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Located on Yen Thai Street, Hang Gai Ward, Tu Thi Temple is a national historical monument associated with the traditional embroidery craft. Built in 1891 by artisans from Quat Dong village, the temple serves both as a place of worship for the founder of the craft, Le Cong Hanh, and as a pilgrimage site for generations of artisans nationwide. Known colloquially as "The Embroidery Craftsmen's Temple Market," it has preserved the spirit and values of embroidery for over a century.
Tu Thi Temple is a national historical monument associated with the traditional embroidery craft.
Today, Tu Thi communal house not only holds historical value but also serves as a center for exchange and practice of embroidery. Part of the communal house's space is used to organize cultural events, such as the "Shiny Silk - Colorful Plants" exhibition, contributing to fostering national pride and promoting traditional values to international friends. According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Linh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hang Gai Ward, combining heritage preservation with economic and service development is an effective approach to building a sustainable cultural tourism destination.
The temple is located in a small alley.
This embroidery exhibition is a highlight of the community art project "Stories from the Temple in the City," bringing a fresh perspective to the spiritual space of Tu Thi Temple – considered the cradle of traditional embroidery. From December 2024 to the Lunar New Year 2025, artist Pham Ngoc Tram will reside and create here for eight weeks, directly practicing ancient embroidery techniques within the temple grounds. Her works use silk, dyed with natural ingredients such as lacquer, yellow vine, and mango leaves, creating a vibrant color palette while maintaining the harmony of traditional culture.
From December 2024 to the Lunar New Year of 2025, artist Pham Ngoc Tram will reside and create here.
In addition to the open embroidery workshop, where the public can directly observe the creative process, the exhibition also displays a collection of ancient embroidery paintings and provides a reading corner specializing in embroidery. This is where every visitor can more clearly feel the connection between heritage and modern life. Through workshops, seminars, and community interactions, artist Pham Ngoc Tram shares her passion for embroidery, inspiring the younger generation to continue preserving and developing the value of this heritage.
To elaborate on artist Pham Ngoc Tram, born and raised in Hanoi, she has dedicated her career to researching and developing traditional embroidery. Graduating from the Vietnam Fine Arts University in 2006 and Ecole Lesage Paris in 2013, she is one of the most prominent embroidery artists today, with a series of international exhibitions such as *Indochina Sense* (2024), *Love of Nature* (2023), and *Skilled Hands Shared Culture* (2021).
Artist Ngoc Tram's journey is closely linked to field trips to mountainous regions, where she learned embroidery techniques and the use of natural materials from ethnic minority artisans. This experience helped her develop a unique artistic style, combining the essence of folk culture with a modern approach. As she once shared: "Vietnamese artists are fortunate to be born with a rich source of national heritage. Embroidery is not just a craft, but also a way to connect cultural, historical, and natural values."
Pham Ngoc Tram is an independent embroidery artist currently living in Hoi An.
The exhibition "Shining Silk - Tree Colors" is the clearest evidence of the above statement, showcasing a creative interplay between heritage and modernity. Pham Ngoc Tram's works recreate folk patterns such as chrysanthemum motifs from the Tran Dynasty, dragon boat racing scenes, or the posture of someone playing the zither in court music. However, what sets her apart is her use of natural color palettes and handcrafted embroidery techniques to create vibrant and lively pieces.
Beyond recreating tradition, artist Ngoc Tram continuously expands her "world embroidery map" by learning from other cultures. Comparisons between Vietnamese embroidery and that of other culturally similar countries like Japan and Korea have helped her recognize the unique characteristics of Vietnamese embroidery: the sophistication in its design, color coordination, and material handling techniques. These experiences not only enrich her knowledge but also contribute to putting Vietnamese embroidery on the international art map.
Embroidery is not just a craft, but also a way to connect cultural, historical, and natural values.
The exhibition "Shining Silk - Colorful Trees" both recreates the beauty of the past and opens up a path for the future, affirming that traditional art can adapt and develop in a modern context. Activities like this exhibition at Tu Thi communal house contribute to reviving pride in heritage, while also being an effective way to promote the service economy and build unique cultural tourism destinations.
Through interaction, learning, and creativity, the exhibition provides an opportunity for the younger generation to gain a deeper understanding of the value of traditional cultural and artistic heritage. This is clear evidence of the enduring vitality of Vietnamese heritage, playing a crucial role in cultural, economic, and social development.
The exhibition runs from December 2024 to the Lunar New Year 2025, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. The public can visit and admire the displayed ancient embroidered paintings and watch artist Pham Ngoc Tram embroidering at the communal house, showcasing traditional embroidery techniques. This is an ideal opportunity to explore the depth of Vietnamese culture through traditional embroidery art – where the past and present intertwine, creating enduring value.
