Brick making in Vietnam a mix of art and skill

A peek into the brick-making industry in Vietnam was an unexpected treat on the Mekong Delta Tour we attended.

Traditionally, brick-making has been a significant sector, and it is rapidly developing to meet the rising demand associated with Vietnam's economic growth. The local industry primarily focuses on traditional clay bricks, widely used in local construction.

The Mekong Delta has long been a major center for brick production, thanks to the abundant supply of clay and a network of waterways that facilitate the transportation of materials and finished products.

Vietnamese brick-making processes blend traditional methods, local materials, and community involvement, differentiating it from more industrialised brick-making processes found elsewhere in the world.

One of the most distinctive features is the traditional "Mang Thit" kiln design, and we saw these dome-shaped structures dotted all over the countryside. They are architectural marvels, crafted from the very bricks they fire, symbolising not just skill but also the ingenuity of Vietnamese craftsmen.

As part of the move towards more sustainability, rice husks, a by-product of rice milling, are often repurposed as fuel for firing bricks. Then, the ash from this process contributes further to the cycle of sustainability, serving as fertilizer.

The firing process in these kilns is a mix of art and skill as the stacking in the kiln requires the arrangement of bricks that allows for airflow and temperature distribution during firing. The process involves continuous, non-stop burning for days, demanding unwavering attention to detail, often with local community involvement. The entire process, from preparing the clay to molding and drying the bricks, stacking and firing the kiln, and then distributing the bricks, often involves collaboration among many community members. Typically this means that the brick-making process is run as community-based or family-run & owned operations, with the knowledge and skills often being passed down through generations.

Brick-making in regions like the Mekong Delta is not just an economic activity but also a cultural one and it is worth making a visit if you can.