A lace embroidery village in Ninh Binh, its reputation spreads far and wide to European countries.

Van Lam embroidery craft is famous far and wide

According to the village’s elderly artisans, the lace embroidery craft in Van Lam village (Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province) is over 700 years old. Legend has it that the embroidery craft appeared when King Tran defeated the Yuan-Mongol invaders.

Specifically, at that time, Mrs. Tran Thi Dung, wife of Grand Tutor Tran Thu Do, had her palace maids teach the craft of embroidery to the people of Van Lam village to serve rituals and ceremonies in spiritual and cultural life.

Ms. Dinh Thi Nhi (Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province) has been doing lace embroidery since she was 8 years old. Photo: DM

Mrs. Dinh Thi Nhi (66 years old, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district) shared with Dan Viet : "Van Lam embroidery was once famous, but after many historical changes, it became stagnant at times. My grandfather, Dinh Kim Tuyen, gave birth to 6 children, including Mr. Henh and Mr. Xoang. The two of them went to Ha Dong and worked for Mrs. Le Thai Tinh - a famous embroidery shop owner in Hanoi's Old Quarter.

Lace embroidery requires perseverance and meticulousness... Photo: DM

With their existing traditional skills, the two brothers learned very quickly, learning the embroidery techniques from the Hanoi embroiderers. Seeing that the two brothers were intelligent and skillful, Mrs. Tinh loved them very much and assigned them large orders to work for the French at that time. After mastering the profession, the two men returned to the village to teach all the techniques they had learned to skilled embroiderers to carry out large orders.

Products of Van Lam embroidery village are very diverse and rich. Photo: DM

Since the introduction of lace embroidery, Van Lam village entered a period of prosperity. The whole village was like a workshop, every family did the job, everyone followed the profession. Since then, Van Lam has had the lace embroidery profession and it has been preserved until now.

Development direction of embroidery profession in Ninh Binh

It is known that from 2023 to present, the Department of Industry and Trade of Ninh Binh province has coordinated with the Management Board of Van Lam Embroidery Village (Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district) to organize the Golden Hands Embroidery competition.

Young generation "lives well" from traditional lace embroidery. Photo: DM

Through 2 times of organization, the contest has contributed to promoting the emulation movement, encouraging and motivating artisans and skilled workers to promote their love for the profession, preserve and conserve the embroidery craft. This is also an opportunity for embroiderers to demonstrate their techniques and skills and introduce to tourists the beauty of the craft village.

Through research, Van Lam lace embroidery art (Ninh Hai commune) uses rudimentary tools but requires high meticulousness of the craftsman in every detail.

A hand-embroidered work, with many beautiful colors. Photo: DM

Specifically, if the embroidery works are usually important in the stage of drawing lines and keeping the stitches even, then embroidery with white thread requires the craftsman to be skillful because if the embroidery is rough and ugly, it will be easily exposed. The embroiderer must be meticulous in every stitch to breathe life into the product.

Currently, the products of Van Lam Embroidery Village are very diverse and rich in types with many different designs and models such as: White embroidery, artistic color embroidery, lace products with high technique and aesthetics.

Over the centuries, Van Lam people have preserved their traditional craft and developed it with unique, highly sophisticated hand-embroidered products for domestic consumption and export.

Many products from Van Lam embroidery village are available in European countries. Photo: DM

Since 2019, many products of Van Lam Embroidery Village have been evaluated as 4-star OCOP products. Participating in the One Commune One Product program, products of Van Lam Embroidery Village have the opportunity to be displayed in major festivals and major tourism events of Ninh Binh province...

Talking to Dan Viet , Ms. Chu Thi Hoai Thu - Vice Chairman of Ninh Hai Commune People's Committee said: "In Ninh Hai commune, there are currently about 50-70 households doing lace embroidery, the income from lace embroidery is lower than other tourism services. On average, daily income from lace embroidery is from 150,000-200,000 VND, but it requires carefulness and meticulousness...

Ninh Hai Commune (Hoa Lu District) always creates favorable conditions for people and businesses to develop the embroidery profession. Photo: DM

According to Ms. Thu, Van Lam embroidery products are often exported to European countries such as England, France, etc. Every year, Ninh Hai commune also coordinates with vocational training centers to teach vocational skills to people; in which special attention is paid to the work of passing on and training vocational skills to the young generation to continue to preserve and develop the local traditional profession.

In addition, the Commune People's Committee encourages businesses and people working in embroidery to focus on technological innovation, applying science and technology to production stages, etc. In particular, traditional products serve tourism and export; expand joint ventures and partnerships to find markets for product consumption.

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the National Intangible Cultural Heritages in 2024, including the traditional craft - Van Lam embroidery, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.

This is a recognition and appreciation of the value, history, and uniqueness of the embroidery craft in the land associated with the Trang An heritage. At the same time, it creates more favorable conditions for the preservation and development of traditional crafts.

Source: https://danviet.vn/mot-lang-nghe-theu-ren-o-ninh-binh-tieng-lanh-lan-xa-toi-cac-nuoc-chau-au-20240721191227076.htm