Step into the loom: A hands-on experience in Nha Xa silk weaving

Legend has it that the craft was introduced during the Tran Dynasty by General Tran Khanh Du, who taught locals to grow mulberry trees, raise silkworms, and weave silk, making use of the region’s favourable natural conditions.

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The village peaked in the early 20th century as Vietnam’s second-largest silk producer. After a decline post-1980s, the craft has bounced back thanks to mechanization and broader market access.

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Over time, the craft has also spread to neighbouring areas of Ha Nam province such as Lanh Tri, Chuyen Ngoai, Hoa Mac, and Dong Van.

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The village currently has 150 - 250 households involved in silk weaving, with around 200 - 400 looms, some workshops operating 4–5 machines simultaneously.

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An owner of a weaving and dyeing workshop in Nha Xa shares that traditional looms have gradually been replaced by industrial weaving machines.

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The traditional looms are preserved for display, to maintain the village’s weaving heritage, and to demonstrate the traditional craft to visiting tourists.

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However, the stages of silk making, reeling, and dyeing are still carried out using traditional manual methods.

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In the past, the Nha Xa weaving village could only produce plain, dyed silk. Today, with the advancement of science and technology, Nha Xa silk weavers have learned and innovated to create new, high-quality silk fabric designs.

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While no longer fully self-contained, the village now imports silk threads, often from Lam Dong or elsewhere, and focuses on weaving, dyeing, and finishing.

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Although Nha Xa silk today features additional patterned designs woven directly from templates with a wide variety of beautiful motifs, the traditional dyeing and drying techniques are still maintained, creating vibrant and colourful silk fabrics.

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Nha Xa silk is famed for its use of natural dyes from ingredients like betel leaves, lac bugs, or brown roots, creating earthy yet durable colours.

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The craft provides a steady income, about VND8 - 10 million/month/person, with most households employing multiple locals.

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Products are sold in major Vietnamese cities such as Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and exported to Laos, Thailand, Japan, and parts of Europe.

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Government support policies, such as collective trademark in 2016, infrastructure development, and technical training have helped modernise and sustain the village.

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A trip to the village gives visitors the chance to see both traditional and modern weaving methods in action by listening to the rhythmic hum of looms at full swing during peak hours.

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Visiting workshops, visitors can try weaving or dyeing with natural ingredients themselves, and speak directly with skilled local artisans.

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Nha Xa is one of the four traditional silk weaving villages that have shaped the Vietnamese silk brand, alongside Van Phuc Silk Village in Ha Dong (Hanoi), Tan Chau Silk Village (An Giang), and Duy Xuyen Silk Village in Hoi An (Quang Nam).