Economic and social development towards a sustainable direction in Van Lam Embroidery village (Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh)

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
INSTITUTE OF VIETNAMESE STUDIES AND DEVELOPMENT SCIENCES
-----------------------------------------------------

DO THI HONG THU

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE DIRECTION IN
VAN LAM EMBROIDERY VILLAGE
(NINH HAI, HOA LU, NINH BINH)

Major: Vietnamese Studies
Code: 60 31 60

MASTER’S THESIS ABSTRACT

Hanoi - 2011
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INDEX

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
COMMITMENT ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1
CHAPTER 1: SEVERAL BASIC QUESTIONS OF REASONING AND
METHODOLOGY OF VAN LAM TRADE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT .. 6
1.1. History of the question study............................................................... 6
1.2. Concept and features of traditional trade villages............................... 10
1.2.1 Concept of traditional trade village .................................................. 10
1.2.2. Classification .................................................................................. 10

1.2.2.1. Trade villages ........................................................................... 10
1.2.2.2 Traditional trade villages ........................................................... 10
1.2.3. Features of traditional trade villages .............................................. 10
1.2.4. Role of trade villages in economic and social development ............. 11
1.2.5. Sustainable developing trade villages.............................................. 12
1.3. Factors influencing the formation and development of trade villages 12
1.3.1. Geographical position ..................................................................... 12
1.3.2. Demands of the consumers and economic pressure ....................... 13
1.3.3. Professional skill level of the artisans and qualified workers; traditional
techniques and long-standing experience of trade villages....................... 13
1.3.4. Regulations of trade villages and the government’s policies ........... 13
1.4. Study viewpoints and methods............................................................. 14
1.4.1. Study viewpoints ............................................................................. 14
1.4.2. Study methods................................................................................. 14
Chapter 2: REAL SITUATION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
OF VAN LAM EMBROIDERY TRADE VILLAGE (NINH HAI – HOA LU –
NINH BINH) .................................................................................................. 14
2.1. Geographical position and natural condition .................................. 14
2.2. Shaping and developing process of the embroidery trade in Van Lam
trade ............................................................................................................ 15
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2.2.1. History of the embroidery in Vietnam ......................................... 15
2.2.2. Forming and developing process of Van Lam embroidery village16
2.3. Real situation of economic development .......................................... 16
2.3.1. Situation of development and number of embroidery businesses ..... 18
2.3.2. Scale and level of growth of the trade village ............................. 18
2.3.3. Economic structure ...................................................................... 18
2.4. Real situation of social development in the trade village ............... 19

2.4.1. Population and workers ............................................................... 19
2.4.2. Families and lines......................................................................... 20
2.4.3. Relics and landscapes ................................................................... 20
2.4.4. Festival .......................................................................................... 20
2.4.5. Infrastructures .............................................................................. 20
Chapter 3: ORIENTATION AND SOLUTIONS FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY IN VAN LAM EMBROIDERY
VILLAGE ........................................................................................................ 21
3.1 Assessing the real situation of development of Van Lam trade village from
the sustainable viewpoint .......................................................................... 21
3.1.1. Economic effect ............................................................................ 21
3.1.3. Environmental meanings ............................................................. 24
3.1.4. Difficulties and challenges in the development of the trade village
................................................................................................................. 24
3.2. Orientation of sustainable development of Van Lam embroidery village
(Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province) ................. 24
3.3. Some solutions contributing to sustainably develop Van Lam embroidery
..................................................................................................................... 25
3.3.1. Production materials and renovating product designs ............... 25
3.3.2. Consuming markets ...................................................................... 25
3.3.3. Investment ..................................................................................... 25
3.3.4. Land and production premises..................................................... 26
3.3.5. Developing human resources ....................................................... 26
3.3.6. Protecting trade village environment ......................................... 26
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS……………………….

REFERENCES............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
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INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
Developing trade villages not only transfers the rural economy, contributes to the
increase of trade industry density, and reduces the proportion of agriculture, but also
conserves national cultural and historical values. Developing economy and society in a
sustainable way in trade villages is a new direction and a major challenge for many trade
villages in the process of industrialization, modernization, and market economy opening.
Although Van Lam village has a great advantage for trade and tourism development, Van
Lam embroidery village is now facing many challenges. Therefore, its socio - economic
development should be in a sustainable and long-term direction. Although Van Lam
embroidery products have been present in many countries around the world, in general the
development of Van Lam embroidery village still has many limitations. The embroidery
bases are small and in unprompted development without coordination and combination. The
work of trademark registration and product quality improvement is still limited, not well
exploiting tourism potential of trade villages. The market for product consumption is not
stable. On the other hand, at present and in the coming years, the area of commune’s
farmland has declined rapidly. The number of people without frequent employment is
increasing, putting a greater pressure on labor and job. Therefore, in the future, the
development of embroidery villages aims to promote the advantages and potentials of a
local traditional handicraft. Since then, trade villages will be promoted in a sustainable and
long-term way, contributing to the transfer of local economy. This is an essential
requirement and a concern of all levels and sectors in the province.
Learning about the traditional embroidery in Van Lam not only sees the rise and fall
development of the village, but also contributes to promote local tourism in order to
popularize its trade name and preserve a traditional village. Hence, I chose the topic
“Economic and social development towards a sustainable direction in Van Lam
embroidery village (Ninh Hai, Hoa Lu, Ninh Binh)” for my MA thesis with the instruction
of Prof.Dr. Truong Quang Hai. I hope that the findings of Van Lam embroidery village will
help me learn more about the villages of Vietnam, and the role of trade villages in the
country industrialization and modernization process.

