Cham pottery art named on UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage
The pottery craft of the Cham people has existed for a long period of time and been maintained by the Cham community in Bau Truc pottery village in Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province, and in Binh Duc pottery village in Bac Binh district, Binh Thuan province.
In recent years, ceramics made in Binh Duong have made an appearance in many important national and international events such as the National Party Congress, APEC Vietnam 2006 and 2017, and the 17th ASEAN Summit. Binh Duong high-end porcelains of Minh Long I brand were chosen to be national gifts to more than 40 heads of state during official trips by the Party and State leaders.
For the Cham ethnic people, ceramics not only are used as daily utensils, but more importantly, they are an intermedia for them to connect with gods. Bau Truc pottery village in Ninh Thuan province is a perfect destination for visitors to explore the quintessence of Cham pottery making and their unique culture.
Inspired by potter’s wheels intersecting with each other, the Centre for Vietnamese Craft Village Quintessence was built in the heart of the ancient Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi. Spanning 3,300 square metres, the centre is some 15 kilometres from the capital’s downtown area on the banks of the Bac Hung Hai River, which runs through the city and Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, and Hai Duong provinces.
Located 49 kilometres south of Quang Ngai city, Pho Khanh commune in Duc Pho town has been renowned for its pottery for hundreds of years. Despite various ups and downs, the craft village has developed its reputation far and wide thanks to the preservation efforts of local people.
Bau Truc pottery village in the central province of Ninh Thuan is the oldest of its kind in Southeast Asia. Villagers still retain the method of making pottery entirely by hand, and are now making efforts to develop new ceramic lines, promote the application of information technology in consumption, and combine production with tourism to boost the number of orders it receives.
A ceremony was held in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan on June 15 to receive the UNESCO certificate, which inscribes the art of pottery making of Cham people on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.
