Minh Lãng embroidery craft village in Thư Trì District, Hưng Yên Province is a traditional craft that has endured for more than 200 years. VNA/VNS Photo Thế Duyệt

HƯNG YÊN — Following the successful merger of Thái Bình into Hưng Yên Province, the newly established Thư Trì Commune has brought with it a treasured cultural heritage - the Minh Lãng embroidery craft village.

The commune was formed from the former Song Lãng, Hiệp Hòa and Minh Lãng communes in Vũ Thư District. Minh Lãng is renowned for its intricate hand embroidery, a traditional craft that has endured for more than 200 years.

Despite economic changes and modern challenges, artisans remain dedicated to preserving and revitalising the craft passed down from their ancestors.

A lifetime devoted to embroidery

At nearly 70 years old, Trần Thị Khoản from Súy Hãng Hamlet still has sharp eyes, steady hands and an unwavering passion for embroidery. She first learned the craft at the age of nine.

“An ordinary person can learn basic embroidery in two to three months,” she said.

“However, creating a piece that is truly beautiful and full of life requires both an artistic eye and highly refined skills. These qualities take many years to develop.”

During the craft’s golden years, every household in Minh Lãng owned at least two embroidery frames, and some had as many as five. Everyone in the village, from young teenagers to elders in their 60s and 70s, knew how to embroider. Beyond rice farming, embroidery provided a vital source of income that helped families support and educate their children.

However, changes in market trends and the shift toward higher-paying jobs once threatened the survival of the craft. Many households abandoned their embroidery frames, leaving them to gather dust.

Residents of Minh Lãng embroidery craft village in Thư Trì Commune, Hưng Yên Province. VNA/VNS Photo Thế Duyệt

“I never gave up,” Khoản said with determination.

“Embroidery is the wisdom and the essence that our ancestors passed down to us. I treasure that and want to do everything I can to help preserve this craft for future generations.”

Among the artisans who have devoted their lives to embroidery, Nguyễn Cao Bính of Bùi Xá Hamlet is widely admired. He is known as the man who 'paints with thread' and is the only local artisan to have been officially recognised as a Master Artisan.

Embroidered artworks by Nguyễn Cao Bính ready for delivery to customers. VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Quang

“I started learning embroidery when I was eight years old,” Bính said.

“At first, I cried because I did not want to learn. But the more I worked with the designs, the more fascinated I became. Over time, my passion grew, and embroidery became a natural part of my life.”

Even at 70, Bính continues to run his high-end hand embroidery workshop, which is always busy. He still spends hours each day working at the embroidery frame. His artwork covers a wide range of themes, from landscapes to portraits, all rendered with exceptional detail and artistry.

A hand-embroidered lotus painting by artisan Nguyễn Cao Bính. VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Quang

These masterpieces have brought fame to Minh Lãng and have earned high praise from art lovers and collectors.

Sustaining the craft in a modern economy

Currently, Thư Trì Commune is home to three businesses and numerous family-run embroidery units. Together, they employ around 1,000 workers across the hamlets.

Nguyễn Thị Nhuần, owner of Ninh Nhuần Embroidery in Bùi Xá Hamlet, operates two workshops that employ 20 artisans. In addition, many villagers take work home to complete.

“Our workers earn between VNĐ3-6 million đồng per month,” she said.

“One advantage of embroidery is flexibility. People can work during free hours or when they are not busy with farming.”

However, machine embroidery and the appeal of factory jobs pose serious challenges to the craft.

“The younger generation is less interested in embroidery because the income is lower compared to industrial work,” Nhuần said.

According to Nguyễn Bá Lục, Chairman of the Thư Trì Commune People’s Committee, the survival of Minh Lãng embroidery depends on maintaining its unique identity and artistic value.

“In today’s market, industrial embroidery products are common and come in many designs,” Lục explained.

“Our traditional hand embroidery must retain its soul and authenticity. That is what makes it different and gives it value.”

To achieve this, he said, the commune plans to take several steps. It will organise training sessions to improve the skills of current artisans and open classes for young learners in collaboration with master craftsmen.

It will promote the Minh Lãng brand more widely and make it easier for producers to access markets. The local authority also plans to help embroidery businesses secure loans so they can expand production and improve efficiency.

Another important strategy is to explore new markets and develop cultural tourism. Visitors will be able to join embroidery workshops, tour the craft village, and buy traditional products. This approach will not only create economic opportunities but also raise awareness about preserving the heritage of Minh Lãng embroidery, he said. — VNS