A thousand years of history of Vietnamese silk weaving.

Vietnamese silk is closely associated with the southward expansion of the Nguyen lords' territory. In the 17th century, the city of Hoi An on the Thu Bon River, formerly part of Nhat Nam district, was famous for its "men cultivating mulberry trees and women weaving silk."

The story of the Silk Queen captivates later generations because of the love story between her and Lord Nguyen Phuc Lan. Upon becoming Empress, she encouraged the development of the silk industry. The people here combined knowledge from the North with the experience of mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing of the Champa people, and the silk weaving secrets of the Minh Huong people to create many high-quality silk products.

In the book Phu Bien Tap Luc, Le Quy Don praised the quality of silk from Quang Nam province: "The fabrics, satin, brocade, and embroidered silk are very skillfully woven" and "The people of Thang and Dien districts weave various kinds of silk, brocade, and floral fabrics with exquisite craftsmanship, no less than those of Guangdong." During the Nguyen dynasty, raw silk and silk from Quang Nam and Dang Trong (Southern Vietnam) were exported annually to Southeast Asian and Western countries through Hoi An port. This place became a transit center of the international Silk Road, connecting the East and the West during the medieval period of history.

With a history spanning a thousand years, traditional craft villages alone are not enough for Vietnam to be recognized on the modern world silk map; a major transformation is needed, and Bao Loc is the answer. Nowadays, when discussing Vietnamese silk production, Bao Loc (Lam Dong province), considered the "silk capital" of Vietnam, cannot be overlooked. Bao Loc only emerged in the 1970s, but thanks to favorable natural conditions and focused government planning, it has developed rapidly, currently accounting for approximately 70% of the country's total silk production. Bao Loc silk is exquisitely crafted and possesses unique values ​​that reflect its distinct identity.

Currently, Bao Loc has more than 30 businesses producing and trading silk. Annual production reaches 1,200 tons of silk thread and 5 million meters of silk fabric. Bao Loc silk is consumed domestically and exported, contributing significantly to the socio -economic development of the locality. In 2023 alone, the export value of raw silk reached nearly 72 million USD, the highest ever.

It is evident that, with its rich traditional resources, vast raw material areas, high-quality silk, and the talent of diligent and skillful artisans, beautiful silk fabrics are created, bearing the unique cultural characteristics of the Vietnamese people.

Heritage Magazine