The 5.5 by 31m embroidery, weighing 1.5 tonnes, was begun in 2009 and has used nearly 170sq.m of Italian wool and around 250kg of thread.

The embroidery contains images of significant events in the history of the ancient capital of Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province) under the reign of the Dinh, Le and Ly dynasties, including the founding of Dai Co Viet (the former name of Vietnam), the landscape of Hoa Lu with the temples of Kings Dinh Tien Hoang and Le Dai Hanh, and Ly Thai To’s royal decree to move the capital city to Hanoi.

An idea for the embroidery came from 26-year-old Pham Thi Hoai in the hopes of displaying the talents of her village and serving as a bridge linking the former capital city of Hoa Lu and the present capital of Hanoi.

Before needling first threads, Hoai spent three months leading other embroiders to the mountain peaks of Ninh Binh province to capture the image of the landscape in the cloth. Hoai also consulted researchers to collect the quintessential details for the picture.

Hanoi ’s researcher Nguyen Vinh Phuc remarked that the picture contains values of history, fine arts, culture and tradition. It also expresses the enthusiasm of artisans from a handicraft village with a nearly 800-year tradition.

Hoai didn’t set out to create the picture with aim of setting a record, she said.

“I wanted to show my people’s love for the capital and introduce their talents and the beauty of my homeland to the entire country,” Hoai said. “During the process of embroidering the picture, I realised how my artists love their work. I expect that they will help to develop the traditional trade of the village.”

Hoai has visited many other trade villages in neighbouring regions and discovered that their work hadn’t developed and might be in risk of decline. For her, the giant embroidery’s success begins the process of fulfilling her ambition to revive her craft.

Attending at the introduction ceremony, Pham Quang Nghi, secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, expressed his gratitude to the Van Lam embroiderers for their great contribution Hanoi ’s millennium celebrations.

The picture is scheduled to make its public debut at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Hanoi on August 16. It will be displayed there through August 23.