Lai Thieu Pottery Village on the eve of Tet: The story of keeping the craft alive for two generations.

Amidst a rapidly changing world, where many traditional craft villages are fading into memory, the Lai Thieu pottery village (Ho Chi Minh City) quietly endures through the years. This is because the craft is preserved by people who choose to stay connected to the earth and fire. From those who have dedicated their entire lives to the pottery kilns to the younger generation just starting out, they all share the same choice: to continue "breathing life" into the clay.

Every Lunar New Year, while many industries take a break to prepare for the new year, the kilns in Lai Thieu pottery village in Ho Chi Minh City continue to burn brightly. In the dry, crisp sunshine of the year-end, the artisans diligently work at their potters, meticulously completing each batch of pottery so that their finished products can be present at the reunion meals of many Vietnamese families.

Lai Thieu Pottery Village on the eve of Tet: The story of keeping the craft alive for two generations.

Nearly four decades at the turntable.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, there are people who have dedicated themselves to pottery as if it were an integral part of their being.

Born into a family with generations of pottery makers, Ms. Phan Thi Huong started the craft at a very young age and has been involved in it for nearly four decades. For her, pottery is not just a means of livelihood, but also a simple joy, a way for her to keep her mind and body from feeling empty and to feel that she "still has something to offer."

Having dedicated nearly 55 years to the craft, Mrs. Phan Thi Huong still diligently works at her pottery kiln at almost 70 years old.

PHOTO: VO HIEU

And then, when a cup takes shape, a plate takes form, artisans like Mrs. Huong see themselves in it… quietly, persistently, going through ups and downs without abandoning the craft.

For them, the flame of their craft doesn't need to be visible; it's kept alive through the years, smoldering through generations, quietly, just strong enough to keep Lai Thieu pottery alive.

To shape a cup or plate is a meticulous and multi-stage process undertaken by the craftsman.

PHOTO: VO HIEU

Besides artisans like Mrs. Phan Thi Huong who have dedicated almost their entire lives to the craft, the Lai Thieu pottery village now also has young people. Although they weren't born into pottery families or grew up near kilns, they have chosen to pursue and stay with the craft driven by their own unique passion.

The allure of 'imperfection'

Although Lai Thieu pottery has gradually shifted towards mass production, many products here are still handcrafted, from kneading the clay, shaping, adjusting the rim, to placing them on the potter's wheel to mold each curve. Without standardized molds, the artisans "read" the clay's texture through experience and the feel of their fingertips, so each cup and plate that comes out of the kiln bears its own unique mark.

Lai Thieu pottery still maintains the traditional handcrafted pottery-making style, attracting many customers not only to buy pottery but also to seek the soul in every detail of the artisan's work.

PHOTO: VO HIEU

It is this meticulous craftsmanship that creates the unique appeal of Lai Thieu pottery. Customers come here not only to buy pottery, but also to seek the soul in each line, reflecting the hand and dedication of the artisans.

Although not perfectly uniform, and with slight variations between products, it is precisely this "imperfection" that makes handcrafted pottery more valued in the age of mass production.

The allure of 'imperfection' makes handcrafted ceramics even more appreciated in an age of mass production.

PHOTO: VO HIEU

Despite numerous ups and downs, the Lai Thieu pottery village today continues to thrive thanks to the perseverance of those who "keep the flame alive." From artisans who have dedicated half their lives to the pottery kilns to young people in their early twenties, all have chosen to stay and continue preserving a traditional craft in their own unique way.

The timeless charm of Lai Thieu pottery endures through the years.

PHOTO: VO HIEU

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lang-gom-lai-thieu-ngay-giap-tet-chuyen-giu-lua-nghe-cua-2-the-he-185260207010150308.htm