Yandabo (Myanmar)

Yandabo is an Irrawaddy) River cruise port and village in central Burma (Myanmar). The location is famous for the Treaty of Yandabo signed here in February 1826 and ending the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826). Yandabo is also famous for the pottery making. Cruise ship tourists will find unique pots hand-made from river clay and used by the locals for water and food storage.

The village has around 400 houses, each home to 5-10 people. Around 30 families are pottery makers, while the other villagers are fishermen, farmers or suppliers of raw materials (clay and wood). Women make the pots. This is a 2-person job as one woman makes the pot while the other operates the wheel via treadle. The pots are decorated and arranged in a circular pattern to dry. There may be up to 3000 units in a single layer, which is covered with a pile of straw, ash and wood, then set on fire for 3-4 days.