Bat Trang Pottery Village: Experience making interesting pottery in the traditional pottery village of Hanoi
The ancient Bat Trang Pottery Village is well-known for its long tradition of producing porcelain and ceramics, which are still in high demand on both domestic and foreign markets.
This is a promising location for an exciting cultural excursion in Hanoi as a visit to the village can offer visitors a unique chance to gain insight into Vietnamese ceramics!
Together with the Hanoi Explore Travel Team, let’s learn about and explore Bat Trang Pottery Village!
Have a look at:
- 33 Amazing Things to do in Hanoi – You Should Not Miss
- 20+ Best Things to Do in Hanoi Old Quarter | What to do, See & Eat
- Top 22 Incredible Day Trips from Hanoi – Best Ideal for A Weekend Day Trips from Hanoi
Bat Trang Pottery Village and the History of Ceramic
Located on land rich in clay, the village has the advantage of raw materials to create sophisticated ceramics. Moreover, lying on the banks of the Red river, between Thang Long and Pho Hien, two ancient trade centers in northern Vietnam during 15th-17th century, Bat Trang’s ceramics were favorite products not only in domestic market, but also foreign ones thanks to Japanese, Chinese and Western trading boats that passed by.
Vietnam’s pottery exports to other countries were hindered in the 18th and 19th centuries by the Tran and Nguyen dynasties’ restrictions on international trade. That explains why Bat Trang pottery village went through a difficult time. Since 1986, thanks to economic reform and development, Bat Trang craft village has received greater attention and the world gets a chance to know more about Vietnamese porcelain through many high-quality exported Bat Trang’s ceramic products.
Where is Bat Trang Pottery Village? How to get there?
Where is Bat Trang Pottery Village?
Bat Trang pottery village is currently located on the banks of the Red River, no.132, village 1 – Bat Trang ancient village, Gia Lam district, Hanoi. This location is only about 14 kilometers from Hanoi city center.
How to get to Bat Trang village
Situated in a convenient location, not far from the center of Hanoi, there are many ways to get to Bat Trang pottery village. Hanoi Explore Travel will recommend you with some extremely fast and economical ways to get there:
By bus from Hanoi to Bat Trang pottery village
This is considered the cheapest but also very convenient way to get to Bat Trang village.
If you are not in the old quarter area, you will have to catch one bus in the inner city to get to Long Bien transfer bus station. Then you can choose to take one of the following routes: route 47A – Long Bien – Bat Trang bus station; Route 47B – Long Bien – Kim Lan or Route 52B – Thong Nhat Park – Dang Xa.
For visitors staying at hotels in the center of Hanoi Old Quarter, the distance to Long Bien transfer bus station is very close, so you can walk or take a taxi, then follow bus route 47A or 47B as mentioned above.
By motorbike
Traveling by motorbike is still the best way to travel from Hanoi center to Bat Trang as you are able to stop by your favorite delicious restaurants, or continue your journey to visit Hanoi. The distance from the center of Hanoi to Gia Lam district is not too far, only about 14 kilometers, so you don’t have to worry about the road being difficult or driving too long!
By water road
Every weekend, there’s a Red River tour that passes via Chu Dong Tu temple and Bat Trang pottery village for those who want to experience the unique features of river travel. Tour ticket price ranges from 300,000VND – 400,000VND/person and you must go to the Red River Cruise Company at No.46 Chuong Duong Do to buy tickets.
By taxi/Private car rental
Taking a taxi or renting a private car is an excellent alternative for visiting Bat Trang village. This option will also cost you a fair amount of money, but it is well worth it because of its convenience and safety. You can either ask the hotel receptionist to book a taxi for you, or contact one of the most Best Travel Companies in Hanoi to rent a private car to go there.
Furthermore, we highly recommend that you partake in a 1-day trip to Hanoi that includes a visit to the Bat Trang pottery village including shuttle buses, small groups, professional guides, numerous sites to see and a variety of activities to do in the capital Hanoi.