2. Goals and meanings
Through studying the economic and social development of Van Lam embroidery
village, we wish to generally assess the natural and social conditions of Van Lam trade
industry; real situation of the trade village (products, consuming market, price, labor force,
material source, local policy on this trade village, and the impact of trade village
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development on people’s life). From then, we will propose solutions to deal with the social
and economic development of Van Lam trade village in a sustainable way.
In my thesis, I use the method of area studies to research a trade village of traditional
embroidery, connecting its development with tourism activities, and building and
developing a tourism form of trade village in Ninh Binh.
3. Sources of materials
It can be said that the materials play a very important role in the research work.
Especially, when doing research on Vietnamese village community, the materials are
profound. The materials may be in written form, or handed down from generation to
generation. They would be photos, epitaph, or genealogy. However, no matter what the
materials are, they should be verified and compared, especially with the unwritten form.
With Van Lam embroidery village, the materials of the village are not much. They mainly
exist in unwritten form, theogony, and legends. Hence, we have to select and verify
collected information, then comparing with written materials, epitaph, and family genealogy
to make accurate and scientific conclusions with specific, clear and coherent quotations.
In addition, we cannot disclaim the value of written materials that agencies and
individuals have done thorough researches of Van Lam embroidery trade village such as:
Ninh Binh general monograph (2001), Names of villages and communes in provinces in the
North of Vietnam (1999); Ancient capitals of Vietnam in the past and at present; Ninh Binh
celebrities (2000); Names of villages and communes in Vietnam at the 19th century (1981);
Countryside inspiration; Vietnam traditional crafts and their trade ancestors (2000), and
Ninh Binh monograph (2010). Materials archived in the one National Archive Center,

libraries of Ninh Binh province and Hoa Lu district, and works focusing on trade villages
were inherited. We consider them the suggesting perspectives and orientations in my study.
4. Study subject, scale, and methodology
Van Lam embroidery village is selected to be my case studies. However, I did not
focus on any specific field but the exploitation of the economic and social factors that make
up the look of a Vietnamese traditional village and an age-old handicraft village. Therefore,
the study subject of the thesis is the Van Lam village space (in Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu
district, Ninh Binh province) with its compositions such as landscape; natural environment;
economic, cultural, and religious activities; and festivals. They are the factors making the
appearance of Van Lam village from traditional to modern time in the continuous
development of the national and local history.
When doing research and learning about Van Lam embroidery village, we apply the
interdisciplinary approach and the combination of history, sociology, cultural education, and
economics. At the same time, we use a number of methods such as document analytical and

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comparative methods, statistical method, sociological survey method, observation method,
and analysis synthesis method.
5. Structure of thesis
In addition to the Introduction, Conclusion, and Appendix, the thesis content is
divided into three chapters:
Chapter 1: Several basic questions of reasoning and methodology of trade village
development
Chapter 2: Real situation of economic and social development of Van Lam embroidery
trade village
Chapter 3: Orientations and solutions of sustainable economic and social development
in Van Lam embroidery trade village
CHAPTER 1: SEVERAL BASIC QUESTIONS OF REASONING AND

METHODOLOGY OF VAN LAM TRADE VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT
1.1. History of the question study
Studies of Vietnamese village community have been conducted for hundreds of
years, concentrating in books to record the location, land, climate, natural resources, habits,
customs, religious beliefs, culture, and history. They include Geography written by Nguyen
Trai (15th century), Gia Dinh general chronicle by Trinh Hoai Duc, and Nghe An book of
Bui Duong Lich. Then, in 17th and 18th centuries, the Vietnamese village communities had
been outlined through a set of travel stories of Western traders such as Description of
Kingdom of people from North Vietnam (S. Baron), History of people from North Vietnam
(Richard A.), and A travel to the North Vietnam in 1688 (W. Dampier). Although each
foreign scholars had different perspectives on the Vietnamese village communities, they all
had a common study goal of serving the invasion, domination, and exploitation of the
French in Vietnam.
After the first World War, studies of the Vietnamese villages were conducted more
widely. In addition to foreign scholars who were interested in finding out about the
Vietnamese, a number of domestic scholars also learnt about and explained customs and
habits of Vietnamese rural areas. Their books included Vietnamese customs of Phan Ke
Binh and Village problem of Ngo Tat To. The most remarkable book of this period was
Farmers of the Tonkin delta published in 1936 by Pierre Gourou. This was a sophisticated
research projects, accessing many different aspects of the Red River Delta and considering
Vietnamese villages in a comprehensive structure from material to spiritual life.
After the August Revolution in 1945, although the country still faced many fierce
difficulties and hardships, studies of the village communities were still being implemented
with small number. In this period, we could mention the books Rural areas in Vietnam by
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Nguyen Hong Phong. The author approach was in ethnological point of view and referred to
the many basic issues of Vietnamese rural areas, such as: feudalism and public land, land
ownership in rural Vietnam under French colonial regime, patriarchal family structure,

structure of rank and village community management, and spirit of rural communities. From
the revolutionary practical situation, historical requirement, and land reform work, the book
Peasantry of Qua Ninh and Van Dinh was collected and republished in 1959. The book
mentioned problems of the farmers such as land of the tillers, their role in the revolution,
and their life under the colonial mechanism. By the late 1960s, Toan Anh released his book
Old way including six volumes: Festivities (upper and lower volume), Vietnam religion
(upper and lower volume), People of Vietnam, and Vietnam villages. This book introduced
in details about habits, customs as well as structure of traditional villages in Vietnam.
After the country became united and peaceful, to serve the reconstruction, and
building the country, the question of Vietnamese rural communities still attracted attention,
learning, and research of many scholars. In 1977 and 1978, the Institute of History
published the book Rural Vietnam in history with two volumes. With 21 papers, first
volume focused primarily on village economy, regime of land ownership, industry,
commerce, and the role of villages in the struggle to defend and liberate the country. Twenty
six papers of the second volume focused on social and political institutions of the villages,
village culture and ideology, assessed the village heritage before the socialist revolution,
and introduced the world’s communes and Bao Lac mountainous villages. In the form of
gathering research papers of famous scholars such as Vu Huy Phuc, Nguyen Dong Chi, Vu
Khieu, Dang Nghiem Van, Ngo Duc Thinh, Truong Huu Quynh, and Phan Huu Dat,
villages and communes were studied in many sociological, psychological, and historical
views. In order to unravel the ancient sites in historical record in a systematical, detailed,
and sufficient way, in 1981, the Institute of Chinese literature and demotic script published
the book Names of Vietnamese villages and communes in the beginning of 19th century from
Nghe Tinh province to the North. Also studying of village communities, the book Names of
villages and geography of the Northern provinces in Vietnam of Ngo Vi Lien consisted of
two parts. The first was listed by names of the Northern villages with the of districts,
mountain districts, and provinces. The second part was considered a Northern geographic
dictionary transcribing phonetically geographical names into Han scripts. It introduced the
population of villages, communes, and provinces according to the 1927 census. It was also
accompanied by written descriptions of specific villages, so that the readers could know

