VietNamNet Bridge – Over the past 10 years, the number of traditional pottery villages in the southern province of Binh Duong has steadily declined due to financial constraints, lack of necessary materials and fewer orders for pottery products.

Pottery items are put into a kiln.

A recent survey carried out by Binh Duong’s Department of Industry and Trade shows that there currently remain 119 pottery-making facilities compared to nearly 400 recorded five years ago in the province. Particularly, Tan Phuong Khanh Town only has around 30 facilities, down from 120 five years ago.

A facility owner identified as Loan says she could count the pottery-making households on the fingers of one hand.  The numbers of orders and potters have decreased significantly. Even Loan’s children do not follow in her footsteps.

Clay pots are dried before being put into a kiln     A woman makes a clay cat-shaped statue

Conventional production requires a large number of laborers and a big volume of costly materials, whereas prices of the finished products cannot make up for losses. Besides, local pottery items have to compete with products from China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia among others, which are made by modern technology with varied attractive models at more affordable prices.

SGT/VNN