Bat Trang is located in Gia Lam district of Hanoi; it is an old well established village in Vietnam. Passing Chuong Duong bridge then turns right and go about 10 kilometres along the dike of Red River, Bat Trang will welcome you. Its name popular to most tourists to northern Vietnam because its ever famous ceramic and pottery products of high quality. If this is your first time coming to Vietnam, you may be surprised that Bat Trang’s bowls, plates, vases and many other ceramic goods are exported all around the world. The Bat Trang producers export goods annually to the value of over $40 million a year. mango cruise mekong

The history of Bat Trang

Located in an area rich with clay, the village has advantage of ingredients to create fine ceramics. Lying besides the Hong river, between 2 ancient trade centers in the north of Vietnam during 15th-17th century, ceramics of Bat Trang were favourite goods not only in domestic market, but also foreign ones thanks to Chinese, Japan and Western trading boats that passed by.

A corner of Bat Trang Pottery Marker- source: internet

In  the 18th and 19th century, due to restricting foreign trade policy of Nguyen, Trinh dynasty, it was difficult for Vietnamese pottery goods to be exported to foreign nations, and some famous pottery making villages like Bat Trang, or Chu Dau (Hai Duong, Vietnam) went through a harsh time. Thanks to economic reforms that bring more development to Vietnam, more attention has been vested in Bat Trang and the world gets a chance to explore more about Vietnamese porcelain through many high quality exported Bat Trang’s ceramic goods. mango cruise mekong

Interesting activities

Visiting Bat Trang, tourists can take a walk for shopping and sightseeing. Besides many ceramic stalls in the village, travellers should visit Pottery Market and Bat Trang ceramic ware where they can directly make a pottery product by themselves. Several foreign tourists and children are interested in in this pottery- creating experience, and spend a full day in the market to make a present for their family or friends.

Come to Bat Trang and feel “hands in clay” feeling – source: internet

Bat Trang ceramic village is a popular destination for the young living, especially students in Hanoi to visit during weekends. It has also become famous among foreign tourists who want to understand more about the traditional and historical values in each handicraft product. There are a lot of travel agencies that offer one day tour from Hanoi to the village at reasonable prices. the best Indochina tours

The young students are so interested with their own products – source: internet

The famous product of Bat Trang

Bat Trang products are divided into 3 kinds based on the aim of use:

+ Cult wares: comprise lamp stands, altar boxes, incense burner, candle holders, swords… These are valuable for collectors because of the names of the producers, inscription of the production years and the potters.

+ Utilitarian wares: including plates, wine bottles, bowls, teacups, kettles, flower pots, vases, jar… What differs is that they are thicker than Chinese ones.

+ Decorative objects: altars, house models, statues and architectural fixtures.

It’s great to present family with these lovely ceramics -source: internet

It’s amazed to visit this beautiful village and buy some ceramic souvenirs or goods for your trip in Vietnam. Do you want to contemplate workers making ceramic products by hand? Just come to Bat Trang- A famous ceramic village in Vietnam! What’s more, you can also try it yourself!

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