immediately the districts and provinces that those communes belong to, as well as their
political and administrative features. The book is a handy reference for the extraction and
lookup of the readers as well as researchers of the villages in Vietnam. In 1984, Tran Tu, an
ethnologist with his book The organizational structure of Vietnamese traditional villages in
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the North, profoundly presented the organizational aspects of the Vietnamese village such as
gathering in hamlet, blood line, age, machinery of government, side, association, and group.
Among those the explain of “12-year cycle age” in traditional society is considered a major
contribution. In the general studies of Vietnamese village communities, it is worth to
mention the name of Prof. Phan Dai Doan with the book Vietnamese village communities several economic, cultural, and social issues. The book focuses on analyzing key issues
from the past to present, and from economic to cultural and social structure of villages in
Vietnam. It pointed out clearly that land ownership and economic household is very
important in the strategy to develop the villages into a model of socialism-oriented market
economy, ensuring a harmonious combination between modern civilizations with traditional
cultural villages. Although just aiming at the villages in the North and northern Central
Vietnam, the book is an useful referential material for researchers and policy makers in
Vietnamese agriculture, farming, and rural areas. In 1994, the book The experience to
manage organizations of Vietnamese rural areas in history co-written by Prof. Phan Dai
Doan and Prof. Nguyen Quang Ngoc mentioned issues of reasoning and reality of the rural
management experience in history on aspects of administration, civil institution, and village
institution. At the same time, it provides researching material source of rural political and
social institutions up to now. Village culture is one of the content attracting the attention of
many scholars. Prof. Phan Dai Doan has always concerned about the villages. His book
Several problems of Vietnamese village culture in history about village culture, family
culture, convention, and human behavior towards the nature partly contributes to the
conservation of village culture. The book Vietnamese village is pluralist and tight is a
collection of valuable researching paper on Vietnamese villages of Prof. Phan Dai Doan.
They include Prof. Nguyen Quang Ngoc’s historical PhD thesis of Some business villages

in the northern delta in the 18th and 19th century. It presents the socio-economic context of
Vietnam in the 18th and 19th century and the appearance of business villages in the northern
delta such as Da Nguu, Bao Dap, Phu Luu, and Dan Loan; at the same time pointing out
their characteristics. In addition, there is a book named A Vietnamese traditional village in
the northern Plains: Understanding the economic-social structure of Dr. Nguyen Hai Ke.
The book is about Duc Tu village (Dong Anh district, Hanoi) basing on materials of land
register, convention, and family register. It presents questions of population, land, public
and private field, family, family line, ancestor worship, as well as managing social
organizations in the economic and social structure of traditional villages of the northern
plains.
The culture of wet rice cultivation has permeated deep into the unconsciousness of
each Vietnamese people. The agricultural culture with the core of village culture dominated
all activities from production to people’s daily life. Therefore, since the renovation time, the
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question of village community has been more interested, particularly the role of village
economy in the country’s development process. Hence, the number of studies of village
community is more and more increasing. However, they focus mainly on the study of
traditional trade villages that show the national cultural cream. The book Talented hands of
our ancestors published in 1990 by Prof. Phan Dai Doan and Prof. Nguyen Quang Ngoc
mentioned the traditional excellent crafts once representing the country’s civilizations,
national proud, and the talent creation of our ancestors. However, they also clearly pointed
out the contribution of these crafts in the economy in the past, at present, and in the future.
This book becomes a referential material for those interested in research on traditional craft
villages and their trade ancestors. In 1995, the book Bat Trang traditional ceramic village
with the chief authors of Prof. Nguyen Trung Que, Dang Dinh Tuc, and Do Hong Tuyen
brought out a full review of the real economic - social situation of Bat Trang ceramic
village. The book also gave developing directions in accordance with the Party and State
guideline on the country modernization and industrialization. Another book, Vietnamese

traditional crafts and their trade ancestors of Dr. Do Thi Hao published in 2000 presented
the appearance of traditional crafts and their trade ancestors in the mind of the artisan. To
point out that the culture of trade villages is the integration of all habits and customs, village
life, community unity, professional cream, and talented artisans, preserving for future
generations, the book Traditional Craft Villages in Vietnam written by MA. Bui Van Vuong
was published in 2002. The work clearly showed the role of Vietnamese traditional craft
villages in the country civilization and culture history, as well as the need to conserve and
develop typical traditional crafts with economic values. They include Bat Trang ceramic
village, Chau Khe gold and silver carving village, Dong Xam silver carving village, Kieu
Ky thin gold leaf making village, Quat Dong embroidery village, Van Lam embroidery
village, and Dong Ho block print paintings village. In 2003, the book The development of
traditional trade villages in the industrialization and modernization process of Prof. Dr.
Hoang Ngoc Hoa and Prof. Dr. Vu Van Phuc focused on clarifying what traditional trade
villages are and their role in the economic and social development over times. At the same
time, basing on the analysis and assessment of potential and real developing situation of
traditional trade villages in innovating years, the authors pointed out the direction and
proposed solutions to develop traditional craft villages. In the book Traditional villages in
the process of industrialization and modernization, author Tran Minh Yen (2004) basing on
the basic study of some basic theoretical issues of traditional villages, analyze and assess the
real situation as well as moving trends of traditional trade villages in rural areas. Then, the
author brings out his/her oriented views and solutions to develop traditional trade villages in
rural areas. This aims to accelerate the industrialization and modernization process up to

