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Story: Tue Minh
Photos: Dao Canh
There’s a village where national pride is felt in every step, for from here, Vietnamese flags are made and sent to every corner of the country. This is Tu Van, a village with a proud tradition of sewing and embroidering Vietnam’s red flag with its yellow star.
Tu Van lies in Chuong Duong Commune, about 30 kilometers south of central Hanoi. As National Day approaches, the pace of production quickens and the atmosphere grows lively. Elders, middle-aged artisans, and young people all take part in making flags. The village’s craft dates back to the historic autumn of 1945, when, in preparation for the August Revolution, Tu Van’s artisans were entrusted with sewing and embroidering the national flag. The pride of that moment, when the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born, has endured for nearly 80 years. Today, the descendants of those first artisans continue the tradition, with four generations working together to preserve and develop this heritage.
While only a few households officially run production workshops, many villagers take part in different stages of the process. At first glance, the steps may seem simple, but making a flag with the correct color, proportions, and design demands skill. Experienced artisans can cut fabric with precision, join the star seamlessly, and sew perfectly even borders.
In the past, every step was done by hand. Today, machinery and modern technology assist with many stages, ensuring sharp details and perfect proportions of the golden star and red field for mass-produced flags. For hand-embroidered stars, the work still requires meticulous attention and dedication. According to Ms. Vuong Thi Nhung, owner of one of Tu Van’s largest workshops, even skilled and fast embroiderers spend two full days on a single flag, carefully stitching every thread. It can take up to a week for beginners to produce a flag that meets quality standards.
Efforts to pass skills to the younger generation may be seen throughout the village. Children are adept at attaching poles to small hand-held flags, while mothers and grandmothers teach young girls how to hold a needle and thread. Day by day, their knowledge and craftsmanship grow – together with their pride in knowing that their hometown is the birthplace of flags that fly across the country. Ms. Nhung explains that every villager feels moved to see flags from Tu Van flying on the Lung Cu Flagpole, at Cape Ca Mau in the South, on distant islands, or spread wide – sometimes up to 108 square meters – across stadium stands during sporting events.
In the days leading up to Vietnam’s 80th National Day and the start of the new school year, the sound of sewing machines echoes across the village, mingling with lively conversations. Every resident of Tu Van feels honored: flags from their small village fly proudly in the wind, carrying love for the homeland and pride in Vietnam.
