Promoting Bau Truc pottery heritage

In order to introduce and promote unique features of the art of pottery-making of Cham people as well as Bau Truc pottery products to more domestic and international tourists, it’s necessary to establish a place for introduction and promotion in Nha Trang area.

Heritage in need of urgent safeguarding

The art of pottery-making of Cham people was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2022. Cham people's art of pottery-making involves the traditional handicraft of making Cham pottery by hand and using simple tools. Most of the makers of Cham pottery products are Cham women. The craft are passed down within families, clans and the community. Cham people's art of pottery-making holds significant meaning in maintaining the local economy, promoting social development and preserving the unique Cham cultural identity in Vietnam. 

Cham women making Bau Truc pottery products

The art of pottery-making of Cham people is mainly centered in Bau Truc Village, specifically in Bau Truc Hamlet and Hamlet 12 (Ninh Phuoc Commune). Bau Truc Village currently has about 400 households, 12 business establishments and 2 cooperatives operating in pottery field. However, the craft village is facing potential risks of decline. The inscription of art of pottery-making of Cham people onto the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding by UNESCO can be viewed as a decisive move to develop an optimal plan for ensuring that this unique folk craft knowledge does not vanish. The implementation of national action programs to protect and promote intangible cultural value along with positive support and solutions from the central government and local authorities will help Bau Truc pottery heritage be better protected.

There should be a place for introduction of Bau Truc pottery

Established in 2023, Bau Truc Pottery Production - Trade and Service Cooperative (Bau Truc Hamlet, Ninh Phuoc Commune) receives nearly 4,000 visitors each year, including many foreign tour groups. In an area of over 300m2, the cooperative serves as a venue to introduce unique Bau Truc potteryproducts crafted by skilled artisans and workers. Visitors can view Bau Truc pottery-making technique, see Champa folk singing and dancing performances and traditional Champa musical instrument shows, and enjoy traditional dishes of Champa people. Bau Truc pottery is also introduced at Po Klong Garai national special monument. Van Quan Phu Doan, director of the cooperative has recently proposed a place in Nha Trang to introduce and promote Bau Truc pottery in order to make the art of Bau Truc pottery known to a larger group of local people and tourists.

The art of pottery-making of Cham people is introduced at an event in Hanoi

Initially, the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will cooperate with related agencies and units to continue supporting, guiding and creating favorable conditions for the cooperative to participate in promotional activities, exhibitions, and product introductions for Cham pottery in and outside the province. Furthermore, the department has directed the Provincial Center of Cultural Heritage Preservation to proactively cooperate with the cooperative to build up a plan to display and introduce the cooperative’s pottery products at Po Nagar Temple national special monument.

Regarding the long-term vision, in order to better support Bau Truc pottery producers and businesses and to enhance community effort in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage value, the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism proposes introduce and promote the art of pottery-making of Cham people in some appropriate places in the province.

Regarding the long-term vision, in order to better support Bau Truc pottery producers and businesses and to enhance community effort in preserving and promoting intangible cultural heritage value, the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism proposes introduce and promote the art of pottery-making of Cham people in some appropriate places in the province.

GIANG DINH
Translated by H.N