The sun shines on my homeland.

The news of the province and city mergers has attracted much attention, with some expressing regret at the change of their familiar provincial names. However, they see the same land and country as before; and people continue with their lives, work, and studies. In that plan, the two provinces of Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Duong will merge into Ho Chi Minh City, forming a major metropolis at the forefront of the South, opening up many prospects for economic and social development…

Báo Sài Gòn Giải phóng•08/06/2025

The cultures of these three provinces and cities in the Southeast region, while not drastically different, each have forged their own distinct identity. A new urban center is emerging, both administratively and in terms of people's hearts, and its heritage is beginning to transform to harmonize with the rhythm of a new megacity. The traditional Southern pottery craft – Lai Thieu pottery, renowned in Binh Duong province – has become part of the heritage of the new Ho Chi Minh City, its homeland recounting a century-old story through its bustling atmosphere, blending seamlessly into the current modern trends.

The Lai Thieu pottery craft, with over 150 years of history, is renowned for its household pottery and everyday items. The patterns on Lai Thieu pottery are quite elaborate, requiring the skill of master artisans, yet the lines and colors remain familiar, common, and somewhat rustic, like a country girl from the countryside.

For a long time, the rustic charm of Lai Thieu pottery gradually faded as consumer tastes changed and the market became fiercely competitive with sophisticated imported products. In the midst of these changes, Lai Thieu pottery seemed to retreat into a small corner, its old customer base dwindling… When nostalgia became a concern for the present, people sought to preserve heritage values to create their own identity and uniqueness in a globalized cultural environment. Lai Thieu pottery returned with its original simplicity, functionality, and durability, and these local products began to appear on e-commerce platforms, with well-structured marketing plans developed for customers on social media.

Adapting to consumer tastes is a natural part of business, but the value of pottery made from local clay remains the same. The craft of pottery cherishes the elements of earth, water, wind, fire, and sunlight, which are also crucial. There are days when the craftsmen have to give up because the weather is cloudy and there's no sun; the pottery can't be painted until it's dry.

There were years when the apricot blossom trees had shed their leaves, and the craftsmen were busy packing up the last batches of pottery for the year to deliver to customers on time. But if a few rain showers fell, everyone would be worried and restless. In the pottery making profession, sunshine is like a special gift from heaven; if it rains all day after a batch of goods is finished, transportation becomes a problem, and the painters have to stay home or go to the workshop to do other odd jobs.

No one can control the sun's rays for a hundred years, but a positive change for traditional craft villages is like the return of sunshine, warming the homeland and continuing the journey of pottery from the past. A sunny day is like a new beginning; even if the journey has faltered at times, the sun will be a new starting point. The long road ahead is uncertain, but with the sun shining on our homeland, why not sow a seed of hope? The cups and plates of traditional Southern Vietnamese pottery begin their journey as a heritage in the modern urban center, a century-old story continued through underlying currents of construction and growth in a new era.

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