On display were jewellery made from rubies, sapphires, spinel, perridot, tourmaline, opal and jadeite and paintings inlaid with gemstones. One of the biggest gemstones in Vietnam weighs approximately 1.8kg.

The exhibition was organised by Than Chau Ngoc Viet Gemstones and Jewellery Company Ltd, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnam Institute for Gemstones and Jewellery.

Visitors had the chance to look back on what had been gained over 20 years since the gemstone mine was discovered in the northern Yen Bai Province’s Luc Yen area, especially in 10 years since the Than Chau Ngoc Viet Co Ltd was established and in five years since the firm founded a new craft in Vietnam –‘Can ngoc len tranh’ or ‘Inlay paintings with gemstones’, the company director said.

Experts at the exhibition urged the government develop the untapped potential of the country’s gemstone industry.

A representative from the California-based Gemological Institute of American (GIA) said the institution is keen to work more closely with Than Chau Ngoc Viet to identify business opportunities that will develop Vietnam’s gemstone sector.