Central Vietnam ceramics village returns to one-time glory
A 500-year-old old ceramics village in central Vietnam has been revived and it will turn out its first batch of pottery items next week. Phuoc Tich village in Thua Thien-Hue province was known for its sophisticated ceramics which were offered as tributes to the ruling Nguyen dynasty and exported through nearby Thanh Ha port.
After hundreds of years it fell into oblivion during the French and American wars as its skilled artisans moved to other places.
After 1975 many families resumed making pottery products like flower vases, lime pots, and cooking pots but it was hard as by then consumers had moved on to using plastic and aluminum.
Besides reviving it, the government of Thua Thien-Hue also plans to capitalize on the village by operating tours to it during the Festival Hue 2006 scheduled for June 3-11.
The Huong Xua Lang Cu (fragrant path through the old village) tour will take people to the village by the O Lau River. Situated 70 km from the old imperial capital Hue, Phuoc Tich village also has dozens of houses that are 100 to 200 years old, several old temples, pagodas, worship halls and communal houses.
The Phong Dien district people’s committee has provided VND8 million (US$501) to the revival project.
Reported by Bui Ngoc Long – Translated by Thu Thuy
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Famous northern ceramics secure registered trademark
The popular ceramic products made in Bat Trang village in northern Vietnam have officially been registered as a patented trademark, announced the Bat Trang Ceramics Association Nov.17.
The registration of the trademark Bat Trang – 1,000 Year Tradition is seen as a significant milestone in the 1,000-year development of Bat Trang ceramics, which will allow the world market to have greater access to these thousands-year-old products, said a senior economic consultant.
The announcement was made at a formal ceremony held at the historic Temple of Literature in Hanoi, said a member of the Bat Trang Ceramics Association. The association also inaugurated the Export Promotion Center of Bat Trang ceramics.
According to several historical records, the world-known Bat Trang ceramics date back to the early 11th century. For centuries and at present, Bat Trang ceramics have been exported to Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Europe.
Bat Trang village also became known as a famous ceramic-producing village since the 14th century. The village lies on the Red River not far from Hanoi and eventually became a ceramics center thanks to its rich deposits of white clay.
Today, some 80 per cent of the village’s population earns its living from making refined ceramic products, the Bat Trang Ceramic Association reported. The traditional industry has an estimated yearly export turnover of 40 million USD, it added.
