Bat Trang Ceramic Village in Hanoi

“I wish I could marry you/ I will buy Bat Trang bricks to build our house” are the beautiful folk words honoring Bat Trang ceramic & pottery quality, the pride of northern Vietnam.

Bat Trang ceramic village , a small village in the north of Vietnam, is about 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi center, on the other side of Chuong Duong bridge. Why is its name popular to most tourists to northern Vietnam? The answer is its ever famous ceramic and pottery products of high quality.

Should you would like to contemplate workers making ceramic products by hand, just come here! What’s more, you can also try it yourself!

History of Bat Trang Ceramic Village

Bat Trang pottery village is said to be established in 14^th or 15^th century in several documents. However, according to the villagers, the village perhaps appeared earlier. There are always two stories concerning the village origin.

One of these tells that under Ly dynasty, in 1100, when the nation was in its independence and initial growth period, there were 3 scholars who came back from their mission trip to China bringing the ceramic craft industry learned there back to Vietnam and taught the people of Bat Trang.

In the other story, in the village history dates back to the 10^th century, when King Ly Cong Uan relocated the capital in Thang Long. With the establishment and development of the capital, many businessmen, crafters from many areas come to settle down here to work and trade.

In Bat Trang pottery village, there was a lot of white clay, so that many potters, among whom was Nguyen Ninh Trang family, came and built the kilns here. Accordingly, Bat Trang has gradually changed from a normal ceramic and pottery village into a famous ceramic and pottery centre until now.

As time went by, the village’s products have developed and become well known for the best quality, style and glaze, both inside and outside of the nation. Many of these are now customized for aristocratic families and religious needs. Its popular foreign markets are Japan (under the brand “Kochi (Giao Chi) ware”), the Netherlands, Britain, Portugal, Southeast Asia, etc.,

The Famous Ceramic & Pottery Products

1. Production Process

To produce a complete product, one must follow 3 steps. The first step is making the product frame. The artists select the suitable clay, treat it and start making a raw product. They repair it to get the best appearance. Secondly, they decorate and cover it with glazes.

Last but not least, the raw products are baked in 3 days and 3 nights. There are several kinds of kiln, yet the temperature must be at 1200⁰C or 1300⁰C. After baking, they bring out the products, classify and repair in case there are mistakes. And now we have the perfect product.

2. Popular Product Types

Bat Trang products are divided into 3 kinds based on the purpose of use.

• Utilitarian wares: including plates, bowls, teacups, kettles, wine bottles, flowerpots, vases, jar… What differs is that they are thicker than Chinese ones.
• Cult wares: comprise lamp stands, candle holders, incense burner, altar boxes, swords… These are valuable for collectors because of inscription of the production years, the names of the producers and the potters.
• Decorative objects: house models, altars, statues and architectural fixtures.

The special trait is the diversified decorations on the products. Thanks to a long–lasting history and development, the village’s works have been accumulated with a lot of different special designs. One more thing that makes them distinguished is the glaze, which is of high quality and a variety of colors, such as blue, brown, white, moss green, in both breaking and melting glazes.

Guideline for Visiting Bat Trang Ceramic Village

Within about a 13 km drive for Hanoi’s business district, there is Bat Trang which was the traditional village for Vietnam’s ceramics since a thousand years ago.

What to Visit in Bat Trang Village

Here are the must-visit spots and experiences that will make your trip memorable:

• The Ancient Village

The whole area is like a flashback, which is not so surprising when you’re strolling down the narrow alleys of Bat Trang. Tiled-roofed houses and centuries old kilns speak about thousands of workers who have set up a home in this village. 

If you want to go somewhere in the village, you should take a buffalo cart, but notice that it can not only be used for transportation but also show people the way of Vietnamese rural living.

Travel Tip: Go there early around 7-8 o’clock in the morning to see artisans at work and also avoid hot weather.

• Bat Trang Pottery Museum

This beautiful contemporary six storey has been designed to effectively exhibit the village’s ceramic tradition. Each floor offers a unique experience:

• Ground & First Floor: Pottery artifact showcase and photo sessions
• Second Floor: Village history exhibition
• Third Floor: Contemporary art center
• Fourth Floor: Cafe with Red River views
• Fifth Floor: Tea house and light creative works

Travel Tip: Cafe located on the fourth floor of the building can be an ideal spot to relax right in the middle of work: it offers the beautiful view of the city in the evening.

• The Pottery Market

The 6,000-square-meter market appears to be a sprawling store for ceramic works. This ranges from common utensils such as teacups, rice bowls to more complex items of art. There are Bat Trang products to buy in the Hanoi Old Quarter, but purchasing in the village is cheaper and more diverse.

Travel Tip: Use a quote then offer a discount around 30% from the quoted price, but make sure to be friendly and remember to smile!

What do at Bat Trang Pottery Village

• Pottery Workshop

Try shaping with your own hands on a wheel at a pottery workshop! The price is not really expensive, that for about 100,000 – 150,000 VND ($4 – 6), one can have his or her own artwork with the guidance of skilled craftsmen. Your creation can be fired and ready for pickup within 3-4 days. Many children like to go to Bat Trang ceramic village to make pottery. So, it became one of the best things to do in Vietnam with kids.

• Ancient Kiln Exploration

There is a very nice piece of architecture, the “Lo Bau” Kiln – a piece of 19th century pottery that demonstrates the firing methods.

• Local Delicacies

Take a culinary break with local specialties: Banh san nuong or grilled rice cake, banh te (rice rolls) and soup made with bamboo shoot and squid – a Bat Trang specialty.

Bat Trang ceramic village is facing up the lack of artisans. Yet, Bat Trang village is still found in busy days and works. More importantly, the village is now so popular that absorbs a huge annual number of tourists to visit and buy ceramic goods.

>> Looking for ancient Vietnamese village experiences? Check out: Cycling to Dong Ngac Ancient Village in Hanoi