On a flat expanse of land with sweeping views, six brick kilns stand in symmetrical formation—four on one side, two on the other. Wild plants have overgrown the pathways and enveloped the kilns, a testament to the fact that this place has long been abandoned.
Yet, whether viewed from afar or up close, from above or below, the brick kilns appear as beautiful as forgotten works of art.
Each kiln stands at an average height of 10 to 12 meters, shaped like a massive, reddish-pink inverted bowl that tapers toward the top. They are constructed from thousands of uniformly laid bricks, reminiscent of the brickwork techniques used in ancient Cham towers—built without mortar, relying instead on the precise grinding and fitting of each brick to achieve a tight seal.
Whether viewed from the outside or within, the bricklaying technique imparts an artistic beauty to these kilns.
The entrance to each kiln is oval-shaped, echoing the architectural style of Cham tower doorways. Inside, the ground is covered with a soft layer of green moss and creeping wild plants.
Morning sunlight slants through the entrance or streams down from the smoke vent at the top, casting a circular halo of light onto the soot-darkened brick walls. Standing inside the kiln, bathed in this mystical light, one feels as if transported to the heart of an ancient religious structure.
According to Trâm Anh, a local resident, these brick kilns were built in 2017. However, because they were located within a residential area, they operated only briefly before being shut down. Despite changing hands several times, the kilns have remained intact.
Many locals and passersby stop to admire and marvel at the unusual beauty of these old kilns, which resemble ancient towers.
This area is close to the remnants of an old villa at the foot of Hàm Rồng Mountain, about 5–6 kilometers from the center of Pleiku, in Hội Phú Ward, formerly the Cham village of Anẻl, Chư Hdrông commune.
From the bypass along National Highway 19, between Ia Băng commune and An Phú ward, the kiln domes can still be seen silhouetted against the sky, like massive, silent towers amid the landscape.
Sometimes, we are startled to discover the beauty in things that are old and forgotten. Standing before these abandoned brick kilns evokes a similar feeling, as their domes rise like ancient towers against the sky, and wild plants embrace what remains…