>>> BOOK A Hanoi City Tour Full Day Included Bat Trang Pottery Village Tour
Opening hours and ticket price to visit Bat Trang Pottery Village
- Bat Trang Pottery Village is open for visitors for free. Typically, the only additional expenses will be for meals or activities at the pottery workshop. A buffalo trip might set you back an extra 200,000 VND each person. It costs 10,000 VND to enter the pottery workshop and 15,000 to 30,000 VND per product to paint.
- What time does the pottery village of Bat Trang open? The pottery village is open from 8:00 in the morning till 8:00 in the evening.
Top 6 things to do when visiting Bat Trang Pottery Village
For visitors of all ages, Bat Trang Pottery Village offers a wide variety of exciting things to do. The top 6 must-do activities when visiting this ancient craft village are listed below:
Wander around Bat Trang ancient village
Coming to Bat Trang village, you definitely cannot miss visiting Bat Trang ancient village, which is home to several intricately carved and sculpted architectural pieces. Once you step foot on the village, you will be struck by its ancient charm and nostalgic atmosphere, with many homes tucked away among verdant bamboo groves. The sound of rustling leaves each time the wind blows also fills you with tranquility.
Discover the distinctive feudal architecture of ancient Vietnamese communal houses
The communal house in Bat Trang village and the Van Van ancient house are typical examples of sites that still have remnants of the past. Van Van Ancient House is a wooden house that is almost 200 years old. It is a masterwork of architecture with ceramic motifs, blue enamel teapots, dragon vases, ceramic stamping molds, and other items from the 15th century.
Bat Trang village communal house serves as both a location of yearly festival celebration and a place for worshiping the village’s Tutelary God. Especially, a visit to the ancient village of Bat Trang during the festival time allows you to learn about its vibrant and incredibly unique culture.
Spend an hour attempting to become a ceramic artist
You will be able to create your own pottery and porcelain goods when you arrive in this stunning village, in addition to admiring the architecture and taking in the peaceful atmosphere. With just 40,000VND – 60,000VND, you can become a real potter and freely create your finished product from clay and pottery wheels.
Although it could seem a little complicated at first, skillful potters right in Bat Trang ancient village will give you dedicated instructions to make it. After you complete your “masterpiece”, the product will be dried for you to take home.
Bat Trang Pottery Market – A place to purchase diverse ceramic items
The Pottery Market is a great place to purchase affordable, distinctive souvenir presents. The kiosks at the ceramic market offer a wide variety of exquisite ceramic goods, including decorative arts, cups, dishes, souvenirs, and objects for worship. All products here are created by the hands of experienced artisans. In the market’s little pottery courtyards, you are able to witness and film the ceramics-making process.
Visit Bat Trang Ceramics Museum
The Bat Trang Ceramics Museum is a great site to learn more about the historical and cultural significance of Bat Trang Pottery Village. This museum is part of the Vietnamese Craft Village Essence Center. This unique construction is composed of seven funnel-shaped buildings, the outside walls of which are carved with multi-layered patterns.
The pottery wheel, a common equipment used by ceramic craftsmen, is credited with inspiring this design. Coming here, you can admire many valuable and artistic ceramic items, made throughout the long history of Bat Trang Pottery Village.
Savor the delectable cuisine of Pottery Village
Coming to Bat Trang ceramic village, you cannot help but enjoy the delicious specialties here, such as “Banh te”, “Banh san”, “banh khoai nuong”, Dong Du guava…
You can stop at the shops along the market to try some snacks at super affordable prices. Most especially, you should not miss the specialty of “canh mang muc” – squid bamboo shoot soup, a famous traditional dish here. The bright-yellow bamboo shoots blend with the sweet broth, making it crunchy and very delicious when eaten. Squid bamboo shoot soup is often used as the main dish in traditional holidays, weddings, and death anniversaries of pottery villagers. Don’t miss this great opportunity to try it!
In conclusion, Hanoi Explore Travel has given you a wealth of knowledge for the fascinating and unique trip to Bat Trang ceramic village! Don’t hesitate to plan a trip there, you won’t be disappointed by the delights it has to offer.
In addition to Bat Trang Pottery Village, Hanoi also has many other tourist attractions that you should take the time to visit such as Hoan Kiem Lake, Temple of Literature, West Lake, One-Pillar Pagoda,…