Van Phuc silk village in Ha Noi’s Ha Dong district was officially recognized as a member of the Global Network of Creative Craft Cities in mid-February. This is an opportunity for the village to promote its silk products and assert its brand around the world, thereby preserving the traditional craft.
Van Phuc Silk Village’s Creative Design Center, a place to introduce, promote, and sell OCOP products (Photo: thoibaonganhang.vn)
With a 1,000-year history, Van Phuc is one of the oldest silk weaving villages in Vietnam. It has been recognized by the Vietnam Book of Records Center as the "oldest traditional silk-weaving village still in operation today".
The craft has been preserved and developed by the local villagers who, with skilled hands and a love for their job, create soft, shiny silk that embodies the Vietnamese cultural identity. Van Phuc silk is cherished for its quality and beauty. Its brand has a prominent position in the silk market. Van Phuc now has more than 70 types of silk, including embroidered silk, satin, and chiffon with varied patterns.
Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Chairman of the Van Phuc ward People's Committee, told VOV, “Van Phuc’s signature products are floral-patterned silk, twisted silk, plain silk, and especially cloud silk, a fabric that appears to have floating clouds woven into it. This product was once showcased at the Paris International Exhibition. The local artisans have successfully revived the traditional Gam brocade, a sophisticated textile that was lost for years.”
Nguyen Van Khanh, Deputy Chairman of the Van Phuc ward People's Committee in Ha Dong district, Hanoi (Photo: VOV2)
During a survey trip to Van Phuc last October, the international jury of the World Crafts Council was impressed by the village’s rich culture and continuous development over the centuries, said Khanh.
“It was a great honor for our village to be recognized as the 68th member of the World Craft Council. This is also a great responsibility and an opportunity to become more widely known by other countries and both domestic and foreign tourists,” Khanh added.
The international jury acknowledged that the village still has many skilled artisans who are committed to their craft and make products that embody traditional cultural values. They love their profession and play an important role in preserving and developing the silk craft.
Artisan Nguyen Thi Tam, owner of the Trieu Van Mao silk weaving facility, has revived ancient patterns and woven flowers. Another artisan, Tran Thi Ngoc Lan, has done research and now produces silk products that are less wrinkled and don’t fade, and has partly automated the weaving techniques.
Tam told VOV that villagers look forward to cooperation opportunities with other countries around the globe and more exchanges with international friends in order to learn from each other and make products that follow the common trends.”
“We want to preserve and develop Van Phuc silk. Once we can meet the requirements set by the World Craft Council, Van Phuc silk will reach a new level. We preserve the traditional features, but also develop and integrate into the world,” said Lan.
An artisan of Van Phuc silk weaving village (Photo: Vietnam+)
Becoming a member of the Global Network of Creative Craft Cities will give Van Phuc silk village new development opportunities but, at the same time, it will require Van Phuc to keep improving its product quality and design to stay competitive in the market.
According to Khanh, “To make Van Phuc silk stand out, we’ve told the Craft Village Association and the village’s cooperative to tell their members, particularly ones in production households, to emboss "Ha Dong Silk" on the fabric selvedge to distinguish it from the products of other localities. Design competitions have been held to create new patterns, but the traditional patterns have been preserved to uphold the Van Phuc brand.”
Van Phuc silk is a precious cultural heritage and symbolizes the Vietnamese people’s creative spirit and will to rise.
Le Phuong
