With his artistic long hair tied back, Nguyen Nhat Khiem (born in 2000 in Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak) sits at a small table, placing a delicate wooden embroidery frame in front of him. Carefully threading a needle, he gently stitches through a pale-colored piece of fabric.  

Surrounding him are stunningly realistic embroidered landscapes that look more like paintings. Few would believe that these intricate works were entirely handcrafted by a young man.  

Once an office worker, Khiem began searching for a way to earn extra income in 2022. After trying his hand at dried flower arrangements, crochet, and sewing, he found himself most drawn to hand embroidery.  

A self-taught journey  

Intrigued by embroidery, Khiem realized his artistic talents might translate well to the craft. He purchased tools to try it out and was quickly captivated, eventually quitting his office job to pursue this passion full-time.  

To save on costs, Khiem avoided formal classes, instead teaching himself through social media. He watched instructional videos from skilled artisans, gradually developing his own techniques.  

Initially, Khiem’s hands were clumsy and untrained, struggling to follow his creative vision. He dedicated 8–12 hours daily to practicing, often enduring pricked and blistered fingertips.  

Despite friends mocking his decision to pursue what they saw as "women’s work," Khiem persevered. After nearly a year, his hands, once awkward, had become adept at creating smooth, fluid stitches on fabric.  

“I started posting photos of my embroidered pieces on social media during my learning phase,” Khiem recalled. “People were surprised and curious about my work. Many doubted that I had made these pieces myself, but when they found out the truth, they were impressed and began placing custom orders.”  

Signature style and artistic success  

After two years of dedication, Khiem has developed his own unique embroidery style, characterized by soft, seamless color transitions. His works stand out for their vibrant, lifelike quality, attracting a loyal clientele of embroidery enthusiasts and collectors.  

Most of his customers are passionate about hand-embroidered art and are willing to pay premium prices for his intricate designs. Khiem specializes in realistic landscapes, decorative motifs, and complex patterns. Beyond fabric, he has experimented with embroidery on dried leaves and other materials, delighting his audience with fresh creative approaches.  

Each piece, depending on its size and complexity, takes Khiem between one week and one month to complete. His embroidered works are priced between VND 1 million and tens of millions, allowing him to complete 2–3 high-quality pieces per month and earn a steady income of tens of millions of VND.  

“For me, hand embroidery is like 'painting' artworks with needle and thread,” said Khiem.  

“I love this craft because it allows me to pursue my passion and creativity, making pieces I truly enjoy. Even better, it has given me a good income from something I love to do.”