Born in a traditional craft village, and having dedicated his entire life to the craft, experiencing both ups and downs, but driven by a profound love for the profession, for decades, artisan Pham Van Thuc, along with other villagers, has wholeheartedly and devotedly "kept the flame" of the craft alive. Diligently working like silkworms spinning their threads, those who "keep the flame alive," like Mr. Thuc, have together woven the brand for Nha Xa silk products and carried the dreams of the village weavers far and wide. With exquisite patterns, vibrant colors, and high-quality materials, Nha Xa silk products today have transcended the confines of the village and reached the West.
Welcoming us on a winter afternoon, in a vibrant display room filled with colorful silk products, while sipping a strong cup of tea, artisan Pham Van Thuc slowly recounted: The Nha Xa silk weaving craft is over 700 years old, dating back to the appearance of rudimentary looms made from mahogany wood in gardens, with the main products being woven fabrics for those who caught fish fry on the Red River, or simple bags, satchels, and other items serving the daily needs of the local people. Through many upheavals and historical changes, like many other traditional craft villages nationwide, the Nha Xa silk weaving craft also declined at times. It wasn't until 1980 that the Nha Xa silk weaving craft was truly revived with the establishment of the Hong Tien Silk Weaving Cooperative (the predecessor of the Hong Tien Nha Xa Silk Weaving Ecotourism Cooperative today). Thanks to the skillful hands and dedication of those who "keep the flame alive," the vitality of the traditional Nha Xa silk weaving village has quickly revived. The harmonious combination of economic benefits and traditional cultural values has contributed to creating a unique identity for Nha Xa silk and for the entire fertile land along the Red River.
"Good wine needs no bush," and many people have flocked to Nha Xa not only to choose the perfect silk for themselves and their friends, but also to satisfy their desire to learn, explore , and experience the traditional silk weaving craft of the village... Nha Xa silk is beautiful not only because of its material, colors, and exquisite patterns, but also because of the rustic charm imbued in each piece. And so, whenever one unexpectedly encounters the graceful silk dresses of women strolling down the street, one longs to return... Although I wasn't born and raised in the village, every time I return to Nha Xa, amidst the rhythmic clicking of the looms and feeling the cool, smooth silk, I sense the love the weavers have poured into each weave and feel an even deeper affection for this land.
After the silk squares were neatly arranged on the shelves, Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Lien (Mr. Thuc's wife) skillfully added more water to the teapot to offer to the guests. According to her, we learned that she currently serves as the Vice President of the Hong Tien Nha Xa Silk Weaving Ecotourism Cooperative; she is the "leader" of the renowned Lien Thuc silk weaving facility in the region; and she is also one of the people who "keeps the flame alive" and "passes on the flame," bringing the products and culture of the traditional craft village to friends both domestically and internationally.
She recounted: Although she wasn't born and raised in a traditional craft village, fate led her to the weaving profession, and her life has been intertwined with silk weaving for nearly 30 years. She was born in Tu Dai village (part of Chuyen Ngoai commune, Duy Tien district), famous for its silk reeling that supplied Nha Xa village, so from a young age she loved the silk weaving craft in Nha Xa. Therefore, right after graduating from high school, she went to Nha Xa village to learn silk weaving, and when she became skilled, she met Pham Van Thuc, one of the four current artisans in the village. For nearly 30 years, she has not only kept the traditional silk weaving craft alive in the village but has also dedicated her love and passion to developing it. In 2023, with the desire to continue inheriting the essence of the craft village and connect it with spiritual tourism; By developing a chain of experiential tourism focusing on traditional craft villages and attractions for visitors to Nha Xa weaving village, her startup project producing traditional Nha Xa silk, linked to the Lanh Giang Temple eco-tourism chain, has been highly appreciated by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union, and she was honored with an Encouragement Award at the "Women Entrepreneurs Promoting Local Resources 2023" competition.
The craft has rewarded hard work, and the lives of the villagers are becoming increasingly prosperous, with an average income of 8-10 million VND per person per month. Encouragingly, many young people in the village are continuing the tradition, bringing the village's products to the West... For Ms. Lien's family, that love is doubled and tripled, as her two daughters, after graduating from university, have continued the family tradition, introducing and promoting the village's traditional products to international friends. Villagesilk Co., Ltd., where her daughter is the director, has been officially established.
Currently, her family's business is one of the few in the village capable of handling all stages of silk weaving, from spinning and weaving to dyeing, finishing, and distributing the finished product to the market. On average, she produces and sells about 5-6 thousand meters of silk fabric each month, ranging from high-end to affordable. Since 2022, she has shifted to marketing and has become one of the leading businesses with a large sales volume in the area.
Leading us on a tour around the village, pointing to the smooth paved roads and spacious houses nestled amidst the greenery of fruit trees, Mr. Nguyen Hong Tien, Director of the Hong Tien Nha Xa Silk Weaving Ecotourism Cooperative, shared: "Post-Covid-19 has posed significant challenges to many economic sectors, but at the same time, it has opened up many opportunities for e-commerce development. Seizing this opportunity, the people of Nha Xa have quickly adapted to and developed the online market instead of relying solely on traditional markets as before. As a result, the village's annual product consumption has increased sharply, 3-4 times compared to the pre-Covid-19 period. Everything produced is sold immediately. The lives of the villagers have improved significantly, and the appearance of the new rural area in Nha Xa is becoming increasingly vibrant..."
Currently, in Nha Xa, there are over 150 households involved in the weaving craft, with 500 weaving machines; on average, they produce and sell 800,000 - 1,000,000 meters of silk per year. In 2016, the Nha Xa Silk Association was established, contributing to changing the mindset and business practices of the village's workers. Workers have become more collaborative in production and consumption, no longer working independently. As a result, the quality and reputation of the products have also improved. However, when asked about the village's development direction in the coming years, the answer remains unclear. After a moment of reflection, Mr. Nguyen Hong Tien shared: Having nearly 10 years of experience working with the Nha Xa Silk Weaving Association and, more recently, the Hong Tien Nha Xa Silk Weaving Ecotourism Cooperative since its early days, as its leader, I've always aspired to elevate the value of Nha Xa silk products. Therefore, I'm always present at fairs and exhibitions to seek opportunities to expand the market and bring silk products to consumers. But how can the Nha Xa silk weaving craft thrive and maintain its identity? How can silk products carry the village's brand when venturing into the "big ocean"? These remain the concerns of those involved in the craft. Over the years, despite numerous policies and guidelines for developing the craft village, it seems that for a long time, the villagers have been groping their way forward.
To save themselves and their craft, the villagers have invested billions of dong to build a wastewater treatment system for the bleaching and dyeing processes before discharging it into the environment, minimizing pollution. In particular, since 2021, in line with the model new rural development program of Moc Nam commune and the Duy Tien town People's Committee's orientation on developing spiritual tourism in a chain connecting Tam Chuc, Long Doi Son Pagoda, Lanh Giang Temple, and the Nha Xa traditional silk weaving village, the Hong Tien Nha Xa Silk Weaving Ecotourism Cooperative was established. As passionate individuals deeply involved in and knowledgeable about the craft, Mr. Tien, Ms. Lien, and Mr. Thuc always hope that, in addition to the efforts of the villagers, genuine support from the local Party committee, government, and relevant agencies is essential. Only then can Nha Xa silk continue to soar to new heights and reach further, and the dream of a well-known brand for Nha Xa silk can become a reality.
Minh Thu
Source: https://baohanam.com.vn/kinh-te/nganh-nghe-nong-thon/lua-nha-xa-det-uoc-mo-bay-xa-145438.html
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