Dong Xam Village: A Silver Lining

Dong Xam Village: A Silver Lining

As the name suggests, Dong Xam Silver Village is known for its silver processing which started as early as the 17th century. Located at Hong Thai Commune in Northern Kien Xuong District, the village has earned recognition not only locally in Vietnam but in fact globally. It exports silves handicrafts to such countries as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Laos, Netherlands, Thailand and Spain.

 

Dong Xam's silver products stand out from the others because it has a distinct quality unlike the rest. Its appearance and design, among others, is one-of-a-kind, a clear indication of work done with precise skill and raw passion. And it is these uniquely strong characteristics that have earned Dong Xam the trust of its clients after all this time.

 

According to legend, an artist named Nguyen Kim Lau who had silver carving skills travelled on Tra Ly River about 300 years ago to make a living. He said to have passed on his skills to the local people at Dong Xuan Village and the business thrived. In gratitude, the villagers built a temple called the Dong Xam Temple in honor of their mentor. Every year from then on, an annual festival is celebrated at the said temple in remembrance of Kim Lau's death.

 

Dong Xam Temple Festival is celebrated every year from the 1st-3rd of the 4th lunar month. Different activities are lined up to commemorate such special day such as boat-racing contest, traditional games, and folk culture such as ca tru and cheo singing. Even neighboring communes join in the festivities. Of course, silver carving products are displayed during the celebration to showcase the villagers' skill and honor their beloved teacher Kim Lau. Tourists in turn flock to these items to appreciate and bring home as souvenirs.

 

Because of its thriving silver carving business, Dong Xam Village has and will bring even more progress to the industrialization and modernization of Thai Binh Province. The tourism sector is one aspect the enterprise has surely impacted greatly, bringing in more and more visitors each time, creating a tourism boom not only to the local province but to the whole country of Vietnam as well.