Vietnam

Vietnam has a centuries-old tradition of silk weaving and embroidery which has been passed down from generation to generation.  It was introduced to the northern provinces centuries ago from China and is an important part of Vietnamese cultural heritage. During feudal times, silk was thought of as a luxury item only worn by royalty, featuring symbols of dragons, phoenixes and tortoises. Today, residents of traditional silk villages close to Hanoi and the picturesque port city of Hoi An are still producing silk (although the production has generally been mechanised) and silk brocades continue to be woven in small communities, like the Cham ethnic group across areas of central Vietnam, in a variety of rich, colours, symbols, patterns and designs.

For the Vietnamese, embroidery is a form of cultural expression with many minority groups having unique styles to aid in identifying members of their community. Much of the clothing worn by some groups, such as the Hmong and Dao from the northern mountainous regions of Vietnam, are elaborately decorated in fine embroidery, brocade and braiding, with the Hmong people’s use of batik and appliqué (where pieces of fabric are sewn or stuck on to a larger piece to form a picture or pattern) having developed into an art form over the years.