is created by the craftsman himself. No two products are alike. "The beauty of inlay work lies in the fact that each piece is a unique entity, reflecting the 'soul' of the craftsman," Mr. Vinh confided.

The intricately inlaid tea cabinet – one of the most expensive pieces he has ever created – is worth approximately 1.2 billion VND. This is a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship. From the initial idea to completion, he spent years selecting, sawing, and polishing each individual piece of mother-of-pearl. "Each stage requires calmness, patience, and creativity," Mr. Vinh said.

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

Innovation for integration

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

“We have met all eight criteria and are now focusing on completing the ninth criterion – creating new product designs and styles. This is a crucial criterion for Chuyen My to be recognized as a full member. Currently, the application has been submitted to the World Craft Council, and it is expected that in mid-November 2025, the Council will evaluate and recognize the craft village to participate in the World Creative Cities Network,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Huong.

To meet this demand, artisans and inlay craftsmen in Chuyen My are working together to create new, compact, and unique products as gifts and souvenirs for tourists. Over 100 new product designs have been completed, ranging from mother-of-pearl inlaid pencil cases, ballpoint pens, vases, trays, picture frames to miniature mother-of-pearl inlaid paintings, all while preserving traditional elements and catering to 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 participate in the World Creative Cities Network 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 possesses all the necessary elements: history, people, technology, creativity, and a spirit of integration. It has the potential to develop traditional craft villages linked to experiential tourism and local 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 just about a traditional craft village, but a testament to the vitality of Vietnamese culture – where tradition and modernity blend, where the hands of artisans preserve the soul of the nation while reaching out to the world.

From the shimmering light of mother-of-pearl and shell fragments, the thousand-year-old essence of the mother-of-pearl inlay and lacquerware craft of Chuyen My village is being rekindled every day by the aspiration for integration and the relentless creativity of its talented people.

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