On the fertile alluvial land along the Ninh Co River, two traditional craft villages – Co Chat and Cu Tru – have been preserving a unique cultural treasure tied to silkworm farming and fabric weaving. If Co Chat has been renowned for silk-reeling for hundreds of years, then Cu Tru is where that shimmering silk thread is carried forward and woven into durable, beautiful fabrics that serve people across the country.
For generations, Co Chat Village has been inseparably bound to the craft of silk-reeling, an integral part of local life. From selecting cocoons and boiling them to reeling the silk, every step demands meticulous care, patience, and refined skill. With deft hands, the artisans transform small silkworm cocoons into smooth, lustrous threads – silk of a fineness and durability that few places can match.
Not far from Co Chat lies Cu Tru Village, where the rhythmic clatter of looms echoes through the hamlets. The weaving tradition here is equally long-standing, closely tied to the silk supplied by Co Chat. Thanks to the glossy, high-quality threads produced with traditional techniques, Cu Tru’s artisans create a wide range of products, from face towels, bath towels, and clothing fabrics to even medical gauze.
What is remarkable is that, despite changing times, the people of Cu Tru have preserved their diligent work ethic while embracing technological improvements to boost productivity without losing their handmade heritage. From traditional handlooms, many households have now switched to motorized looms, enabling them to operate multiple machines at once, providing stable incomes for thousands of local workers.
Together, Co Chat and Cu Tru form two inseparable links in the traditional silk-making chain of the Red River Delta. One patiently tends silkworms and reels cocoons, the other tirelessly weaves fabric – blending into a labor rhythm that is both simple and poetic. In every silk strand and woven cloth lies the memory of ancestors, a symphony composed by skillful hands and hearts deeply devoted to the craft.
Today, amid the hustle of industrial life, both villages remain steadfast in preserving their traditional essence, gradually revitalizing and developing the craft toward sustainability – combining experiential tourism with local cultural education. A journey to Co Chat and Cu Tru is not merely a trip to a peaceful countryside, but also a chance to touch enduring, profound cultural values – where every strand of silk and every thread of cloth still quietly tells the story of the pride of Nam Dinh’s land and people.