HOI AN SILK VILLAGE IN CONNECTION AND COLLABORATIO

Le Thai Vu

Chairman of the Board

Hoi An Silk Group

1. Resources of ideas

Sericulture and silk industry has been developing for a very long time. According to the researches of Indian historical experts, sericulture was started in China and expanded to South Asia. Brocade in variable materials has also been close to wearing culture and developing history of many countries in the world.

2000 years ago, Hoi An used to be a trade port that the silk was primary products for domestic market and export to India and Northern China. Along the edge of Thu Bon River, Vu Gia River, Chien Dan River and Truong Giang River, there were the green mulberry fields collected for silk weaving materials. At this period, there was the Champa mulberry that people fed the silkworms by its leaves directly on the trees. This was a high-quality cocoon, the capacity was high so that people even applied it as fishing tools.

From 17^th century, Hoi An became one of the most important trading ports of the Southern Vietnam, meanwhile silk was the most popular products for European market. According to the researches of Japanese experts, the silk of Quang Nam Province was used to make the clothes for samurai. In the French colonial period, silk industry of Quang Nam Province was developed by French government with an important factory in Giao Thuy and fiber technology to enhance the capacity of cocoon. After the liberation, Vietnam government continued to promote the silk industry, through the economy reestablishment, they focused on developing the sericulture and silk weaving, especially in the riverside areas of Thu Bon River, Vu Gia River and Truong Giang River.  

Through the history of Quang Nam Province, silk industry has been close to the wearing culture of people. However, during the last decades, silk products imported from China have donated the market and the demands of design and tailor have been changed that domestic products have not been appreciated by consumers. The brocade has been maintained only by Cotu (an ethnic minority of Vietnam) for the religious and traditional ceremonies. Recently, government of Quang Nam Province has released the strategies to develop the local silk industry and there have been some bright results.

2. Model of traditional craft village and silk culture center

Since 2005, the project named Hoi An Silk Village has been released with the consultance of leading architects and cultural experts as well as the support and encouragement of Quang Nam Province’s government.  

In the 17^th – 18^th century, Hoi An was an important international trading port considered as a must-go destination for foreign businessmen in the Maritime Silk Road. Hoi An Silk Village has been created and developed based on the traditional of East – West and Asia – Euro economic and cultural collaboration, with the mission to become a space for sericulture and silk industry reservation as well as an ideal destination for national and overseas silk lovers.

With the purpose of revitalizing the tradition of sericulture in Quang Nam Province from the perspective of culture and tourism, Hoi An Silk Village is considered as a living museum in order with numerous objects, utensils, tools, trees and products combined with the cultural activities to introduce to visitors about the silk. Hoi An Ancient Town with the titles World Cultural Heritage, Special National Monument and World Biosphere Reserve, will become one of the important tourist destinations in Vietnam.

We are pleased to connect and learn the extensive experience from International Silk Union, Mekong Institute, Nishijin Industrial Textiles Association and the silk enterprises in Thailand, China and India. In 2014 and 2016, we also organized the international silk festivals with the attendance of the representatives of International Silk Union, Asia Silk Alliance and silk enterprises from China, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Japan and European countries. In 2017, we joined the Vietnam Silk Association as a member of leading committee.

The transformation Hoi An Silk Village into a new model for the research and application of the idea of ​​revitalizing the silk, textile garment and brocade in Quang Nam Province. At present, Hoi An Silk Village is considered as a living museum in the heart of living cultural heritage introducing the eco-friendly experiences that open the doors of the professionally-run activities; from the secret to materials, techniques, shaping and emotional creativity. Hoi An Silk Village would like to introduce the image of the community. Cham people are excellent in preserving the techniques of manual weaving looms simple but scientific and suitable for the size of talented weavers. They are the manifestation of the historical development of silk and brocade of Quang Nam Province.

We have chose the largest traditional house at Hoi An The Village to be the commemoration place of the Empress of Sericulture (in Vietnamese: “Ba Chua Tam Tang”) as a way to express the gratitude towards the ancestors who had made great effort for the sericulture and silk industry.

Thanks to the silk products which are appreciated by both Asian and European markets, Hoi An has become an international trading port.

3. Hoi An Silk Village – product contribution center

Hoi An Silk Village provide a process for people to know and understand intensively about sericulture and silk manufacture. The main solution for this model to be highly effective is sticking the traditional silk profession with modern tourism industry. It can be considered as a living museum on the World Silk Road.

Our ambition is that visitors coming to Hoi An Silk Village will have a memorable experience from their trip. First and foremost, Hoi An Silk Village - a provocative name for community activities. This expression can mention the cultural exchanges. Visitors will find or feel that the village is a place where people join together to share the passion and responsibility; introduce the value of traditional silk of Quang Nam Province and Vietnam. Visitors to the village to see, experience and be served in the spirit of harmony. We organize the international silk exhibitions and seminars of sericulture science, material resources, manufacture, business market and culture. We also build our own silk product brand based on quality, marketing and service.

In that spirit, Hoi An Silk Village has gradually become a special destination for silk lover, a center of silk exchange and distribution. We look forward to preserving the noble human values ​​and profession proud of all of us.

Thank you!