Ceramic Village of Bat Trang

Because the Bat Trang Ceramic/Pottery Village is located in a clay-rich area, it has access to ingredients that may be used to make exquisite pottery. Furthermore, because of its location along the Red River, between Thang Long and Pho Hien, two ancient trade centers in the north of Vietnam during the 15th–17th centuries, Bat Trang's ceramics were popular not only in the domestic market, but also in foreign markets, thanks to the passing of Japanese, Chinese, and Western trading ships.

Due to the Trinh Nguyen dynasty's restrictive international trade policy, it was difficult for pottery items in Vietnam to be shipped to foreign nations in the 18th and 19th centuries, and certain well-known pottery-making towns, such as Bat Trang or Chu Dau (Hai Duong province), struggled. Thanks to economic reforms and development, more attention has been paid to the village since 1986, and the world now has a chance to learn more about Vietnamese porcelain thanks to the many high-quality Bat Trang ceramic products shipped around the world.

Bat Trang ceramics are made for everyday use (bows, cups, plates, pots, bottles, etc.), devotion, and decoration. Nowadays, pottery artists contribute numerous advances in production techniques and originality in product characteristics to ceramics, resulting in the birth of many new goods, and even everyday household things can have the beauty of decorative items.

Tourists that visit Bat Trang can go for a walk or join a buffalo tour for sightseeing and shopping. Aside from the many ceramic shops along the village road, tourists should pay a visit to Bat Trang Porcelain and Pottery Market, where they can produce their own pottery. Many young people and international tourists are drawn to the experience of making pottery and will spend a whole day in the market creating a gift for family or friends.

How to get to Bat Trang Ceramic/Pottery Village

Hanoi's Bat Trang is located in the Gia Lam district. The bus 47 (Long Bien-Bat Trang) stops just a few metres from Dong Xuan market and takes you to Bat Trang's end destination. Every 20 minutes, the bus arrives. You can either rent a motorbike or get a Xe Om to transport you to Bat Trang (20 minutes) from the center of Hanoi.