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2010, especially until 2005. However, the limitation of these two books is focusing too
widely on theoretical research, not analyzing any particular case to clarify the issue.
Van Lam embroidery village has been mentioned in the books of traditional crafts
such as Traditional handicraft villages in Vietnam (Bui Van Vuong); Countryside

inspiration (La Dang Bat), and Ninh Binh monograph (Vietnamese Academy of Social
Sciences). However, these books have just mentioned an overview of Van Lam embroidery
without any systematic study.
1.2. Concept and features of traditional trade villages
1.2.1 Concept of traditional trade village
The concept of traditional trade villages in our country is still understood that most of
the people of those villages involve in traditional jobs or a few lines specialize in some
hereditary jobs. Nevertheless, the jobs are not transmitted in a copy and imitated way; they
are improved with creativity and bear the age echo to make their products have unique
features that are different from the products of others, villages, and regions.
1.2.2. Classification
* Trade villages
+ By the number of trades: villages of a trade and villages of many trades
+ By nature of trades: Traditional trade villages and New trade villages.
* Traditional trade villages
Basing on traditional trade groups, it can be divided into four types of traditional
trade villages that are corresponding to four traditional trade groups, namely:
- Traditional trade villages specializing in producing handmade artistic items Traditional trade villages specializing in producing goods for production and daily
life
- Traditional trade villages specializing in producing goods for ordinary consumption
- Traditional trade villages specializing in processing foods
1.2.3. Features of traditional trade villages
 Features of techniques, technologies, and products
Traditional handicraft technique and family secret.
Modern sciences and technologies develop and contribute to the technical innovation
and products’ quality improvement in some certain production phases, traditional
technologies are still at top priorities making the tradition of the products.
Traditional handicrafts are products of economic activity with high artistry,
combining material culture and spiritual culture and often bearing single nature. Handicraft
products are made by each individual; hence, they cannot be mass-produced. This makes the

products have their own nuances and attraction; thus, traditional products are often
expensive with not many modern models.
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 Economic-social features
Products not only meet consumers’ demand but also can be exchanged mainly in
rural markets. Therefore, in trade villages, the artisans are also the farmers. In addition to
farming time, having a secondary job in their native land is a great advantage for people to
improve their life and increase their income. They can both cultivate in their land for foods
and create valuable handicrafts to exchange with other commodities in the market. This is a
basic and popular characteristics of traditional craft villages in Vietnam. Especially, the
appearance of traditional crafts meets almost basic and essential needs of the rural people. It
has a positive impact on promoting agricultural production and service activities,
contributing to build the rural economic and social infrastructure and improve people’s
cultural standards.
As handmade products require skilled artistic and technical proficiency with
meticulous lines, handiwork of the artisans is used mainly. They are skilled, ingenious, and
creative with aesthetic self-determination. They decide everything from production,
processing, and repair to sale.
To bring the handmade products to the consumers and make they know about these
products, the market factor has a very important meaning, deciding the existence and
development of each trade village. First, the decisive factor of the production process is
market to supply raw materials. In the past, with small production, the markets of raw
materials were mainly market on the premises.
In addition, the capital market is also one of the factors promoting the development
of traditional occupations.
1.2.4. Role of trade villages in economic and social development
 Developing trade villages contributes to impulse rural economic structure
transition towards the direction of industrialization and modernization

Developing traditional craft villages is considered an important solution to maximum
mobilize available resources in rural areas
In addition, the development of traditional handicraft villages not only changes the
structure of the rural economy but also positively influence on agricultural production.
 Trade villages contribute to create jobs, raise income, improve people’s living
standards, and built new rural areas
The model of “Not doing agricultural work but still living in rural areas” in
Vietnamese villages today is a significantly practical model because it attracts not only local
workers but also people in adjacent regions to come to work for.
Thanks to the development of traditional craft villages, people’s economic and
cultural life is significantly improved, along with the rural construction and renovation
towards the direction of modernization. The real nature of the process to build new
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countryside face is to develop and perfect the system of infrastructure in villages such as
roads, power transformer stations, communications, schools, clinics, health and hygiene
healthy environment. These will be premise to exploit the resources and advantages of each
region, promote the development of commodity production, expand the exchange of goods
among regions, and improve the living standards. They contribute to decrease the gap
between urban and rural areas, promoting the rural urbanization.
 Trade villages contribute to conserve national cultural values
It can be said that traditional crafts can exist and promote their potential in the
environment of trade villages. Well-known products bring fame for villages and streets such
as Ha Dong Silk, Bat Trang ceramics, Bien Hoa pottery, Ngu Xa bronze casting, Dong Ho
folk paintings, Yen Thai do paper, Tan Chau silk, Nga Son sleeping mat, Dong Xam silver
carving, and Chau Khe gold carving. The foreigners know about Vietnam through
traditional handicraft products that have Vietnamese national cultural identity. Hence,
traditional handicraft products can be considered as valuable cultural heritages that our
ancestors have leaf for the next generations. Thus, in the process of industrialization,

