Preserving and developing Bien Hoa pottery in the integration period

People visit traditional pottery exhibition booths at the Bien Hoa - Dong Nai Traditional Pottery Festival 2025. Photo: H. Quan

Dong Nai has been implementing solutions to preserve core traditional values; at the same time, promoting innovation and creativity so that Bien Hoa traditional pottery can adapt to the development trend of the times, create jobs, increase income for people and contribute to the economic and cultural development of the locality.

Removing difficulties, enhancing brand value

Bien Hoa pottery is not only a handicraft, but also a cultural symbol, a place where ingenuity, creativity and local identity crystallize. Many typical product lines such as: art statues, flower pots, reliefs, household items... have affirmed the unique brand of Bien Hoa pottery in the Vietnamese handicraft village.

However, in the current context, Bien Hoa traditional pottery is facing many increasingly big challenges. At the end of April 2025, the Provincial People's Committee held a seminar on Solutions to preserve and develop traditional fine art pottery in the integration period. This is one of the main activities in the series of events of Bien Hoa - Dong Nai Traditional Pottery Festival 2025.

Member of the Provincial Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee DUONG MINH DUNG emphasized that relevant departments, branches, units and localities need to pay attention to the role of Bien Hoa pottery in preserving the local cultural identity, as a driving force for tourism development, economy, creativity and local brand in the period of international integration.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Van Thang commented that the general economic situation has made it difficult for handicraft products, including ceramics, to export, and the domestic market is becoming increasingly saturated. More worryingly, the younger generation is less interested in the ceramic profession, leading to a shortage of successor human resources, while they are the force capable of accessing technology and implementing effective communication.

In addition, the older artisans are still holding on to traditional techniques, but without successors, the risk of them being lost is very high. Ceramic products therefore lack creativity, designs are not diverse, and are difficult to meet modern consumer trends.

Chairman of Dong Nai Ceramics Association Nguyen Viet Binh shared that as technology develops, the ceramic industry is increasingly applying new technologies to production to improve productivity and meet large orders. However, in the competitive context, the market for ceramic products is facing more difficulties. Many ceramic products are currently not keeping up with the aesthetic trends and tastes of many export markets, which poses many challenges, requiring ceramic enterprises to change to compete.

Besides, according to Mr. Binh, most of Bien Hoa ceramic enterprises and production facilities are currently small and medium enterprises, so they are still weak and lacking in many aspects such as: financial resources, labor, production facilities, display areas, product promotion, etc. Therefore, many enterprises want to have more policies and support programs from the locality to improve production activities and brand value for Bien Hoa ceramic products.

Promote trade promotion activities, develop craft village tourism

According to many experts, to continue to preserve, restore and develop the traditional pottery craft, Bien Hoa needs the cooperation of local authorities with reasonable policies and people and businesses dedicated to the local pottery craft. In particular, trade promotion needs to be strengthened in the current context of integration to help Bien Hoa pottery products maintain market share and reach out to the ocean.

Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Van Huu Dong expressed that in order to preserve and develop Bien Hoa pottery in the integration period, enterprises need to pay attention to combining the application of technology, promoting digital transformation in production with grasping consumer tastes and export markets in the new situation. In particular, enterprises need to "renew" product distribution channels through promoting promotional activities, connecting trade, e-commerce channels; taking advantage of the benefits from free trade agreements (FTAs) that Vietnam has signed to expand export markets.

“In the coming time, the Department of Industry and Trade will increase activities to support businesses towards sustainable production, promote activities to support businesses in the province in general and ceramic businesses in particular to update knowledge about new generation FTAs, trade promotion activities to help businesses access and expand domestic and export markets” - Mr. Van Huu Dong shared more.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thang added that in the coming time, the Department of Agriculture and Environment will coordinate with relevant departments, branches and units to strengthen activities to guide artisans and production facilities to participate in the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program, developing standard ceramic products. Encourage Bien Hoa ceramic enterprises to innovate designs and models associated with functionality and contemporary aesthetic trends. At the same time, promote the Bien Hoa ceramic brand, gradually build geographical indications and characteristic images for Dong Nai's traditional ceramic lines...

Head of the Rural Sector Department, Department of Economic Cooperation and Rural Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) Tran Thi Loan shared that Dong Nai needs to enhance brand value, develop traditional pottery villages and link pottery production models with tourism activities and local cultural experiences. Thereby, creating a highlight in preserving and promoting the values ​​of Bien Hoa pottery products.

Dong Nai needs to build a digital map of Bien Hoa traditional pottery to introduce and promote stories about craft villages and local pottery tourism models, thereby building a database system for local management, as well as developing traditional pottery village tourism products...

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Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/kinh-te/202505/bao-ton-phat-trien-nghe-gom-bien-hoa-trong-thoi-ky-hoi-nhap-4d4044a/