When ancient embroidery heritage connects past, present and future

Heritage “lives” when it is passed on and renewed.

The Thread of Time is a highlight within the framework of the Cua Nam Giao Hoa Exhibition, held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the historic National Day September 2.

The event was organized by the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward, Trung Vuong Secondary School in collaboration with embroidery artist Pham Ngoc Tram, aiming at a dual goal: connecting cultural heritage with contemporary life and developing local cultural industry, while honoring the quintessential values that make up the character of Hanoians .

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward affirmed: "The event is not only a simple cultural and artistic activity but also a concrete step to turn heritage into a resource for sustainable development."

“Through the discussion and experience of classical embroidery, we will go back in time to learn about the profound historical, cultural, educational and aesthetic values of Hanoi embroidery during the Indochina period. Heritage only truly lives when it is preserved, passed on and renewed through creativity and the love of culture of each of us,” Mr. Hoan shared.

The special and meaningful point of The Thread of Time is the venue – Trung Vuong Secondary School. This school, formerly Dong Khanh Girls’ School, was established in 1917, the first girls’ school in the North during the French colonial period.

The Thread of Time event was divided into two main parts, attracting a large number of people who love culture and traditional embroidery. The first part was an Art talk called Vietnamese Embroidery and the story of Dong Khanh Girls' School .

Here, embroidery artist Pham Ngoc Tram presented profound stories about the history and development of embroidery in Vietnam, especially its connection with the old Dong Khanh school.

Artist Pham Ngoc Tram, the initiator and leader of the Thread of Time project, was born in 1984 in Hanoi. She graduated from the Vietnam University of Fine Arts and the Ecole Lesage Paris Embroidery School, one of the most prestigious schools of high-end embroidery in France.

With a solid foundation of knowledge in fine arts and sophisticated embroidery techniques, Pham Ngoc Tram is known as the person who tirelessly puts Vietnamese embroidery heritage on the world textile art map.

The Thread of Time project comes from Tram's meaningful family memories: her grandmother was a former Dong Khanh student, and was also the first person to teach her how to hold a needle and spin thread.

“I want this class to not only stop at skills, but also convey love and appreciation for the values that have nurtured the quintessence of Hanoi,” artist Pham Ngoc Tram shared.

When ancient embroidery heritage connects the past, present and future - photo 2 — Artist Pham Ngoc Tram shared at the event

In addition, the seminar also had the participation and sharing of artisan Vu Thi Tue, from Van Lam embroidery village, Ninh Binh - a cradle of traditional Vietnamese embroidery art, bringing multi-dimensional and authentic perspectives on the profession.

The second and interactive highlight of the event was a classical French embroidery class, where attendees got a hands-on experience with the embroidery techniques that were part of girls’ school curricula in the early 20th century.

From young people to the elderly, everyone was excited to pick up needles, thread, listen to instructions and create their first embroidery products.

The special thing about Thread of Time is not only its artistic or historical value but also its deep community spirit and long-term vision. This workshop will be the beginning of a series of activities that will last until March 2026.

This series of activities includes many diverse forms such as: Art walk memories (a journey to explore historical sites associated with embroidery and Dong Khanh female students), interviews and portraits of storytellers (collecting personal stories and memories), editing art archives, organizing in-depth discussions on embroidery and heritage, and a large community exhibition scheduled to take place on the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8, 2026.

When ancient embroidery heritage connects the past, present and future - photo 3 — Some traditional embroidery works on display at the event

Potential to turn Cua Nam into a creative cultural space

The Thread of Time event is also part of the cultural industry development orientation of Cua Nam ward. With its central location, rich architectural and historical heritage, Cua Nam has the potential to develop unique heritage tours, creative art spaces, and handicraft products with strong local imprints, aiming to build a brand for the area.

In the context of rapid integration and urbanization, many traditional craft values are at risk of being forgotten or gradually lost. However, the Thread of Time project has brought a new and effective approach to deal with this challenge.

When ancient embroidery heritage connects the past, present and future - photo 4 — The event attracted a large public

Instead of developing heritage within the framework of the past, the project has breathed new life into cultural values through contemporary art forms.

This not only naturally brings heritage into the flow of modern life, but also makes the public, especially the younger generation, feel closer, more accessible and love those values more.

Through each classical embroidery stitch taught, participants not only learn sophisticated techniques but also have the opportunity to deeply feel the meticulousness, patience and family love.

It is also a way for the heritage to continue to “live”, constantly inspiring and nurturing core cultural values for future generations, ensuring the inheritance and continuous development of the quintessence of embroidery.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/khi-di-san-theu-co-ket-noi-qua-khu-hien-tai-va-tuong-lai-160526.html