without a sense of craft conservation with national cultural identity, the unique cultural
features will be gradually lost in oblivion. Therefore, the maintenance of traditional
industries and the conservation of national cultural identity are essential and significant. It
preserves cultural values of Vietnamese people in the process of industrialization and
modernization.
1.2.5. Sustainable developing trade villages
The development is to raise people’s awareness such as improving living standards,
educational conditions, health, equality, and opportunities. Economic growth is just an
element of the development. In addition, ensuring politic rights and interests of citizens is
considered a broader goal of development. Therefore, it can be understood that development
is creating good conditions for the people living anywhere to be satisfied with their needs, to
have good consumption of goods and services, to enjoy cultural achievements, to live in a
healthy environment, to enjoy basic human rights, and to be ensured social security.
Sustainable development is to meet the current needs but not harming the ability to
meet the needs of future generations.
1.3. Factors influencing the formation and development of trade villages
1.3.1. Geographical position
It can be said that geographical position has an important meaning for the formation,
survival, and development of any traditional trade village.
If lacking of the raw materials or the riverside factor, the Vietnamese traditional
handicrafts villages can hardly develop and be well known everywhere such as Dong Ho
woodblock paintings, Bat Trang ceramics, Ha Dong silk, and Quat Dong embroidery.
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1.3.2. Demands of the consumers and economic pressure
Consumers’ demand is very large and diverse. The demands can be the needs for
food, clothing, accommodation, and travel, or worship, religion, and popular beliefs that
have existed and developed during thousands of years of history and culture .
Especially since the 1930s, Vietnamese handicrafts have been liked by Western

countries; thus, the demand of exporting handicrafts has increased more than before. The
growing demand created conditions for the policy of making traditional craft villages in the
North proper of the French authorities in Indochina. Trade villages participated in some
fairs in Hanoi and Marsei (France). Several skilled artisans were sent to France to
participate in fairs and performed the process of making exquisitely crafted products.
1.3.3. Professional skill level of the artisans and qualified workers; traditional
techniques and long-standing experience of trade villages
It can be affirmed that the artisans play a huge role in the development of industries
and trade villages. The hands of talented artisans have made valuable and sophisticated
products with unique cultural values, contributing to honor trade villages.
On the other hand, the existence and development of traditional handicraft villages is
due to long-standing experience passed from artisans and skilled workers from generation to
generation. The secrets then become the property of each family, linage, and trade village.
They are not easy to be revealed outside but are kept carefully as treasures and optimal
weapons to compete with other villages.
1.3.4. Regulations of trade villages and the government’s policies
Previously, in the northern delta villages, conventions were considered a legal system
that was implicitly recognized and coexisted with the legal system of the centralized feudal
authority. They became a kind of villages’ “rules” that people often said “Imperial power
bends to suit rural customs”. Conventions are the specific rules of the local laws ensuring
the sustainability and consistency in all activities of the villages. On that basis, industry
guilds, associations, and families also set up their professional regulations in the form of
oaths that have been passed on from generation to generation. Family members and guilds
must strictly comply these oaths.
Those strict regulations of the trade villages, guilds, and linage have preserved the
professional secrets through from generation to generation, creating specific nuance for
trade villages. However, these also inhibited the development of industries in the country,
creating a local nature. Each trade village is a exclusive, closed, and inviolable area.
If the system of rules and oaths in trade guilds and lineages has kept the profession,
the system of government’s policies and laws ensures the sustainable development of trade

villages.

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The feudal state also had talent-encouraged policies for skilled workers who created
sophisticated products and grandiose art works and architectures such as nominating
“Unusual talent marquis”, “Academic Royal proclaimed”, and “Hundred houses of the nine
grades of mandarin system”.
Especially, in the 5th conference of the Party Central Committee in VII session
(1993), the resolution of economic, cultural, social, and technological development of the
country emphasized on “Developing traditional industries and villages, and new industries
including home craft industry; industries of manufacturing consumer goods and exported
products; industries of exploiting and processing non-agricultural raw materials, types of
production services; and people’s living standards”. Once again this policy was emphasized
in the orientation and tasks of the 5-year economic developing plan phase 2001-2005:
“Expanding trade villages and developing industrial and handicraft units that produce fine
art items; bringing preliminary treating and processing industry to rural areas; developing
service sector supplying materials and techniques; exchanging agricultural products in rural
areas; and rapidly increasing employment in the non-agricultural sector”.
1.4. Study viewpoints and methods
1.4.1. Study viewpoints
- Viewpoint of village system: Van Lam embroidery village is considered a part of a
system of Vietnamese trade villages.
- Viewpoint of sustainable development: Developing trade villages in a sustainable
direction is to protect natural resources and environment, and enhance the conservation and
promotion of local cultural value. It enriches the national culture, particularly ensuring the
sustainable economic and social development with great efficiency. Sustainable
development is the harmonious combination of current needs and future demands in term of
production and consumption fields in order to achieve a balance among economic, social,

and environmental factors.
1.4.2. Study methods
- Method to collect, analyze, and synthesize materials.
- Sociological survey method.
- Method of field research and field trip.
- Interdisciplinary method.
Chapter 2: REAL SITUATION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
OF VAN LAM EMBROIDERY TRADE VILLAGE (NINH HAI – HOA LU – NINH
BINH)
2.1. Geographical position and natural condition
Ninh Hai commune in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province has a total natural area of
945.56 ha that are divided into five villages including: Van Lam, Khe Ngoai, Khe Trong,
14


Coi Khe, and Hai Nham. The Van Lam village is also known as O Lam (meaning crow
forest); it is a small village located close to the endlessly extended limestone mountains with
the embroidery industry known throughout the country.
Van Lam is a village of Ninh Hai commune in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province.
Natural conditions
Ninh Hai commune terrain is divided into two distinct areas: the limestone areas in
the west and southwest, and the plains in the west and southwest. They are slopes down
from the northwest to southeast.
Soil: Ninh Hai commune has three main groups of soil.
+ Groups of alluvial soil: They are formed by the deposition of Day, Hoang Long,
and Vac rivers.
+ Groups of gleysols: The planting soil is thick with low terrain and is always
submerged.
+ Groups of gray soil: The thickness of soil is from 50cm to 100cm.
Hydrology: The network of rivers in Van Lam is dense. Two major rivers are Thien

