In recent years, ceramics made in Binh Duong have made an appearance in many important national and international events.
In recent years, ceramics made in Binh Duong have made an appearance in many important national and international events such as the National Party Congress, APEC Vietnam 2006 and 2017, 1000 years of Thang Long - Hanoi, 17th ASEAN Summit. Binh Duong high-end porcelains of Minh Long I brand were chosen to be national gifts to more than 40 international heads of state during official trips of the Party and the State’s leaders.
As the 4th wave of COVID-19 waned, we went to Binh Duong to learn about this famous ceramic profession.
Where it all started
It is said that pottery in Binh Duong started around the late 18th and early 19th centuries by Chinese who came here to seek opportunities. Now Binh Duong has three pottery villages that are the oldest and also the most well known, namely Tan Phuoc Khanh, Lai Thieu and Chanh Nghia. A characteristic feature of Binh Duong pottery is the use of the highly flexible and sticky clay found on the banks of local rivers. There is also the traditional pottery making technique from Chinese-origin artisans and the firing technique using wood.
| From 1910-1930, in Binh Duong, there were only about 40 pottery kilns with about 1,000 employees, by 1985 there were 273 ceramic establishments with about 6,700 workers. Now, there are nearly 300 ceramic production facilities with about 500 pottery kilns and more than 15,000 employees, supplying the market with 130-150 million products/year. |
Quach Huu's facility specializes in porcelain pots and products for both domestic sale and export. According to him, handmade pottery requires workers’ skillfulness and meticulous attention, especially during the shaping and glazing stages. Firing a batch of 200 items in his facility takes 3 days using wood. The process demands experience so that the fire can be watched properly - a prerequisite for beautifully fired pottery.
 Artisan Ho Van Lon puts soil into the mold at Dai Hung pottery kiln. Photo: Le Minh / VNP  Skilled artisans create eye-catching ceramic works in Tan Phuoc Khanh pottery village. Photo: Thong Hai / VNP  Pouring materials into the mold at Tan Phuoc Khanh pottery village. Photo: Thong Hai / VNP  Taking the products from the mold at Tan Phuoc Khanh pottery village. Photo: Thong Hai / VNP  Drying products before the firing process at Tan Phuoc Khanh pottery village. Photo: Thong Hai / VNP  Handmade ceramic products in Dai Hung pottery kiln. Photo: Le Minh / VNP  Shaping ceramics at a production facility in Lai Thieu. Photo: Thong Hai / VNP   Unique products with eye-catching patterns done using skillful hands of Lai Thieu potter. Photo: Thong Hai / VNP |
| In 2021, Binh Duong province was honored with two more national intangible cultural heritages, including “Traditional ceramic crafts” and “Folk knowledge and performance of Tan Khanh Ba Tra martial arts”. |
The selling points of Binh Duong ceramics lie in its durability, its beautiful glaze and diverse decorative themes that are close to Vietnamese hearts such as natural landscapes of the southern countryside and famous monuments and landscapes of Vietnam. Modern Binh Duong ceramics blend Vietnamese traditions and Western modernity, which makes them very popular in the European market. The ceramic producers of Minh Long I are considered pioneers in bringing high quality Binh Duong ceramic to the world.
Minh Long I - the national ceramic brand
It took a long time of constant learning and developing to establish Binh Duong ceramic’s current standing in the industry, not to mention the contributions of generations of talented and dedicated artisans who have been tirelessly promoting their homeland traditional craft. Among the most notable is artisan Ly Ngoc Minh, President of Minh Long I Co., Ltd. which owns the well-known Minh Long I brand.
| Artisan Ly Ngoc Minh was conferred the title of Labor Hero in 2007. |
 Minh Long I Co., Ltd. has applied modern technology to ceramic production. Photo: Minh Long I’s files  Artisan Ly Ngoc Minh guides the craftsmen to make perfect ceramic works. Photo: Minh Long I’s files  Drawing patterns to finish Minh Long I ceramic products. Photo: Minh Long I’s files  A jade cup, a product of Minh Long I Co., Ltd., was chosen as the an official gift by the government to leaders of other countries at APEC 2017. Photo: Minh Long I’s files  A set of teapots with gold motifs served at the banquet for leaders of 21 countries during APEC 2017. Photo: Minh Long I’s files  Sophisticated products made by Minh Long I. Photo: Minh Long I’s files  A royal tea set is a high-class product made by Minh Long ceramic artists. Photo: Minh Long I’s files |
Minh Long I is a breakthrough for the Vietnamese ceramic industry. With a large-scale factory along with modern machinery and equipment and a skillful team, Minh Long I always strives for the highest quality in all of their products. Products are manufactured using European standards and using advanced technology such as high-temparature burning, color painting on porcelain, nano production, and are inspected thoroughly piece by piece by experts upon finishing.
| Minh Long's Hoang Lien set of products was selected for the State banquet and the "Jade Cup" set was chosen as gift for leaders of 21 countries at apec 2017. |
The high-end lines of Minh Long I are exported to many demanding markets such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, the US and Japan. In Vietnam, Minh Long I is known as a luxury ceramics brand with supreme prestige and quality, along with a big chain of stores, distributors and agents across the country./
Story: Son Nghia
Photos: Le Minh, Thong Hai
& Minh Long I’s files
Translated by Hong Hanh
