Van Lam Embroidery Village

A craft passed from generation to generation

Just a short walk from Tam Coc boat pier lies Van Lam Village, where traditional hand embroidery has been passed from generation to generation for more than 700 years.

The embroidery tradition here goes back to the Tran Dynasty in the 13th century. According to the story passed down in our village, Lady Tran Thi Dung taught local people embroidery, beginning a tradition that has continued for centuries.

In the past, embroidery was an important part of everyday life in Van Lam. Children often learned at home by sitting beside their parents and grandparents, watching their hands and slowly learning each stitch. Today, fewer people make a living from traditional hand embroidery, but the craft is still being preserved by local artisans and families who continue to practice and pass it on.

Four generations of embroidery in one family

Our mother, Dinh Thi Nguyen, began learning embroidery when she was about five or six years old. As a child, she would sit beside her grandparents and parents, watch them embroider and try to do the same.

She has now spent more than 50 years with needle and thread. In 2015, she was officially recognized as a traditional hand-embroidery artisan in Ninh Binh. Today, she still does the work she loves and continues passing the craft on to the next generation of our family.

Embroidery on a real Bodhi leaf

Most embroidery is made on fabric, but one of the most delicate pieces you can discover here is embroidery on a real Bodhi leaf.

In Vietnam, the leaves are usually collected around May, when they are fully grown. After they are collected, they are soaked and processed for about a month. The soft parts slowly break down until only the delicate network of veins remains.

The artisan then embroiders directly onto this thin, fragile natural structure. A small Bodhi-leaf embroidery can take around three days to complete.

Experience the tradition yourself

Van Lam is not only a place to read about embroidery history. At our family home, visitors can sit with a local artisan, learn the basic techniques step by step and create a small hand-embroidered piece of their own.

No previous embroidery experience is needed. The traditional experience is designed to be personal and unhurried, with time to hear the family story, see hand-embroidered artworks up close and try the craft for yourself.

Visit Van Lam Embroidery Village

If you are visiting Tam Coc and would like to discover something beyond the usual sightseeing routes, you are welcome to visit our family home, see traditional embroidery up close, enjoy a drink and learn more about a craft that has been part of this village for centuries.

Embroidery Workshop Tam Coc – Art & Coffee

Historical context: The village-history section follows the account used by Ninh Binh tourism sources and the story passed down locally. Family details are provided by our family.