Hand Embroidery

Hand embroidery is a revered traditional craft in Vietnam, deeply intertwined with the spiritual journey of Vietnamese women. It dates back to ancient times when women used embroidery to decorate their homes and express themselves.

During the feudal era, embroidery became prestigious, serving the royal and aristocratic circles. Artisans, mostly women, crafted exquisite products using fabric and natural dyes like Tinctorial yam and Indigo.

Vietnamese embroidery gained international acclaim for its magical dyeing process. Embroidery has traditionally been associated with femininity, reflecting Confucian ideals of female virtues.

Embroidery is an enduring symbol of Vietnamese culture, preserving its unique identity. In the 1990s, artists Vo Van Quan and Hoang Le Xuan revolutionized silk hand-embroidered paintings by merging painting techniques with traditional embroidery. Hue, the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, became a center of excellence where European and Asian techniques merged to create royal embroidery.