Aside from the lush tropical orchards, Vinh Long, the southern province of Vietnam has successfully drawn a large number of visitors to its pottery village. Find it on the outskirts of the region, where you’ll see many factories producing statues and a million other ceramics.
There are a large number of towering brick kilns that try to poke out of the palm trees. The scene makes you feel like being among the stupas of Angkor Wat. For those who desire unique sightseeing in Vinh Long, never miss this traditional pottery village during your journey.
How to visit Vinh Long pottery village?
It’s suggested that you must pass over My Thuan Bridge to head down the National Highway 1A. Finally, you can arrive at Vinh Long City. It generally takes 2kms from the center after passing Thieng Duc Bridge on National Highway 31 along Co Chien River to encounter the heaving pottery kilns.
They appear with white smoke floating in the air. In other words, you’ve already arrived at the castle of red ceramics. This pottery village has run for 20 years along Co Chien River from Long Ho District to Mang Thit District.
Vinh Long ceramics at a glance
Vinh Long’s ceramic products are highly favored not just because of their delicate shapes but also their exotic color of pink. This shade naturally makes them different from other ceramics in other areas.
The local artisans start from the red clay to turn them all into the artistic pottery items used in households. It’s the clay they take on the bank of Co Chien River, and such a thing has happened for over one century.
People also founded the biggest region specializing in creating bricks and tiles in Cuu Long River delta. As said, in the 1980s, they began making these household ceramic products. Some of them will be exported to a certain number of Vietnamese cities and foreign markets.
What to see in Vinh Long pottery village
Getting to the ceramic craft village, tourists have a chance to witness different phases related to making pottery.
The artisans dig red clay out from the Co Chien River
First of all, the artisans tend to dig the clay out under Co Chien river before loading it off the boats. They will sort the clay out and then mix it with sand.
This phase is supposed to be quite crucial for the whole process since it decides on the quality of each product. The mixture is later kneaded with clay placed into molds and then into pottery kilns. In the last phase, the locals need to whittle the products until they become perfect.
After the molding stage, the printing process is the next one. It means that the workers need to press red clay on the mold that can be made from different parts. After that, they will link them together to make a raw ceramic item.
Following the printing process is the mold unloading. Once the product gets dry, the workers can unload them from mold and then polish them.
They sculptors polish, design, and bake products in kilns
It’s all about the modeling stage this time, but it requires the dexterous hands of sculptors or artisans here. In this step, decorative patterns should be more sophisticated and nicer for sure. As it comes to polishing and designing patterns, they must be patient, meticulous and clever enough to raise the value of the ceramics.
Also, maintaining the suitable fire level in the pottery kiln plays an essential part in the making process. This is considered as an important skill that requires only experienced workers.
These ceramics are baked in these kilns for a week at an average temperature of 100 – 200 degrees Celsius. It lasts within the first four days before leveling up to 900 degrees Celsius on the last days.
The kilns and many outstanding works inside them
Apart from that, after strolling along the river, you soon encounter different egg-shaped kilns around. They lie among the industrial factories. The kilns are used not just to create ceramic works but also seen as the popular tourist spots that exhibit such beautiful products and convey how they are done.
In Vinh Long Province, you get to view many amazing works in a great variety of types, from pots, vases, paintings, jars to statues. But sure enough, the highlight for everyone is none other than the how-to-make ceramic works.
You can see a combo of potteries and bricks in the houses. These would amaze you without a doubt since all pillars are made from ceramic. Their roofs are made from the red tile while the floors are made by bricks. So no wonder why the entire house is adorned with paintings made by pottery.
Other interesting experience on the banks of Mekong Delta
Getting deeper to the left, it’s easy to view a few beautiful villas that are the resorts for travelers to stay and relax. Move to the right, you will see a lake there where tourists can freely hire the swan boats to get around on the water.
Once rowing here, they get to see a lot of old trees falling their sub-roots on the water, which are similar to the curtain. Don’t forget to walk along the shore and hide yourself under the cool shadow of poplar trees. This is the best time to indulge yourself with the wind blowing from Co Chien River, and then forget all stressful and dull things.
Greater than that, riding ostriches is one of the worth-to-try experiences you can’t ignore once visiting this region. Ride them and run around the yard. If not, you and your friends can stand from the park and on Co Chien Riverside to contemplate My Thuan Bridge showing up on the blue sky.