Duong in the south and Cai in the west. They are perpendicular to each other at the Suoc
port that formerly was the main transport clue of the village. In addition to these two rivers,
there are Cai and Ngo Dong rivers flowing slanted towards the southeast direction. Ngo
Dong river water flows into the Cai river, then to Thien Duong and Vac rivers, and into the
sea. Thus, these rivers play an important role in draining water in the flooded season.
Climate: Van Lam is a village in the Red River Delta; hence, it also bears a general
feature of this sub-regional climate area.
Organism resources: Van Lam is also a gathering place of many species of rich
biological resources. In the past, there were many wild animals living in Van Lam forests
and mountains such as tigers, leopards, monkeys, gibbons, chamois, and valuable birds
(peafowl, parrots, hill minas, and cochins), and reptiles (pythons, snakes, varans, and
tortoises).
Beautiful and famous landscapes: The natural rocky mountain system in Van Lam
village is not only a source of precious construction materials but also a range of natural
landscapes that cannot compare with any place. It has many overlapping mountains. In large
mountains, there are many famous natural caves attracting thousands of visitors every year
such as Cua Quan, Van, and Vo mountains, Tam Coc, Thien, and Mua caves. Among them,
the most famous is Tam Coc (with three caves: Ca, Hai, and Ba).
2.2. Shaping and developing process of the embroidery trade in Van Lam trade
2.2.1. History of the embroidery in Vietnam
15


In Vietnam, embroidery is long-standing traditional trade.
The embroidery was born very early in our country in the same time with the silk
weaving industry. In addition, the fact that Le Cong Hanh was considered as the ancestor
embroidery probably because he had introduced some techniques from foreign countries and
innovated and developed our traditional embroidery industry.
2.2.2. Forming and developing process of Van Lam embroidery village
In Van Lam, the embroidery is one of the famous traditional craft of Hoa Lu in

particular and of Ninh Binh province in general. This job appeared in Van Lam since the
Tran Dynasty. According to the elderly, when King Tran Thai Tong (Tran Canh) together
with his court coming to Phi Tran Van Son to build the army bases struggling against the
Mongol for the second time (1285), Mrs.Tran Thi Dung, mother-in-law of King Tran Thai
Tong passed on the embroidery trade to Van Lam people in Ninh Hai. During the time that
the Tran stayed in this land, the embroidery had a significant development. Many people
and families worked in embroidery industry. The lace making industry appeared later about
100 years ago. It was imported from France. However, at the end of the war against the
Nguyen - Mong invasion, the Tran dynasty went back to Thang Long – Hanoi; the
embroidery with lace has also gradually declined.
In the French domination time, Van Lam embroidered products were sold across the
country and in France also. Many “foreign” hotels in Hanoi used Van Lam embroideredwith-laces products for all of their cloth items.
2.3. Real situation of economic development
2.3.1. Situation of development and number of embroidery businesses in Van Lam
village
According to records of the Van Lam trade village Association (Ninh Hai commune),
the most prosperous period of the embroidery in Ninh Hai is the 1970s and 1980s. With the
old economic model, the scale of embroidery in Van Lam village was only at levels of
households, cooperatives or small producers. The production and consumption of products
was not systematical. Even when the first handicraft cooperative was founded to do out
work for state-run enterprises, embroidery households as members of cooperatives also
enjoyed cooperative mark for work and made products with models given by the
management board with low-price regulation. However, with the orientation of developing
an economy with more components under the market mechanism, business policies of the
Party and State, the appearance of the enterprise Law, especially with the 04 resolution of
the Provincial Standing Committee to strengthen the embroidery phase 2006 – 2010, a clear
mechanism has created for the appearance and development of embroidery businesses.
16

When the handicraft cooperative was dissolved, Van Lam embroidery began to have a
flourishes step.

17


Table 2.1: Number of embroidery businesses from 1993 to 2010
(Upto 30 December 2010)
Year

Businesses

1993

01

2000

03

2001

05

2003

06

2005

08

2007

09

Source: Statistics Department of Ninh Hai commune, 2010
2.3.2. Scale and level of growth of the trade village
According to the survey results, there are only small and medium businesses in Van
Lam now. Namely, four medium-sized enterprises have a number of regular employees
working from 20 to 100 with its average annual turnover from over 2.5 billion per year.
Other five small businesses have less than 20 regular workers with the average revenue
below 2.5 billion per year.
Table 2.2: Quy mô của các doanh nghiệp thêu ren năm 2009
Norm

Number

of Number

businesses

of

regular Avarage income/

employees/businesses

business/year

(person/business)

(VND billion/year)

4

20 - 100

2,5 - 15

Small scale

5

≤ 20

≤ 2,5

Total

9

-

-

Medium
scale

Source: Synthetized from the survey information, 2010

2.3.3. Economic structure
According to the survey results, the economic structure is more diverse with change
in increasing the proportion of small-scale industries and reducing agricultural density. The
average increase of total production value is 9.89%.

18


Table 2.3: Economic situation from 2007 to 2009
2007
2008
Norm
Unit
Quantity Rate
Quantity
(%)
52052,56 100.00 56200,02
Production VND
million
value
1.
VND
8399,08
16.13
8435,63
Agriculture
million
2.
Home VND
24584,42 47.23

27043,45
crafts
million
3. Commerce VND
19069,06 36.64
20720,94
and services million

2009
Rate
(%)
100.00

Quantity
62857,14

Rate
(%)
100.00

16.01

8693,14

13.83

48.12

31126,86

49.52

35.87

23037,14

36.65

Source: Statistic Board of Ninh Hai commune, 2010
2.4. Real situation of social development in the trade village
2.4.1. Population and workers
The outstanding feature of labor here is that the rate of women working in
embroidery enterprises is disproportionately high. It is because of the characteristics of the
embroidery work that requires the gentleness and meticulosity, which is very suitable with
women’s skillful hands and industriousness.
Table 2.4: Population and labor situation of the commune from 2007 to 2009
2007

