Every full moon of the seventh lunar month, the Thanh Ha Pottery Ancestral Commemoration Festival in Hoi An Tay Ward, Da Nang City draws throngs of visitors to the ancient craft village to experience making ceramics themselves.

While the north is famous for Phu Lang and Bat Trang pottery, Thanh Ha, with a history of more than 500 years, remains a source of pride for Da Nang residents.

In recent days, crowds of visitors gather at Thanh Ha Village to create clay items such as toy animals, bowls, and cups.

Local pottery workshops provide kaolin clay, pottery wheels, brushes, and colors, as well as basic instructions on shaping techniques for guests.

Tourists are encouraged to unleash their creativity by crafting pieces in various shapes, which serve as meaningful souvenirs, while helping preserve traditional cultural values.

“This is the first time I have made a ceramic product myself, ” said Mai Lan, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City.

“It is harder than I thought because just a slight mistake can ruin it.

“That is why I'm so happy to hold the finished piece in my hands.”

Thanh Ha ceramics are especially popular with foreign visitors.

Nguyen Thi Linh, owner of My Linh Pottery Workshop, said many foreign tourists place extra orders for cups, teapots, and other items after experiencing the craft.

“Introducing and guiding visitors in pottery-making is a way to promote and preserve our traditional craft,” Linh said.

“At the same time, it creates more income for us by expanding tourism services.”

According to Linh, products at the workshop fetch from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand dong, depending on size and detail. (VND10,000 = US$0.38)

Hundreds of items are produced daily, with clay toy animals being the most common.

Nearby, Nguyen Sau’s workshop specializing in clay toy animals has also been busy with visitors.

Many expressed excitement as they learned how to shape clay into figurines of the 12 zodiac animals.