Restoring Huong Canh's Traditional Occupation

Huong Canh pottery products were very famous all over the country, however facing fierce competition from other similar products, they have lost their market. Many pottery product makers in the village abandoned their occupation; however, artisan Nguyen Thanh continues to make a huge effort to restore the village's traditional craft.
A 300 year old craft village
Nguyen Thanh in Huong Canh Village, Binh Xuyen District, Vinh Phuc Province, sadly said that despite's Huong Canh's famous 300 year tradition of pottery production, it is no longer well known for the craft. Huong Canh is located on an area between the plains and midlands, and therefore its clay is soft and can be found in grey, yellow, red and brown. This is very suitable for making pottery products. The main pottery items produced by Huong Canh were utensils used in daily life such as jars, pots and teapots.
Huong Canh pottery was once famous throughout the north and central region because of its beauty and endurance, especially its natural glaze. In 1950s, the Huong Canh Handicraft Product Co-operative successfully produced Huong Canh tiles, making Huong Canh pottery brand even more famous. Nguyen Thanh said that at that time all the villagers produced the tiles. Tile kilns were burnt all year, however the village did not produce enough products to meet consumer demand. Many people flocked to the village to buy tiles.
However, when the economy rapidly developed, people abandoned the use of Huong Canh pottery products, and the traditional occupation went into a spiral of decline.
Efforts to restore the traditional occupation
Spending decades in pottery making, Nguyen Thanh has witnessed the traditional occupation's ups and downs. The artisan is still making huge efforts to restore the village tradition. Nguyen Thanh knows clearly why Huong Canh pottery products lost their market. He went to Bat Trang pottery village to study how people there designed and advertised their products. He admitted that Huong Canh traditional pottery products do not suit modern life. Therefore, he decided to change to producing fine handicraft pottery products.
Aware that apart from artisan skills, beautiful appearances play an important role in finding a market for Huong Canh pottery products, Nguyen Thanh has made enormous efforts in design. He has hired a professional painter who is responsible for the designing stage. Being encouraged by Nguyen Thanh, his sons are studying at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts. His sons will take over from him to develop the family tradition.
To support Nguyen Thanh and people who are interested in the traditional craft village, in 2007, the Vinh Phuc Province Department of Industry and Trade worked with the provincial Center for Industry Promotion to implement a project on restoring Huong Canh as a traditional craft village. Each family that produces pottery products is assisted with VND5-10 million depending on the scale of their production. The center proposed that the province's People's Committee create a 5.5ha production area in Dong Beo where pottery products could be made.
In addition, to advertise Huong Canh pottery products, the center has supported Nguyen Thanh's family to introduce their products at many exhibitions, fairs and on the province's website. The center also invited many people to visit the village and buy its pottery products.
Nguyen Thi Nu who has been associated with the traditional occupation for more than 70 years, said: "I have witnessed many ups and downs of Huong Canh pottery products. I thought that the traditional occupation would eventually disappear. However, thanks to support from the local government and efforts of people who love traditional pottery products like Nguyen Thanh, the village's traditional occupation has been restored. Some foreign tourists have visited the village. We are very happy."
With the ceaseless efforts of people who are interested in the village and support of local government, Huong Canh pottery village has experienced a revival in interest in the traditional occupation, and the village's pottery products and Nguyen Thanh's artisan products in particular have become well-known. At present, his family produces about 200 products every week which bring VND300 million annually. His family products such as flower vases, busts, and statues of dragons and lions have attracted many foreign tourists. Many tourists from Japan, the US and Republic of Korea have visited his house and placed orders.
Huong Canh pottery products which combine traditional and modern beauty have become unique products which bring high economic value to producers.