When opening a pottery workshop in Vietnam, Ms. Haru did not promote her shop's image too widely, so she was quite surprised to see many young Vietnamese people coming here to learn to make pottery and take photos of the lovely products she made.
Open a workshop to save money on going to a workshop
One weekend, we stopped by a small alley on Nguyen Huy Tuong Street, Binh Thanh District (HCMC), where the pottery shop of Ms. Kim Ha-kyung (common name Haru, 32 years old) is located. Previously, this ceramic workshop was located in Phu My Hung urban area, District 7 (HCMC), where many Koreans live. From mid-2023, the ceramic factory will be moved to Binh Thanh District, making it more convenient to travel.
Ms. Haru's pottery workshop has 2 areas including a cafe and a pottery learning space. This house is filled with sunlight and green trees, with gentle Korean melodies ringing in the ears, creating a relaxing feeling for customers.
Ms. Kim Ha-kyung came to Vietnam to open a pottery workshop for 8 years
HUYNH NHI
“Comfortable” is what we felt when we arrived here. Not crowded or noisy, customers coming to Ms. Haru's shop sit at separate tables painting ceramics, others knead clay, some sit knitting, someone types on the computer.
Ms. Haru said that 8 years ago she decided to come to Vietnam to live with her parents. Before that, she worked in a Korean design company after graduating from university majoring in ceramics.
“In Korea, life is very busy and bustling, I feel it is not suitable. If I were still living alone in Korea, it would be really difficult, so I decided to move to Vietnam to be closer to my family," Ms. Haru shared.
When she first came to Vietnam, because she didn't have many friends, she often went to classes workshop (skill sharing session) learn flower arranging art to relax after work. But because she was so passionate, there was a time when she went to the workshop 4 times a week, spending up to 16 million VND a month for this activity.
“At that time, my mother said I was spending too much money on going to workshops, or should I open my own workshop to save money? I found it reasonable to find a way to open a ceramic workshop with operating costs under 16 million VND/month," Ms. Haru said about the birth of the ceramic workshop, very spontaneously and by chance.
What does a good potter need?
According to Ms. Haru, a good potter needs to have good technique and artistry. “When I was in college, we had many projects that required students to make perfect, smooth products. But I wonder why this is so? I'd rather do something different,” she said.
Looking at Haru's ceramic products, we can see that they are not too perfect or sharp. On the surface of each cup and plate there are still imprints of the craftsman's fingerprints, or lines that are not smooth or smooth. The product's patterns are not sophisticated or sophisticated, but are simple drawings of dogs, cats, innocent human faces, and simple, neat words with positive meanings. But that is the unique identity of this product, something a bit rustic and simple, and that is what makes many people passionate.
Ceramic products are not smooth or delicately painted, but are still loved by many people
NVCC
Ms. Haru said it is a way to gather things surrounding her life through ceramics, decorative motifs from her life and life experiences in her journey of maturity.
When she first opened her ceramic workshop, Haru's customers were mainly Koreans living in the area. She doesn't update photos on social networking sites, so she was quite surprised when many Vietnamese people came to the pottery workshop and took photos of the lovely products she made.
Sometimes Haru said she felt "scared" because the journey in Vietnam was so convenient, completely different from when she was in Korea. But that's also why I love Vietnam more. Even though she cannot speak Vietnamese to explain the products she makes, customers can still feel her artistry, emotions and the things she likes: trees, sunshine, simple things.
“When I met Haru, I felt a lot of positive energy from her. Even though she has a quiet personality, when you meet her, you want to talk and connect, open your heart, and live happier", Nguyen Phan Thao Dung (25 years old), lives in Phu Nhuan District (HCMC), comment.
Ms. Haru said she is quite comfortable living in Vietnam because she has family and relatives here. Commenting on herself, the Korean girl said that she is not the type of person to look back on the past, so she doesn't know if she has any regrets about coming to Vietnam. In the future, she wants to teach the profession to more young Vietnamese people, so they can open their own favorite pottery workshop like she did 8 years ago.
