On May 10, a delegation from the World Crafts Council, together with representatives from the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, visited Trach Xa traditional ao dai tailoring village in Ung Hoa Commune.

Welcoming the delegation were Nguyen Duc Vuong, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee; Le Thanh Tung, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee; representatives from specialized departments of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment; the Party cell secretary and head of Trach Xa Village; along with artisans and outstanding production facility owners from the craft village.

During the visit, the delegation offered incense at the ancestral temple of the tailoring trade, toured the Trach Xa Communal House and visited exhibition booths showcasing traditional ao dai products from the locality.

Trach Xa Village in Ung Hoa Commune is one of Hanoi's most famous and long-standing traditional ao dai tailoring villages and is considered the cradle of traditional Vietnamese ao dai tailoring.

According to local legends and historical records, the village is the hometown of the revered founder of the tailoring trade, Nguyen Thi Sen, who was bestowed the title of Fourth Royal Consort by King Dinh Tien Hoang.

After returning to her hometown, she taught villagers sewing, embroidery and weaving skills, laying the foundation for the traditional tailoring trade passed down through generations.

Over thousands of years, tailoring in Trach Xa has not only provided livelihoods for residents but has also become a source of cultural pride for the community.

In 2004, Trach Xa traditional ao dai tailoring village was officially recognized as a traditional craft village.

In 2024, the Trach Xa tailoring craft was added to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List, affirming the historical and cultural value of this thousand-year-old craft village.

Trach Xa artisans are renowned for their skillfulness, precision and dedication in every stitch.

From traditional ceremonial garments and ancient royal costumes to modern Vietnamese ao dai, the Trach Xa ao dai brand has become a familiar destination for customers from Vietnam and abroad.

Notably, the delegation directly visited several representative production facilities in the village, witnessing the traditional ao dai tailoring process firsthand and learning about shaping techniques and hand embroidery.

Delegation members were also personally measured, fitted and invited to try on traditional ao dai tailored by Trach Xa artisans, allowing them to appreciate the precision, sophistication and dedication reflected in each product.

Having devoted many years to traditional ao dai tailoring, local artisans expressed joy and pride that the village had the opportunity to welcome international visitors for exploration and cultural exchange.

Do Minh Thuong, a tailor from Trach Xa Village, shared: "I have worked in this profession for more than 40 years, since I was very young. Tailoring ao dai is not only the work of my lifetime but also a source of pride for my family and hometown."

"To create a truly beautiful ao dai, every tailor must be passionate and genuinely love the craft. Each ao dai is not simply a garment but also a work of art that requires careful attention and precision in every stitch."

"Today, welcoming the international delegation to visit the tailoring village alongside local residents is deeply emotional for us. It is meaningful recognition for artisans like us and also motivation to continue passing the craft on to future generations," he said.

The event carries an important significance in promoting traditional cultural values, honoring the locality's long-standing ao dai tailoring tradition and creating opportunities for connection and cooperation to develop the craft village in a new phase.

Speaking with the World Crafts Council delegation, Nguyen Duc Vuong, Vice Chairman of the Ung Hoa Commune People's Committee, said the locality consistently identifies preservation and development of traditional craft villages as a key mission to safeguard cultural identity and promote local economic growth.

"The delegation's visit to learn about ao dai tailoring in Trach Xa is a great honor and also an opportunity to introduce the image of our traditional craft village to international friends," he said.

Vuong expressed hope that through this event, Trach Xa Village would continue receiving greater attention and support from authorities, sectors and international organizations in preserving and promoting traditional craft values, expanding trade connections, developing craft village tourism and further strengthening the Trach Xa ao dai brand.

In the coming years, the commune will continue supporting production facilities in brand building, trade promotion, product marketing and linking craft village development with cultural experience tourism.