Idea from reality

I was impressed on the giant stones of dozens of tonnes by the museum entrance and huge dinosaur model under the ancient tree. At his 75, Cuong is still strong and active.

Nguyen The Cuong displays the artifacts at the museum.

He was born and grew up in Cao Thanh commune, Ung Hoa district, Ha Tay province (Hanoi nowadays). He, his wife and son are engineer of construction material production of Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

Cuong has accompanied and gained success in tile production field at various position. The Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Thach Ban Group Joint Stock Company always dreams of building a tile museum.

He used to visit many countries in the world to discuss, research, link and transfer the technology and science about tile production then apply in Vietnam. In the early of 1980s, Thach Ban tile was the “oldest brother” in tile and brick production which was used in key construction projects of the nation with cultural and historical value.

In 1996 when the group decided to move some factories to Bac Giang, Cuong was in charge of two factories in Yen Dung district and then he attached to this land. The Government provided his family with a baren area in Nam Le village, Xuong Lam commune (Lang Giang district). With the passion for nature, the couple started to invest both money and effort to revamp the badland.

The brickyard chimney model at Thach Mon Trang Tile and Eco Museum.

After years, the family has succeeded in changing the land into an ecological farm covering over 6 hectares with thousands of trees planted in 12 diffirent gardens. Some are hundred of years old. Nine trees are recognized in the list of 100 masterpiece trees of Vietnam and nine as national heritage tree.

This ecological farm inspired him to build attractive tile museum. In May 2022, he started the construction of Thach Mon Trang Museum which was completed in early September. The name means a museum with a stone gate.

The dream finally comes true.

The exhibition space is an traditional stilt house of Tay ethnic people covering about 300 square meters. The first floor showcases more than 600 tile samples, many of which were hundreds to thousands of years old under the Dinh, Tran and Nguyen dynasties with unique shapes and patterns. Cuong, his family and friends collected the artifacts at several ancient architectures during excavation, reparation and restoration.

Nguyen The Cuong introduces about the exhibition at the museum to Cenral and provincial representatives.

Second floor introduces tile and brick collection, documentaries and images reflecting the establishment and development of Thach Ban Group since 1959. The outdoor space features 15 roads paved by different tiles, 10 meter chimney (signature ventilator of tile factory), 8 artistic tile pillar integrated among bontanical gardens, helping create specially ecological space and poetic delight. The museum also has 250 seat hall, library, cinema, entertainment facilities.

Cuong defines there are many tasks to do in the future to operate the museum to serve visitors, create good impression and spread its value to the province and nation.

Though Vietnam has more than 60 private museum, Thach Mon Trang is currently the first and sole tile museum in the country. It helps preserve and promote the cultural value in the proivnce. The experts and managers highly appreciated the museum owner for the passion, enthusiasm and great effort in collecting and conserving the artifacts.

Recently, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Bac Giang has handed over the Operation Licence for Thach Mon Trang Tile and Eco Museum and promised to provide professional instruction, content and State regulation about museum activity.

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