Bau Truc village potters still maintain the traditional way of making pottery. Photo: TITC

Bau Truc (Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province) is considered one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia. The Cham people follow a matriarchal system, “from mother to daughter”, most of their products are created by the skillful hands of Cham women. Therefore, Bau Truc pottery has a unique beauty, different from pottery in other places. At the same time, it has also become a highlight of craft village tourism in Ninh Thuan province, attracting many tourists to visit and experience.

Unlike other pottery villages such as Bat Trang (Hanoi); Chu Dau (Hai Duong); Bien Hoa – Dong Nai or Phuoc Tich Pottery Village – Thua Thien Hue, Thanh Ha – Quang Nam… When these places have applied many technologies to production, using turntables to mold products, using enamel for decoration or using technology to bake in electric or gas kilns… The potters of Bau Truc village still maintain the traditional way of making pottery. The products are created using a unique technique, which people often call by the very popular name “made by hand, turned by the buttocks”. The potter walks backwards, his hands “catching” each clump of clay, pressing with the inside hand and rubbing with the outside hand, transforming the lifeless, lifeless clay into unique, original ceramic products imbued with Cham culture. The firing method is still done outdoors using firewood, straw, rice husks…

Bau Truc village potters still maintain the traditional way of making pottery. Photo: TITC

Bau Truc (Phuoc Dan town, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province) is considered one of the oldest pottery villages in Southeast Asia. The Cham people follow a matriarchal system, “from mother to daughter”, most of their products are created by the skillful hands of Cham women. Therefore, Bau Truc pottery has a unique beauty, different from pottery in other places. At the same time, it has also become a highlight of craft village tourism in Ninh Thuan province, attracting many tourists to visit and experience.

Unlike other pottery villages such as Bat Trang (Hanoi); Chu Dau (Hai Duong); Bien Hoa – Dong Nai or Phuoc Tich Pottery Village – Thua Thien Hue, Thanh Ha – Quang Nam… When these places have applied many technologies to production, using turntables to mold products, using enamel for decoration or using technology to bake in electric or gas kilns… The potters of Bau Truc village still maintain the traditional way of making pottery. The products are created using a unique technique, which people often call by the very popular name “made by hand, turned by the buttocks”. The potter walks backwards, his hands “catching” each clump of clay, pressing with the inside hand and rubbing with the outside hand, transforming the lifeless, lifeless clay into unique, original ceramic products imbued with Cham culture. The firing method is still done outdoors using firewood, straw, rice husks…

The attraction of Cham pottery to tourists from near and far in recent times shows an optimistic signal from linking tourism development with traditional craft villages. Becoming an “intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection” and being recognized by UNESCO will create more premises for the work of preserving, maintaining and promoting the traditional heritage values ​​of the Cham ethnic group.

Exploiting cultural heritage to develop community tourism in Cham ethnic areas in Ninh Thuan has created many jobs and income for the people. In addition, heritage-based tourism also helps preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the Cham ethnic group in Ninh Thuan.

The attraction of Cham pottery to tourists from near and far in recent times shows an optimistic signal from linking tourism development with traditional craft villages. Becoming an “intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection” and being recognized by UNESCO will create more premises for the work of preserving, maintaining and promoting the traditional heritage values ​​of the Cham ethnic group.

Exploiting cultural heritage to develop community tourism in Cham ethnic areas in Ninh Thuan has created many jobs and income for the people. In addition, heritage-based tourism also helps preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of the Cham ethnic group in Ninh Thuan.