Mang Thit, once hailed as the largest brick and tile production hub in the Mekong Delta, earned the title “Kingdom of Brick Kilns” during its peak in the mid-20th century through the early 21st century.
Thousands of kilns lined the area, driven by strategic positioning along rivers that facilitated production and transportation. By the 1980s, the brick-making industry employed approximately 12,000 workers, exporting products to various countries worldwide.
However, starting in the early 2000s, the industry faced significant hurdles, including rising production costs, dwindling demand, and growing environmental concerns. As a result, manual kilns were gradually dismantled, prompting many workers to seek employment elsewhere. Today, only around 800 kilns remain operational, predominantly located along the Thay Cai Canal near the Co Chien River.
To preserve this craft and its legacy, local authorities have launched the Mang Thit Contemporary Heritage Project, an initiative aimed at transforming the region into a distinctive contemporary heritage site. This project envisions the former “Kingdom of Brick Kilns” as an appealing destination for visitors, highlighting traditional red pottery as its central tourism attraction.
