Bat Trang Ceramic Village: Celebrating a Timeless 500-Year Pottery Legacy

Are you seeking a tourist spot around Hanoi? Well, Bat Trang ceramic village is a choice. Visiting this pottery village promises a day and a deep dive into Vietnam's cultural heritage spanning thousands of years showcased through ancient artifacts and historical remnants. Moreover, you can engage in crafting quality items tailored to your liking. So why delay? Allow us to furnish you with all the details, for this adventure!

Written by Oliver PHUNG (local expert)Updated on 11-07-2024

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1. History Of Bat Trang Village: Ceramic Art With Kaolin

Historical records indicate that the pottery village of Bát Tràng was founded during the Lý dynasty (1009–1225). Then five groups of potters—the Tran, Vuong, Nguyen-Le, and Phạm families—relocated to what's now known as Bát Tràng village, in Hà Nội. This area is abundant with clay.

Kaolin clay, also known as clay, plays a crucial role in ceramics due to its mineral content necessary for the production process. This type of clay offers heat resistance, ensuring the durability of pieces during high-temperature firing and making it an ideal raw material for ceramics. Utilizing these resources, they established the ceramics workshops.

Despite enduring over 500 years of history and facing challenges over time, Bat Trang village has managed to retain its allure and stands as the oldest and most esteemed ceramic hub in the country.

2. Ceramic Manufacturing Process In Bat Trang

>>> For a more precise description:

• Combustion in furnaces

Initially, potters used straw and bamboo to fuel the first kilns. Afterward, they started using a combination of different types of wood to burn ceramics. Later, coal dust from Quang Ninh became the main raw material for combustion, while firewood was only used to light the kiln.

Currently, 100% of ceramic-producing households in Bat Trang use gas kilns, electric kilns, and tunnel kilns (continuous kilns).

• Ceramic glaze

Bat Trang ceramic glaze is processed and mixed by craftsmen according to specific standards. The most commonly used ingredient is ash yeast, made from rice husk ash from Que village and Luong village (Nam Ha), mixed with white clay and quicklime. These traditional glazes produce many beautiful colors on Bat Trang's famous ceramic products.
 

• Rituals and Firebending

Artisans often perform prayer rituals to ensure the successful burning of the oven. The success of combustion is based on the control of fire, following the principle of gradually increasing the temperature until reaching the highest point, and then slowly decreasing after cooking.

Now, the modern use of gas and electric kilns makes the process faster and less painful for potters.

• Product processing

Traditional Techniques: Bat Trang uses a turntable to shape the products.
Modern Improvements: Currently, craftsmen have added a motor to the turntables to save labor and increase efficiency.
 

3. Must-Sees When Visiting The Village

• The old village of Bat Trang

Old Bat Trang village is always an attraction that tourists cannot ignore because of its unique architectural beauty. Only two works are not to be missed in the ancient village of Hanoi:

• Van Vit's ancestral house: Standing for more than 200 years, this ancient house is a valuable heritage work. The texture of ceramic decoration is enormous; jars in the form of pieces, brass doors, items for investment, and the other earthenware of Uncle Ban, he always remembered everything of tourists when entering Bat Trang. Do not miss visiting the house of Tho family pottery production if you have the opportunity to visit Bat Trang.

  

Bat Trang temple: The temple of Bat Trang was built in 1720. The temple, more than a spiritual place, is a place that preserves the ethereal heart of the ancient village. The temple contributed to a cohesive community and close family. Every year the temple organizes traditional festivals, which take place from the 13th to the 15th day of the second lunar month, to organize the worship of the gods and celebrate the love of the land, the tradition, and the history of the local community. 

• Bat Trang Pottery Market

If you want to buy some nice ceramic items to give as gifts, you can visit the authentic Bat Trang Ceramic shop, which is only about 100 meters from the bus stop. Most ceramic products, such as plates, utensils for religious rituals, decorations, cups, and bowls, are available at fairly affordable prices with a wide variety of designs.

In the market, there is also a small ceramic courtyard where tourists can observe and record the intricate process of pottery-making by the famous artisans.

• Bat Trang Pottery Museum - an exceptional cultural space

Upon entering the Bat Trang Pottery Museum, visitors will find the striking design of the visitor center, which has been skillfully and creatively designed to resemble a fancy spiral that reflects the village of Bat Trang. It is a modern structure made up of seven large spirals working together harmoniously in a strategic mesh formation, thus forming the idea of a flow. The museum demonstrates contemporary design using local fired bricks and symbols to showcase a fusion of culture and innovation in architecture. 

The Bat Trang Pottery Museum is a combination of museum spaces, a café, and a pottery workshop space that integrates a strong relationship between the village for you to explore, learn, and participate in ceramic workshops, giving you a glimpse of Vietnamese art and culture. 

Entrance fees:

• Entrance ticket: 50,000 VND per person.
• Clay modeling experience: 70,000 VND per adult, 50,000 VND per child.
• Tea tasting and appreciation of the works at the Thiền Trà Hương Sa Art House: 40,000 VND per person.
• Traditional costume rental at Thien Tra Huong Sa Art House: 100,000 VND per session.
• Combo 1 - art mark: 189,000 VND per person.
• Combo 2 - Craft Space Experience: 249,000 VND per person.

Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Monday to Friday) and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday).

• Try to become an "amateur craftsman" at the pottery workshop

Most visitors who visit Bat Trang Village particularly enjoy the experience of creating clay and ceramic objects with their own hands. You will be carefully guided by the craftsmen on the use of clay and the manipulations on the potter's wheel. Once finished, your artwork will be baked, so you can take it home. This way, you will have a truly meaningful memory of your trip to Bat Trang Pottery Village!

• Bat Trang's last traditional kiln: Guardian of the ceramic heritage

Historically, Bat Trang Village once had more than 20 traditional wood-fired kilns. The technological transition from wood to gas, however, sparked a steady decline for the once-vibrant traditional models.

Today, there is only one kiln remaining, the Song Hong B kiln with an area of 1,030 square meters, specifically Mrs. Ngan Hai's "Lo Bau." The kiln has not been operational for nearly 30 years, since it was last fired in 1990.
With a passion for ceramic art, Ms. Hai chose to maintain her kiln despite the space it occupies, and she considers herself fortunate to have continued to keep this relic alive. For her, it is about preserving a piece of Bat Trang's ceramic heritage.

As a living museum, the kiln represents a tangible experience for visitors to see the history of Bat Trang's centuries-old craft. The kiln is a massive draw for tourists, turning the former kiln style into a beautiful museum piece for others to enjoy and learn from. 

• Local gastronomy to discover

Bamboo and Squid Soup (canh măng xào mực): A specialty of Hanoi, made with fresh bamboo, squid, and natural seasonings like fish sauce, salt, pepper, and coriander. This dish offers a delicious and authentic dining experience.

Sautéed Kohlrabi with Squid (su hào xào mực): A Vietnamese dish combining crunchy kohlrabi and tender squid, sautéed with oil, garlic, onion, and spices.
Bach Nhat Wine: Vietnamese wine made from herbs and plants, with a passionate aroma and unique flavor. Perfect for holidays and special events.

Wolf Flower Tea (chè hoa sói): Vietnamese drink, especially near the Bat Trang Ceramics Museum. Made from fresh wolf flowers, it offers a characteristic aroma and sweet flavor.
Sticky Rice with Sweet Soup (xôi chè): A North Vietnamese dish consisting of sticky rice with green beans and a sweet soup, offering a mild and nutritious flavor.

4. Itinerary To Visit Bat Trang Village In One Day

• Here is the itinerary for a day of sightseeing near Hanoi that visitors can check out:
• 7:45 am - 8:30 am: The bus departs for the pottery village of Bát Tràng
• 9:00 am: Visit and pottery experience at the manufacturing and glazing workshop
• 11:30 am: Rest and lunch at a local restaurant
• 1:30 pm: Shopping at Bát Tràng market; visit to Bát Tràng Temple
• 16:00: Return by bus to central Hanoi

5. How To Get To Bat Trang Village?

The village of Bat Trang is situated on the banks of the Red River in the Gia Lam district, on the outskirts of the city of Hanoi, about 15 km away. As for foreign tourists who desire to visit this village from Hanoi, there are several choices:

• Taxi or private car 

In the most comfortable and flexible form, you can book a taxi or hire a car with a driver from Hanoi. This mode of transport provides comfortable seats for most and the convenience of being able to move as desired. The journey total is about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. 

• Bus 

You can catch a bus at many stops in the area around the Old Quarter of Hanoi to Long Bien transfer station. From here, you can catch bus number 47 to head towards Bat Trang Pottery Village. The cost is 7,000 VND for a one-way ticket. 

>>> Note: The 47A bus is in service every day from 05:00 to 21:00, with stops every 10 minutes. You can download the Moovit app or BusMap Hanoi to locate buses and easily follow routes.

• On an organized excursion:

Many travel agencies offer day trips to Bat Trang Village from Hanoi. These tours often include round-trip transportation by bus or minivan, as well as a guided tour of the village and its pottery workshops.

6. Practical Tips For A Successful Visit

• Wear sneakers to make it easier to move.
• Visitors should be careful when moving around as this place sells many ceramic objects, which are very fragile.
• The space of Bat Trang pottery village is quite large. If you are travelling in a large group, especially with the elderly and young children, you must make the round trip by electric vehicle.
• Ceramic items are prone to chipping at the bottom and edge. Therefore, you should carefully inspect the ceramic before buying it.

Conclusion
All in all, Bat Trang stands as a testament to the thousand-year history of ceramics in Vietnam, as well as a hub of creativity and culture. Traveling through its alleys, strolling through its numerous workshops, and admiring the works of master craftsmen—these are all genuine, rewarding, and unforgettable experiences. Beyond being an attractive tourist destination, Bat Trang is a place that symbolizes the point where art meets tradition and is a melting pot of living heritage in Vietnam. 

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