The Red Kingdom of Mang Thít

Mã bài dự thi: 590327

Đơn vị: Cá nhân

Địa điểm sáng tác: Vĩnh Long

Nestled alongside the Cổ Chiên river, Cái Nhum and Cai Thầy canals in Vĩnh Long province, lies Mang Thít, a village renowned as the "Ceramic Brick Village" or the evocative "Red Kingdom". For over a century, the art of crafting clay bricks has flourished here. The village's heart lies in its traditional brick kilns, towering structures resembling egg-shaped castles. Built from 1887 onwards, these kilns stand as testaments to Mang Thít's rich history. Remarkably, they rely on rice husks, a sustainable fuel source, to fire the bricks. The process itself is a testament to patience and skill. Artisans begin by shaping the clay, a gift from the Cổ Chiên river's sediments. These molded blocks are then bathed in the warm sunlight before their fiery transformation. The kilns burn for seven days, with a carefully controlled temperature rise. The initial days focus on drying, while the latter half witnesses a dramatic increase, reaching a peak of 900 degrees Celsius on the final day. While the village once boasted a staggering production of over 5 million ceramic products and bricks annually, its vibrancy has dimmed somewhat. Today, only a fraction of the original kilns remain operational. However, this decline has ushered in a new chapter for Mang Thít. The village's unique charm and rich heritage have transformed it into a magnet for tourists and photographers, eager to capture the essence of this enduring Vietnamese tradition.