From a young age, Hoang Ngoc Hien lived in Hoa An Ward. Bien Hoa City had a passion for ceramics. Therefore, after graduating from high school, he chose Dong Nai College of Decorative Arts to improve his knowledge of the Ceramics industry. What is your dream, let’s find out with Viet Thanh Ceramics through the article below:

Artisan Hoang Ngoc Hien – Owner of Hien Nam Pottery Kiln, Hoa An Ward

This year, Dong Nai province welcomes good news with many projects to celebrate the 325th anniversary of the establishment and development of the land of Bien Hoa – Dong Nai (1698 – 2023). Coincidentally, that number is also the age of Bien Hoa Ceramics – one of the 14 most famous pottery villages in the country.

Far from the previous imagination, the Hien Nam pottery kiln is quite large. With a total area of about 500 square meters and there are 3 main areas, one is where you do the work of carving and shaping products; another area displays countless watercolors and brushes to decorate ceramics after they have been fired and dried; the other place to display finished products.

It seems that in the last days of the year, there are more Tet orders, so everyone works very enthusiastically. The painting of labor at Hien Nam pottery kiln really makes me admire and cherish, because the way they drop their souls into each handful of land is not just doing a daily job, it is the moments of sublimated artistic creation of real artisans.

1. What made you passionate about pottery since childhood?

Four Seasons Vase by artist Hoang Ngoc Hien

My hometown is in Nghe An, when I was 9 years old, my family and I moved to Dong Nai to live. Since I was a child, I have been in contact with some potters of Bien Hoa and watching them create ceramic products with many different colors every day, I went from being interested in learning to being passionate about it. So every time I have free time, I follow long-time potters to practice making simple pottery products and learn from experience.

Knowing that Bien Hoa pottery has a history of hundreds of years, once famous at home and abroad, I had a dream, later growing up to become a skilled potter, establishing my own workshop to specialize in producing high- class fine art ceramics. After that, Bien Hoa pottery products will be brought to pottery lovers in all regions of the country and exported abroad.

2. Having both talent and passion for fine ceramics since childhood, why did you not establish a ceramic production facility until 2013, when you were over 30 years old?

Although I have been studying fine ceramics since childhood and have been taught by some good artisans and craftsmen, I think I need to have more practical experience before establishing my own production workshop. Therefore, after graduating, I chose to work in a number of long-standing pottery establishments in Ho Chi Minh City. Bien Hoa to understand more secrets in the fine art pottery profession from the shaping stage to the glaze dipping stage and bring the pottery into firing to produce the desired unique colors. In 2013, when I had accumulated solid knowledge of ceramics and sufficient financial potential, I established Phu Hien Nam Ceramic Production Base in Hoa An Ward.

Owning a pottery facility is many times harder than being a skilled potter. I have to take care of creating unique fine ceramic products, finding a consumption market to have capital to maintain production. However, I am lucky that the factory’s products when introduced at exhibitions have been enthusiastically received by ceramic lovers. Since then, agents have come to me to order more and more.

3. Currently, in addition to domestic consumption, which countries in the world have your fine ceramic products reached?

My fine art ceramic products are divided into 2 schools: classic and modern. With the classical school, I focused on restoring and developing ceramic products: statues, paintings, reliefs, patterns. As for the modern school, I create high-class ceramic products intertwined between tradition and modernity to bring to exhibitions, introduce people to Bien Hoa ceramics and sell them when customers want to collect. Since establishing the pottery factory and turning it into a company, I have received a lot of orders from temples and temples across the country, agents, and companies.

The orders received, whether small or large, I put my heart and soul into implementing them with the desire to contribute to the preservation and development of Bien Hoa ceramics. Currently, the pottery products I produce, in addition to being consumed in the domestic market, are also exported to some European and ASEAN countries.

4. After many years working in the ceramic art profession, what do you find most interesting?

Artisan Hoang Ngoc Hien is sculpting his ceramic statue.

