Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in Bau Truc pottery village.

As the year draws to a close and the festive atmosphere of Tet (Lunar New Year) begins to spread throughout the countryside, the Bau Truc pottery village (Ninh Phuoc commune) becomes even more bustling than usual. Beside the blazing kilns, Cham artisans diligently shape new pottery products, imbuing them with hopes for peace and prosperity in the Year of the Horse 2026.

Producing many products to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Visiting Bau Truc pottery village in the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year), you'll hear the familiar sounds of foot-pounding, clay mixing, kneading, and the crackling of fire from the kilns; you'll also encounter artisans painting patterns on pottery products. At the Bau Truc Pottery Production, Trade and Service Cooperative's exhibition area, alongside traditional products, many new items are on display to welcome the Year of the Horse 2026. Mr. Van Quan Phu Doan, Director of the Bau Truc Pottery Production, Trade and Service Cooperative, said: “Every year, the artisans research and create many new designs to meet demand and tastes, while still preserving the essence of traditional Cham pottery.”

Engraving patterns on the product.

To celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, the cooperative launched several product lines featuring the horse – the year's zodiac animal – with a familiar and artistic style, harmoniously combining functionality and decorative value. Highlights of the collection include square horse-shaped ceramic paperweights for offices, decorated with exquisite Cham brocade patterns. Alongside these are hollow, round horse-shaped pieces for burning incense. Each horse has a unique appearance, reflecting the artistry of the craftsmen and the free-spirited nature of Cham culture. Keeping up with modern living space decoration trends, the Bau Truc pottery artisans also introduced a line of ceramic vases called "Peace and Tranquility." These vases, 60cm or taller, are placed on ceramic pedestals symbolizing the harmony of heaven and earth, and the balance of yin and yang. The vase and pedestal combine ancient Champa patterns with modern, stylized motifs such as wavy curves, pyramid shapes, and graceful bends, reminiscent of the fluid dances of Champa girls in traditional festivals. These products not only possess aesthetic value but also convey wishes for peace and prosperity for the homeowner in the new year. In addition, many smaller, more meaningful feng shui products are also being introduced to the market during Tet (Lunar New Year), such as: meditating frog and cat statues (approximately 10-15cm tall), and feng shui ceramic waterfalls. These familiar figures from everyday life are depicted in rustic ceramic materials, featuring characteristic yellow-red and dark brown hues, creating a sense of tranquility in the living space.

Legend has it that nearly a thousand years ago, Po Klong Chank, a close advisor to King Po Klong Garai, taught the people of Bau Truc how to make pottery. Since then, the image of the diligent Cham woman working with clay has become a distinctive cultural symbol of this region.

Timeless aesthetic value

What gives Bau Truc pottery its soul is its traditional handcrafted method. Without a potter's wheel or molds, the artisans shape the product by rotating it, avoiding imitation and copying. Therefore, each product has its own unique character, bearing the imprint of its creator. Artisan Phu Thi My Xinh, who has dedicated more than half her life to the craft, shared: “Along with the traditional handcrafted method, the raw materials for the village's pottery are also very special. Clay is sourced from the Hamu Craok field – the Bau Truc village field – and mixed with fine yellow sand from the Quao River in a specific ratio. It is then dried, pounded, and soaked in water for many hours to achieve the necessary plasticity. The firing process still follows the traditional method of using firewood, straw, and rice husks at a temperature of about 500-600°C. Therefore, the finished products have natural colors, and no two products are alike. It is this pure handcrafted technique that creates rustic yet vibrant pottery products, deeply imbued with Champa culture.”

Welcoming the Year of the Horse 2026, the new pottery products of Bau Truc village are not only goods for the market, but also the culmination of the history, culture, and enduring creativity of the Cham people. In each pottery shape and pattern, the breath of ancient Champa blends with modern life, creating timeless aesthetic value and contributing to keeping the flame of the traditional craft alive amidst today's integration.

HOANG PHUONG - KHANH DAN

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/bao-xuan-2026/202602/tet-ve-lang-gom-bau-truc-53e6203/