2008

2009

I. Population Person

Structur
Structur
Structure
Quantity
Quantity e
Quantity e

(%)
(%)
(%)
5896
100,00
5998
100,00
6283
100,00

1. Women

3079

Norm

Unit

Person

52,22

3123

52,07

3186

50,71

II. Household Household 1751

100,00

1782

100,00

1812

100

1. Agriculture Household 665

37,98

647

36,30

651

34,49

2. Home craft Household 770

43,97

765

42,93

752

41,50

3. Trade - Household 316
Tourism
III. Worker Worker
3468

18,05

370

20,76

409

24,00

100,00

3528

100,00

3632

100,00

1. Agriculture Worker

1214

35,00

1172

33,22

1179

31,32

2. Home craft Worker

1734

50,00

1702

48,24

1737

45,57

3. Trade

Tourism

520

15,00

654

18,54

716

23,11

- Worker

Source: Statistics Board of Ninh Hai commune,2010
19


2.4.2. Families and lines
Van Lam is the biggest village in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Hai commune, Ninh Binh
province with 1,091 households (2010). In the village, there are many lines such as Dinh,
Le, Nguyen, Pham, Trinh, Do, Vu, and Chu. Vu, Chu, and Dinh lines are considered the
biggest ones in the village. These lines deserve credit for preserving and developing the
embroidery. Mr.Chu Van Luong is one of the typical artisans of Van Lam who always
concerns about keeping and transmitting traditional embroidery skills for the future
generations.
2.4.3. Relics and landscapes
 Thai Vi temple

According to a Thai Vi book written the 5th Canh Tri year (1667) in the King Le
Huyen Tong reign (1663-1671) that was copied in the 3rd Bao Dai year (1928) in the Tran
gem genealogy, after the first resistance against Nguyen - Mongolian (1258), King Tran
Thai Tong was 40 years old. He abdicated the throne to his son, Hoang crown prince. He
then came to Vu Lam mountainous area to lead a religious life and built the royal step-over
place. The ancient Vu Lam mountain area is now Van Lam village in Ninh Hai commune,
Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province. In Van Lam village, King Tran Thai Tong built a
small temple at the foot of the eastern mountain near the Ngo Dong River; it was inside Ca
cave. After seeing that this land was muddy and narrow, the King moved the small temple
to Vu Lam cavern. He built a new small temple named Thai Vi to worship the Buddha and
Tam Thanh God. Then, he moved to the place where the Thai Vi temple locates now. The
stone engraved inscription in the 11th Vinh Thinh year (1715) to praise the beauty of the
temple.
Tam Coc landscape
Tam Coc is in Van Lam village, Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh
province. Tam Coc means three caves: Ca, Hai, and Ba. In addition, Tam Coc is also known
as Xuyen Thuy Dong.
2.4.4. Festival
Thai Vi Temple Festival is held annually from 14th to 16th of the third lunar month in
Van Lam village. This is the occasion for Ninh Binh people and people of the entire country
to commemorate the credit of three Tran kings: Tran Thai Tong, Tran Thanh Tong, and
Tran Nhan Tong. Especially, people here profoundly honor King Tran Thai Tong came here
to build village and revolutionary base to combat the Nguyen – Mong enemy for the second
time in 1285.
2.4.5. Infrastructures
It can be said that the infrastructures here are rather well invested and focused, partly
meeting people’s demand and improving their life quality.
20

Chapter 3: ORIENTATION AND SOLUTIONS FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY IN VAN LAM EMBROIDERY
VILLAGE
3.1 Assessing the real situation of development of Van Lam trade village from
the sustainable viewpoint
3.1.1. Economic effect
 Exporting value
The traditional embroidery focused to develop in Van Lam has contributed to
increase the export value and make a local dynamic economy.
Table 3.1: Exporting value of embroidery businesses in 2007-2009
Unit:VND billion
Medium scale

Small scale

Quantity

Rate (%)

Quantity

Rate (%)

19.07

17.00

89.14

2.07

10.86

2008

14.35

12.60

87.80

1.75

12.20

2009

16.95

14.95

88.20

2.30

11.80

Year

Total

2007

Source: Synthetizing from surveyed materials, 2010
 Economic structure transfer
Especially, since the appearance of embroidery businesses, the economy inclined to
agriculture seemed to lose and was replaced by an economy developing at a high scientific
level. The economic structure gradually shifted towards industrialized and modernized
direction; agricultural proportion declined while that of small industries and services
increased. This was shown clearly in the economic structure of Ninh Hai commune from
2005 to 2010 as following:
50
45
40
35
30
% 25
20
15
10
5
0
2005

2007

Năm
Nông - lâm- ngư nghiệp

2009

TTCN

TM - DV

Graph 3.1: Ninh Hai commune’s economic structure in 2005 - 2010
Source: Summarizing report in 2005 – 2010 of Ninh Hai commune, 2010

21


 Income of local workers and peoples in neighbouring areas
When the embroidery was developed again, especially the appearance of embroidery
enterprises in Van Lam attracted Van Lam labor force and they rejoined their ancestor’s
traditional trade. Working in embroideries businesses or doing embroidery outwork for
enterprises was also creating more jobs and incomes for the people here. On the other hand,
as embroidery businesses located in Van Lam village in Ninh Hai commune area, people
worked closely to their home. This helped them save money on traveling and meals. They
even could still do their housework, involve in agricultural work, and take care of their
children. They could earn money even it was rainy or sunny to improve the quality of their
family life.
Table 3.2: Comparing income of embroiders and farmers
Unit: VND thousand/person/per month
Norm

Embroiderers

Farmers

Comparison
(times)

Avarage salary

1,200

0

-

Avarage income

1,515

675

2.24

Source: Synthetizing from surveyed materials, 2010
 For the social budget
Especially, the appearance of embroidery businesses changes the village face,
contributing to develop the infrastructure and raise the commune’s budget. Annually, on the
occasion of the trade forefather’s anniversary, village businesses hold a thurifying
ceremoney to inform their achievements in the year; at the same time contributing to the
budget of the commune and the executive committe of the village. The form is contributing
money and objects have been still not contributed. Table 3.3: Contributions to the Ninh
Hai commune’s budget of embroidery businesses from 2007 to 2009
Unit: VND million
Medium scale