I choose the profession because I love and am passionate, so in the process of working, it always brings me a lot of fun. Every time a batch of pottery is enthusiastically received by customers, it is also a great joy for potters. There are ceramic works, it took me a long time to research and create to form and become a “unique” product that is highly appreciated by ceramic enthusiasts for its artistic value, willing to pay a high price to own, which is also a great encouragement. However, there are also some unique ceramic works, which I will keep as a souvenir and let customers come to Phu Hien Nam pottery facility to admire.

5. Bien Hoa pottery has gone through many ups and downs. According to you, if you want pottery to return to its “golden age” like many years ago, what do ceramic establishments need?

Artisans and good craftsmen have contributed to the development of Bien Hoa pottery to become one of the 14 most famous pottery villages in the country. Since the early decades of the twentieth century, Bien Hoa pottery has been exported to nearly 10 countries and territories. Although there are many times when Bien Hoa ceramics are in danger of disappearing, craft lovers have linked to bring to the market unique products that both inherit the characteristics of ancient Bien Hoa ceramics but also intertwine modern features to make the product more beautiful and attractive.

Pottery artist Hoang Ngoc Hien with his work

We, the next generation, continue to inherit and increase the value of Bien Hoa ceramics by exporting to about 30 countries and territories around the world. Over the past time, I have tried to associate with a number of companies to improve the quality and quantity of products, expand the consumption market for ceramic products.

6. Many ceramic establishments said that very few young people want to inherit and develop the traditional ceramic profession. In your opinion, what should be done to attract young people to follow and stick with the profession?

Wanting to become a good fine potter requires people to be talented, meticulous, diligent and able to endure hardship. Currently, many companies and factories have been established and need a large number of workers.

The work at the factories is lighter, the income is more stable than in the pottery profession, so many young people are not interested. However, in my opinion, there will still be young people who love the pottery profession and are willing to stick to the profession for a long time. The evidence is that many pottery establishments in Bien Hoa have been converted into companies, renting land in industrial clusters and building spacious factories, recruiting more workers to meet large orders from domestic and foreign partners.

I and the pottery establishments in Bien Hoa also continuously recruit and train more potters, in order to maintain and develop the craft village. At the same time, he seeks to instill passion and pride in Bien Hoa pottery for young people to bring the traditional profession to develop day by day. In addition, there must also be certain contributions to the preservation and development of traditional professions. I am lucky that my age and profession are not as much as some other good craftsmen, but I have been awarded the title of artisan. This will be a motivation to help me make more efforts in the profession to continue to restore, preserve and increase the value of Bien Hoa pottery, bringing Bien Hoa pottery farther and farther to many other countries.

7. Viet Thanh Ceramic Joint Stock Company is one of the leading units in expanding cooperation and association with Hien Nam Ceramic Factory.

Viet Thanh Ceramics Joint Stock Company, one of the leading units in the ceramic industry in Bien Hoa – Dong Nai, always focuses on expanding and strengthening strategic cooperative relationships. In this effort, we have established a strong link with Hien Nam Pottery , a reliable and reputable partner in the industry. This combination not only opens up opportunities for the exchange of technology and experience, but also improves the quality of products and services of both parties. We are committed to continuing to develop and expand this relationship to bring optimal value to customers and partners, and contribute to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s ceramic industry.

If you are interested and want to visit Hien Nam Pottery Factory, you will experience a traditional ceramic production space combined with modern technology. In addition, you can witness the process of making pottery with your own eyes and choose a favorite product for yourself!

Hien Nam Pottery: Bui Huu Nghia Street, Provincial Road 16, Hoa An Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai, Vietnam

Hotline: 0906922113

Viet Thanh Ceramic Corporation: 2431 Nguyen Ai Quoc, Hoa An Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai, Vietnam

Phuc Nguyen – General Manager – phucnguyen@vicerco.vn

Tel: (+84) 251 395 4312 – Hotline: (+84) 914 292 636

Tien Nguyen – Sale Executive – sale01.pottery@vicerco.vn

Hien Nguyen – Production Manager – hiennguyen@vicerco.vn

Tien Nguyen – Sale Executive – sale01.pottery@vicerco.vn

Trang Le – Sale Executive – trangle@vicerco.vn