In its heyday, the brick village stretched 30km across Vinh Long City, Long Ho and Mang Thit districts with more than 3,000 operating kilns. There are now about 700 brick kilns remaining, covering an area of 3,000 hectares, most of which are concentrated along the Thay Cai canal to the section bordering the Co Chien River - a branch of the Mekong River.
Up to now, the ceramic brick making profession in Vinh Long province has not only created jobs for many workers, but also trained highly skilled and enthusiastic workers. Workers in the craft village believe that the ceramic brick making profession is not only for earning a living but also a passion that has been ingrained in their blood without them knowing it, so they are always diligent and tirelessly creating quality products to add to the “Mang Thit Contemporary Heritage”.
Having been involved in the ceramic brick making industry for about 30 years, Ms. Pham Thi Bay (55 years old, Long Ho district, Vinh Long province) works in the process of polishing (editing and polishing) the products. Ms. Pham Thi Bay said that the job is both to earn extra income and to be a source of joy as well as to preserve the traditional craft that has been around for over 100 years.
Also working in the weaving stage and having been in the profession for more than 10 years, Ms. Bui Thi Kim Ngan (37 years old) said that each stage has its own difficulties, but doing it so much makes her familiar with it that every time she doesn't go to work, she misses the job.
Ms. Doan Thi Ngoc Diep - President of Vinh Long Ceramic and Fine Arts Association - said that in the coming time, Vinh Long ceramic products will aim to develop more products with high aesthetics and light weight so that tourists can buy them as gifts. Some establishments also attract domestic and foreign tourists to visit the ceramic making process, experience ceramic making... thereby helping to promote the local craft village.
Mr. Lu Quang Ngoi - Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee - acknowledged that to preserve and restore Mang Thit ceramic and brick craft village, first of all, it is the merit and dedication of the community and traditional craftsmen. They are the ones who have kept the fire, kept the profession, and brought Vinh Long products to the whole Mekong Delta and many countries around the world.
The Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial People's Committee added that this is considered a unique product that serves as a basis for regional linkage, attracting domestic and foreign visitors to visit Vinh Long. The plan to preserve the brick and pottery craft village aims to create a unique feature for Vinh Long, while promoting the value of the craft village through tourism activities with functional areas such as the brick and pottery production experience area; homestay resort; craft village product display area; souvenir production.
In November 2024, the People's Committee of Vinh Long province officially announced the Master Plan for the construction of the brick and pottery kiln area in Mang Thit district, Vinh Long province until 2045. According to the decision, the scope and boundaries of the planning area are in the communes of My An, My Phuoc, Nhon Phu and Hoa Tinh communes of Mang Thit district. The scale of the planning area is about 3,060 hectares.
The nature of the project is the key tourist area of the province, oriented as a national tourist area, playing an important role in promoting socio-economic development. Especially tourism for Vinh Long province in particular and the Mekong Delta region in general.
