Bien Hoa Pottery - heritage soul in modern life

Leaders of Bien Hoa ward ( Dong Nai province) conducted a field survey at Viet Thanh Ceramic Joint Stock Company. Photo: My Ny

Besides preserving ancient ceramic collections, ceramic units and artisans have been making efforts to breathe modern life into ceramics, bringing this heritage closer to the public through digital technology .

Ancient heritage, modern creativity

Dong Nai Museum currently has 2 facilities located in Tan Trieu ward and Binh Phuoc ward, where hundreds of precious ceramic artifacts are displayed and introduced. The exhibition space meets the needs of people and tourists to visit and learn, with artifacts discovered through many archaeological excavations in the localities, along with the famous Bien Hoa ceramic line and contemporary ceramic products, both rustic and sophisticated.

Each artifact not only tells its own story but also clearly shows the aesthetic style and manufacturing techniques typical of each period. This place can be considered a "living archive" of the life of ancient residents and the development process of Dong Nai land.

Not only being kept in museums or artifact warehouses, Bien Hoa ceramics continue to be preserved and spread through individuals, private collector groups and clubs such as the Bien Hoa Antiques and Relics Club (Tran Bien ward) or the Long Khanh Antiques Club (Long Khanh ward)... Members regularly connect, exchange artifacts, organize exhibitions and exchanges, contributing to bringing ancient ceramic products out of the personal collection space, closer to the public, especially the young generation who are familiar with modern life and digital technology.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Dien (residing in Tran Bien ward) is one of the typical collectors of ancient ceramics in Dong Nai. Mr. Dien said: His passion came to him by chance more than 10 years ago. Up to now, his collection has exceeded 300 artifacts, including many types such as: vases, jars, pots, ceramic pieces... In particular, he is especially interested in ancient ceramic products associated with Vietnamese stories, reflecting the lives of people and places in the Southern region in general, Dong Nai in particular.

“The ceramic artifacts I collect are like a witness of time. Sometimes it is just a broken piece of pottery but it reveals a whole story about the life, beliefs and culture of ancient people. I keep them not only to satisfy my personal passion but also to share and interact with the public with the hope that the younger generation will better understand history and appreciate the values that our ancestors left behind,” Mr. Dien shared.

Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts - the "cradle" of training many generations of ceramic artisans is also making an important contribution to preserving and developing traditional ceramics. Not only stopping at teaching shaping techniques and glaze colors, the school also encourages students to combine traditional elements with modern breath, thereby creating products that both carry the spirit of heritage and meet the aesthetic and application needs of today's society.

Master Dinh Cong Viet Khoi, Head of the Ceramics - Sculpture Department, Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts, said: “The school always focuses on preserving the quintessence of traditional ceramics, while encouraging students to be creative, explore and apply technology. This is the way for Bien Hoa ceramics to both maintain their character and keep up with contemporary trends.”

Applying digital technology to awaken ceramics

Along with ceramic display spaces or collectors' collections, many ceramic workshops, artisans, units and localities in Dong Nai are proactively taking advantage of digital technology to bring traditional ceramics closer to the public.

“Bien Hoa pottery today not only retains its traditional spirit but is also empowered by digital technology, from putting pottery on websites, Facebook, YouTube, Zalo to applying digital technology to ceramic products... This heritage is being “awakened”, widely spread and closer to the public”.
Artist PHAM CONG HOANG,
Fine Arts Department, Dong Nai Literature and Arts Association

Artisan Hoang Ngoc Hien, owner of Hien Nam pottery workshop (in Bien Hoa ward), said: “Most of my workshop’s ceramic products are handmade, from shaping, decorating to glazing. We still maintain traditional steps to preserve the value of ceramics, but at the same time, we also expand our channels to introduce and promote products on platforms such as Facebook, Zalo, etc. Thanks to that, many customers can access, contributing to bringing Bien Hoa ceramics to a larger market.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Binh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viet Thanh Ceramic Joint Stock Company, Bien Hoa ceramics is a precious heritage, the crystallization of the quintessence from the hands and minds of many generations of artisans. On that traditional foundation, Viet Thanh always strives to innovate and innovate designs to bring products closer to the public. In recent times, the company has promoted its products mainly on the company's website, so that Bien Hoa ceramics have the opportunity to connect with domestic and international friends, spreading the value of heritage in modern life.

Chairman of Bien Hoa Ward People's Committee Thai Thanh Phong said: The locality is famous for Tan Hanh ceramic cluster, where there are currently about 30 enterprises operating, creating jobs for nearly 1,000 workers. With a long tradition of ceramics, the locality has included the orientation of developing the ceramic profession in the Resolution of the 1st Congress of Bien Hoa Ward Party Committee, term 2025-2030. In particular, focusing on expanding international markets, promoting traditional products, coordinating with units to organize annual ceramic festivals, and supporting businesses to promote trade...

“In addition to organizing festivals and participating in fairs, local businesses are also promoting online, spreading ceramic products to the public. In particular, the locality has oriented schools to include learning about craft villages and Bien Hoa ceramics in extracurricular programs, helping students access, appreciate, be proud of and spread the unique products of their homeland,” said Mr. Phong.

My Ny

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202510/gom-bien-hoa-hon-di-san-trong-nhip-song-hien-dai-dbd0d4a/