Bat Trang ceramic village

Hanoi is well-known for its many traditional craft villages. Learning about the traditional craft village is a great approach to have a better understanding of this historic region.

Bat Trang ceramic village is a small village located about 13 kilometers south of Hanoi's center, on the other side of the Chuong Duong bridge.

Several documents claim that the Bat Trang pottery village was founded in the 14th or 15th century. According to the villagers, the village may have appeared earlier. There are always two versions of the village's origin story. One of these claims that in 1100, during the Ly dynasty's independence and early growth period, three scholars returned from a mission trip to China, bringing the ceramic craft industry learned there back to Vietnam and teaching the people of Bat Trang. In the other story, in the village history dates back to the 10th 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.

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.

Bat Trang ceramic village has become a popular destination for the young living in Hanoi (college or high school students) to visit during weekends.

Tourist can visit Bat Trang Pottery Museum when visiting Bat Trang ceramic village. It is an idea of creating a space displaying handicraft products of the craft village and connecting traditional handicrafts, the museum is also expected to become a place to honour the craftsmen. The museum is considered as a traditional house, preserving and introducing all the cultural values of the Bat Trang ceramic village to visitors.

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