Phu Lang craft village is located at the poetic Cau River. It attracts tourists with its simplicity. Among many craft villages in the Cau River space, the cradle of the Red River civilisation, Phu Lang is famous for several ceramic artisans. For years, the village appeared unchanged. Nevertheless, since the Saint Patron of ceramics creating, Luu Phong Tu, brought the craft from China to Phu Lang and taught his kids and co-villagers to create ceramic articles, dozens of generations of craftsmen have settled in Phu Lang and earned their living by working this job.

Lots of tourists are interested in travelling to the village because they have an opportunity to create ceramics themselves. Clay, the materials used to create ceramics, bought from different places and transported to the village by boat. Tourists to the village will stay at villagers’ houses to contemplate the calm atmosphere, see the ceramic kilns mushrooming along the dykes or on the low hills close to Luc Dau Giang, facing the Cau River that runs around the year.

For years, Phu Lang ceramic ware has been on sale at the side of those ceramic articles created in Bat Trang, Tho Ha, Huong Canh, Phan Thiet, Dong Nai and Mong Cai, other famous ceramic creating areas. However, the merchandise of Phu Lang are a lot of wanted by customers throughout the country because of their sturdiness, diversity and distinctive enamel colors of eel skin, purple, pink, black, yellow, frog skin,... A special enamel, referred to shrunk enamel, is merely created by these 2 artisans. At totally different temperatures, this enamel produces totally different natural styles and numerous things that greatly attract consumers.

Phu Lang ceramic merchandise are of top quality as they're dried in the ancient kiln referred to the Rong, which is specially made and uses dry wood as fuel. The kiln is made in the form of a lying fish, 2.3 m (at the widest point) and 1.8m (at the narrowest point) in width and 2.5m (tallest) and 1.8m (shortest) in height. There's no support pillar inside. The kiln vault is formed of brick.

On average, one batch contains 700 main merchandise, like jars, basins, pots,... and 1,000 -1,500 additional things like bottles, water troughs and pots to cook ancient medicine. The merchandise are tempered at over 1,000ºC. It is due to the result of the high temperature-resistant red clay, the finished merchandise don't seem to be deformed after being fired and baked.

Phu Lang ceramic merchandise have quickly discovered a distinct segment in domestic and foreign markets, as well as the Netherlands, Denmark, England, Sweden and Thailand.

Source: vietnamimpression

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