Bien Hoa pottery not only adds color to the Tet holiday atmosphere but also carries the cultural essence of the Dong Nai region.
Pottery as a spring gift
As one of the oldest and most famous pottery lines in Southern Vietnam, with a history closely linked to the formation of the Bien Hoa - Dong Nai region, Bien Hoa pottery has always been a distinctive item, closely associated with the lives of the people during the traditional Lunar New Year. Through many periods of historical ups and downs, Bien Hoa pottery has been preserved and developed. The unique characteristics of Bien Hoa pottery lie in its robust shapes, simple yet refined lines, and warm glaze, possessing a beauty that is both ancient and familiar.
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| The horse mascot will appear in ceramic products intended for the market during the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. |
As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, pottery workshops in Bien Hoa ward, Dong Nai province, become busier and more vibrant. Skilled artisans work diligently at their potters and brushes to complete the final batches of pottery for the Tet market. Making pottery for the spring season requires not only solid technique but also emotion and finesse. Each product is not simply a decorative item, but also a cultural message, a New Year's wish conveyed through every line and every glaze. Each pottery product is the culmination of time, experience, and love for the craft – enduring values that remain unchanged over the years.
According to Mr. Mai Thanh Xin, Director of Bien Hoa Ceramic Co., Ltd., this year, ceramic products for Tet (Lunar New Year) are very diverse, depending on needs ranging from religious items and decorations to household goods. The most popular items are still those such as: vases, teapots, trays for Tet sweets and snacks, bowls and plates… as well as statues of mythical creatures, ceramic paintings, and wall-hanging reliefs. The patterns and glaze colors of the ceramic products for Tet are carefully selected, prioritizing bright, warm colors such as yellow, jade green, and earthy brown. Familiar Tet motifs such as apricot blossoms, peach blossoms, swallows, carp, dragons, and phoenixes… are vividly depicted, conveying wishes for good fortune, wealth, and peace for the homeowner.
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| Glazing a ceramic plate depicting "success on horseback" - a Vietnamese folk art. |
In particular, the Year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ) is a theme that pottery workshops and artisans are especially interested in, leading to the creation of products featuring the year's mascot. Examples include: spoon and fork holders shaped like horses, decorative plates with horse motifs from Vietnamese folk paintings, statues of rearing horses with blue glaze and floral patterns – a characteristic glaze of Biên Hòa pottery – or ceramic paintings depicting horses galloping to success...
Besides preserving traditional values, Bien Hoa pottery today is also constantly innovating to adapt to market demands. Many establishments have boldly combined traditional techniques with modern design thinking, creating products that both reflect cultural identity and suit contemporary living spaces. As a result, Bien Hoa pottery is not only present in local households but is also known and chosen by many domestic and international customers as gifts during the Lunar New Year.
Choosing ceramic products as gifts for clients, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet, an employee of a bank in Tam Hiep ward (Dong Nai province), said: "Handcrafted ceramic products are becoming increasingly popular, especially for decorating spaces during Tet (Lunar New Year). For many years, Bien Hoa ceramic products have been chosen by our company as gifts for clients and partners because of their unique handcrafted designs, suitable for both classic and modern spaces. This year, I chose a pair of elephant-shaped stools and a round stool as Tet gifts, hoping for a peaceful and prosperous new year," Ms. Nguyet confided.
Walking around Bien Hoa market these days, you'll find the pottery stalls busier than usual. As Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches, pottery products such as vases, pedestals, tea sets, jars, and containers for Tet sweets are selling even better. Along the streets, pottery shops are also attracting many visitors.
Maintaining the Bien Hoa ceramic line
Spring is also an opportunity for Bien Hoa pottery to step outside the traditional craft village, appearing at fairs, exhibitions, cultural and tourism spaces, and even in everyday life. Some production facilities even open up traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) themed spaces featuring characteristic Bien Hoa pottery products so that visitors can visit, tour, take photos, and learn about the pottery production process.
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| Customers visit and choose Bien Hoa ceramics as gifts for the Lunar New Year. Photo: Nhat Ha. |
Mr. Thanh Hai (residing in Tan Trieu ward) said: "As someone who loves pottery, especially Bien Hoa pottery, every year my family's 'Tet basket' always includes pottery products. Seeing ornamental plants, flower pots, and even pottery vases bustling on the streets makes me feel like Tet is closer. This year, I chose a Bien Hoa pottery vase with a blooming apricot blossom motif, symbolizing wealth and good fortune. For me, Bien Hoa pottery still has its own unique charm; when used to arrange flowers for Tet, it's not only beautiful but also evokes the traditional culture of the Southern region," Mr. Hai shared.
In modern society, the tradition of Bien Hoa pottery continues to flow, perpetuating and spreading its values, despite numerous difficulties and challenges. Making pottery products more present and accessible in contemporary life is also a way to contribute to preserving and promoting the value of Bien Hoa pottery.
Located along the Dong Nai River, Bien Hoa Ward in Dong Nai Province is home to centuries-old pottery villages and currently boasts numerous pottery production and business establishments, contributing to the preservation and development of Bien Hoa pottery. According to Vien Hong Tien, Provincial Party Committee member, Party Secretary, and Chairman of the People's Council of Bien Hoa Ward, with advantages such as its location along the Dong Nai River, proximity to Ho Chi Minh City, long-standing traditional pottery villages, and the name Bien Hoa, the locality has identified goals and solutions to protect and promote the value of Bien Hoa pottery. These include preserving and promoting the value of traditional craft villages, safeguarding the techniques and secrets of shaping and glazing characteristic of Bien Hoa pottery. Simultaneously, it aims to honor and support skilled artisans and craftsmen, encouraging the transmission of skills to the younger generation. The preservation of pottery is linked to the preservation of the local cultural identity along the Dong Nai River and the development of tourism and services; supporting businesses in expanding markets and building brands. Along with that, there will be increased application of information technology, land management, environmental protection, etc., aiming to make pottery one of the pillars in the socio-economic development of the ward.
Nhat Ha
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202601/gom-bien-hoa-ron-rang-don-tet-b1d5e42/
