A flame harmonizes earth and sky in the heart of the city.

(NLĐO) - In the quiet space, glimpses of curved, dark, smoke-blackened furnace roofs can be seen.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, there are still distinctly different colors: rustic, old-fashioned, yet full of life. In suburban areas like Binh Chanh, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, or Zone 2 of the city (formerly Binh Duong ), the flickering flames of traditional handcrafted brickmaking, a craft that has existed for over a century, still exist.

Meticulous attention to detail and years of accumulated experience.

In early November, I visited Phuoc Thanh commune in Ho Chi Minh City, where many traditional and modern brick kilns have sprung up. The road leading to the small kilns was covered in a distinctive layer of red dust, a dust that has been an integral part of the lives of brickmakers for decades.

Mr. Hoang Quoc Huong, over 60 years old, owns a brick kiln deep within vast rubber forests, far from any residential areas. From 5 a.m., he begins urging his workers to gather firewood, check the wind, open the kiln doors, and adjust the flames. He confided, "Making bricks is about working with the elements, with the sun and wind. If the fire is erratic, the whole batch of bricks is ruined." He said this while showing me the glowing red kiln inside.

Unfired bricks

From the outside, the kiln looks like a large cave built from rough bricks. The temperature inside can reach over 800°C. Just standing near it is enough to make your face burn from the heat. But the workers are used to it. Ms. Dinh Thi Nga, a brick kiln worker, shared: "We can stand the heat like that, but strangers would run away after standing there for 5 minutes because their eyes would sting."

Despite the hardships, people remain committed to this manual labor, working under the blinding sun and scorching heat, because they have families and children to support through school. They don't find the work difficult; on the contrary, they are proud to be contributing to preserving a part of the traditional values ​​of brickmaking.

Clay is left to decompose before being used to make bricks.

To make a handmade brick, a craftsman must go through dozens of steps, each step requiring meticulous attention to detail and years of accumulated experience.

The clay is sourced from deep ditches in the garden or purchased from nearby areas. The clay must be "solid," soft to the touch and not crumbling. After bringing the clay back, the workers let it sit for several days to achieve the desired consistency. On days when the clay trucks arrive late, the workers have to get up at 2 a.m. to weigh the trucks and unload the clay for it to sit. After sitting, ash or sawdust is added to the clay to increase its binding properties. The workers use wooden molds to cast each brick. A skilled worker can make over a thousand bricks a day. Everything is done by hand; each movement has become a natural habit. The raw bricks are then left to dry for three to seven days, depending on the weather.

With nimble hands, Mrs. Nga carefully arranged each brick, confiding, "The bricks get ruined if it rains. In this profession, you have to constantly look up at the sky." Once the bricks are dry, the workers stack them in the kiln, pile firewood around them, and fire them continuously for 7-10 days and nights. This is the most difficult step. If the fire is too strong, the bricks will crack; if the fire is too weak, the bricks will be undercooked and unsaleable. Everything depends on experience and a keen eye for the craft.

The flame never goes out.

The difference with handcrafted bricks lies in their durability and natural colors. Thanks to being fired with wood and having a dense clay structure, handcrafted bricks are strong and retain a rustic, warm appearance. Ancient buildings, schools, and traditional-style homestays still prioritize this type of brick to create a cozy atmosphere. Each brick bears the mark of the craftsman's hand. No two are exactly alike; this is the beauty of handcrafted bricks that industrial bricks cannot replicate.

Workers put firewood into the kiln to fire bricks.

However, the brick-making profession is facing many difficulties. Three factors are causing brick kilns to shrink their operations: increasing urbanization, scarcity of raw materials; increasingly stringent environmental standards, leading many kilns to close due to smoke and dust; and cheaper industrial bricks causing handmade bricks to lose market share. "Now, only a few kilns in the whole village still practice the craft, and they're all run by elderly people. Their children and grandchildren have all gone to work in factories; nobody wants to stay here in this hot, dusty environment," Mr. Huong said.

According to the Ministry of Construction , 2005 was the deadline for relocating traditional brick kilns in urban areas. Those that had not relocated or lacked the capital to upgrade their technology had to close down and switch to more suitable occupations. Although fewer people remained in the craft, young people were finding ways to transform it into something new and valuable: opening workshops combined with tourism for visitors to watch and try making bricks; constructing art and landscape projects using bricks from traditional kilns, thanks to their rustic beauty; and researching fuel-fired kilns to reduce smoke and dust to meet standards. Furthermore, traditional brick kilns could promote themselves through social media to create a brand identity, attract customers, and improve the living standards of their workers.

The molding machine is used in the production of unbaked bricks.

Although few in number, some young craftsmen return to the trade after realizing its value. "I want to preserve my father's craft. Handmade bricks are a part of old Saigon; it would be a great pity if they were to disappear," shared Hoang Tung, son of Hoang Quoc Huong, owner of Hiep Hung 2 brick kiln.

At midday, Mr. Huong's brick kiln was still blazing red. The workers stood in front of the kiln, adjusting a few pieces of firewood, their eyes fixed on the flames. Their small, thin figures seemed to blend into the heat, but their eyes shone brightly, full of the fire that reflected their profession. "As long as I can still work, I will keep firing the kiln. These bricks are my life, what I want to pass on," Mr. Huong said in a low but resolute voice.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ngon-lua-hoa-hop-dat-troi-giua-long-thanh-pho-196251121150838693.htm