Small scale

Quantity

Rate (%)

Quantity

Rate (%)

26

15

53.57

11

46.43

2008

32.5

20

61.54

12.5

38.46

2009

32.5

20

61.54

12.5

38.46

Year

Total

2007

Source: Statistics board of Ninh Hai commune, 2010
3.1.2. Social values
 Creating employment for workers
22


The development of traditional embroidery in Van Lam attracts not only workers of
Van Lam village but also people in surrounding areas. This helps to create jobs, inrcrease
income, and deal with the employment and earning problems. The embroidery work does
not require qualified level; people just need to have skill and industriousness. Most of
workers in Van Lam are descended from traditional embroidery families. Hence, this is a

great advantage for developing this trade. Especiall the apperance of embroidery businesses
in the locality contributes much to give employment to the local people.
Table 3.4: Result of job creation of embroidery businesses in 2009
General
Norm

Unit

Quantity

Medium scale

Rate

Quantity

(%)

Rate

Small scale
Quantity

(%)

Rate
(%)

247

100

182

73.68

65

26.32

People

180

72.87

127

70.05

53

29.95

+
Female
People
workers

135

75.00

92

68.15

43

31.85

+
Workers
benefiting social People

21

11.67

16

76.19

5

23.81

8

4.44

6

75.00

2

25.00

+ Workers with
difficult
People
situation

36

20.00

19

52.78

17

47,22

- Workers of
People
outside areas

67

37.23

45

67.16

22

32.84

2.
Seasonal
People
workers

816

100.00

583

71.45

233

28.55

2,505

100

1,780

71.06

725

28.94

1,995

79.64

1,405

78.93

590

81.38

510

20.36

375

21.07

135

18.62

1.

Regular

workers
- Local workers

People

policies
+ Disable and
lonesome
People
workers

3. Households Househol
doing outwork d
+ Other places
+ Ninh
commune

Househol
d

Hai Househol

d

Source: Synthesizing from surveyed materials, 2010
23


 Preserving and developing traditional industry
Van Lam Village is one of the cradles of the traditional embroidery that is famous
throughout the country. Although experiencing historical ups and downs, the embroidery
here has never faded. Van Lam embroidery workers still preserve and hand down the trade
from generation to generation.
3.1.3. Environmental meanings
First, the sewage disposal in the village has not been paid attention properly.
Second, the system of dustbins around Van Lam wharf is still not enough; hence, the
visitors throw garbage everywhere, making the environment and water supply polluted.
Third, Van Lam village mobilized people to build a fresh water point to meet the
demand on fresh water use of the commune people, and restaurants and hotels locating in
the locality.
However, to better protect the village environment, the government at various levels
should enhance the educational propaganda work and build a structure to manage and
protect the village environment.
3.1.4. Difficulties and challenges in the development of the trade village
First, it is the question of product design and quality.
Second, it is the capital problem to produce and consume products.
Another difficulty in Van Lam embroidery village is training the workers.
To expand the production, in addition to capital, the production premises is also a
factor impulse the prosperity of the trade village.
3.2. Orientation of sustainable development of Van Lam embroidery village
(Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province)
To develop Van Lam embroidery village in a sustainable way, first it is necessary to

mobilize the local community to participate in building action plan and combine to
implement that plan; supervising the implementation of standards to assess the sustainable
development; combining sustainably developing goals with goals to develop the local
economy and society; and considering the sustainable development a life-work of all people
with the motto “People know, discuss, work, and check”.
Second, there should be care and creating good conditions from the local authority
and government of various levels.
Third, setting up convention for the trade village, connecting tourism activities with
the development process of Van Lam embroidery; actively to improve the environment to
make it green, clean, and beautiful.
Fourth, closely combining between developing economy, society and protecting
environment with ensuring national defense and social order and security to make the

24


developing process fairly meet the current generation’s need without creating barrier to the
future generation’s life.
3.3. Some solutions contributing to sustainably develop Van Lam embroidery
3.3.1. Production materials and renovating product designs
Van Lam artisans should take the initiative in looking for new designs and cooperate
with some painters to design the models.
In addition to innovate product designs to meet the consumers’ taste, the product
quality is also one of factors enhancing the product value and competition. To have products
with good quality, the embroiderers and business owners often create new designs and
organize competitions to enhance the professional skills of good embroiderers and artistic
embroidery products.
3.3.2. Consuming markets
First, organizing showrooms and places to exhibit, introduce, and sell products at the
production area to form a specific commodity area of the village.

Second, searching for markets suitable with the capacity to export products; bravely
investing and looking for foreign markets; finding partners and orders to directly export
products; and taking initiative in business plans
Third, expanding the product consuming market by focusing on the product quality
and quality management system.
Fourth, participating more actively in propagandizing and popularizing products at
home and abroad; setting website with rich contents and images to introduce the trade
village, embroidery businesses, as well as specific and new products to help the customers
better catch the information. Through website, the commercial transactions can be
implemented quickly and exactly.
Fifth, re-building temple to worship the industry ancestor, building the tradition room
of the village, village gate and market to popularize the trade village brand.
3.3.3. Investment
The shortage of capital for production as well as better machines and equipments,
improving productivity and product quality, improving techniques, and increasing the
competition capacity in the market has become leading difficulties for trade villages in
general and Van Lam embroidery village in particular. Hence, if well dealing with capital, it
will create a driving force for the village’s strong development. To do this, the Party and
state along with local governments should have clear policies to better the structure to fund
prefential credit, simplify procedures to mortgage and borrow money to help embroidery
businesses keeping their production and expanding consuming markets.
On the other hand, embroidery businesses need take the initiative to mobilize money
by contributing unused money from families, effectively using capital, as well as borrowing
25