Exploring Van Phuc Silk Village in Hanoi
As one of over 1,000 traditional villages existing in Vietnam,
Van Phuc Silk Village is considered as one of the few villages retaining
the most beautiful cultural and historical traditions of the country.
Far about 10km from Hanoi City center,
Van Phuc Silk Village is situated in Van Phuc ward, Ha Dong district, Hanoi.
Located on the waterfront of Nhue River, the village still retains many ancient features,
for instance, image of village well with pure lotus, the ancient banyan trees,
and organizing marketplace right in the courtyard of communal house every afternoon.
This is the traditional silk weaving village which has been famous for its beauty for years
with numerous floral patterns and most long standing in Vietnam.
"Ha Dong Silk" as well as the products of Hanoi traditional villages has been frequently mentioned in ancient poetry.
In many families, ancient looms have been retained and interspersed with modern mechanical ones.
Visiting such one of the tourist attractions in Hanoi,
tourists will surely have a chance to enjoy interesting experiences.
Just setting foot in the village, tourists can hear the sound of bustling silk weaving.
They will find easy to catch a busy atmosphere in showrooms introducing Van Phuc Village with colorful fabric.
Van Phuc silk is actually durable.
Tourists certainly feel soft and gentle when wearing costumes here.
The distinctive and unique characters actually come from the skillful hands, virtuosity, and talents of Van Phuc people.
From about the 16th century, Van Phuc weaving was enhanced and flourished.
Numerous unique and premium items had been created with vivid, subtle patterns.
Undergoing its ups and downs, Van Phuc Silk Village retains intact traditional values on fabric each.
Weaving has been passed from generation to generation,
contributing to create unique cultural features on costumes of Vietnam people.
It thus becomes one of the most popular traditional villages in Hanoi.
To manufacture perfect silk products,
Van Phuc workers have conducted a complex technical process
including several stages such as silk, silk fiber, weaving, and dyeing.
Van Phuc silk was first introduced worldwide at international trade fairs (1931 and 1938),
which was evaluated as sophisticated products of French Indochina.
It has been popular in France, Thailand, Indonesia...
From 1958 to 1988, Van Phuc silk products were mostly exported to countries in Eastern Europe.
It has reached numerous countries around the world since 1990.
The silk village has affirmed its product values on the international market.
Today, through generations,
Van Phuc silk artisans and weavers have constantly improved and advanced manufacturing techniques.
Therefore, silk products in the village always reaches flawlessness, sparkling smooth
and soft feeling with iridescent colors, delicate pattern, elegance.
Over the generations, Van Phuc Silk Village has remained the traditional artistic counterpoint.
Silk products thus not only become popular in the country but reach silk connoisseurs around the world.
Silk stores have sprung up more and more with over 100 pavilions and reputable brands.
Beautiful silks, fashionable models, bags or scarfs will be extremely suitable as gifts when setting foot in the silk village.
The special feature of Van Silk in particular and Van Phuc silk is generally is durable,
warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Diverse decorations make costumes become charming and lively.
Van Phuc silk village displays its important contribution in promoting Hanoi tourism
to domestic and international tourists.