BAT TRANG POTTERY VILLAGE HANOI
Bat Trang Pottery Village Hanoi. Experience the thrill of hands-on ceramic creation. Bat Trang Pottery community is a prominent handicraft community in northern Vietnam. It is one of Hanoi's greatest tourist attractions.
Bat Trang Pottery Village Hanoi Information:
Address: Gia Lam District, Hanoi City
Bat Trang Pottery Village is one of the numerous villages on the outskirts of Hanoi, Vietnam, that have a centuries-long heritage of producing handicrafts. This post will teach you all you need to know about Bat Trang so you can plan your trip to Hanoi in advance.
Bat Trang Pottery Village is located on the banks of the Red River in Hanoi's Gia Lam District. The town is approximately 14 kilometers from Hanoi's city center, so you can reach there by either private or public transportation.
The history of the Bat Trang Pottery Village Hanoi:
The village's location in a clay-rich environment allows it to make use of components for quality pottery production. Furthermore, Bat Trang's ceramics were popular not only in the domestic market, but also in foreign markets, thanks to Japanese, Chinese, and Western trading boats that passed by the Red River, which ran between Thang Long and Pho Hien, two ancient trade centers in northern Vietnam from the 15th to 17th centuries.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, due to the Trinh, Nguyen dynasty's restrictive foreign trade policy, it was difficult for Vietnamese pottery items to be exported to foreign nations, and certain notable pottery-making towns, such as Bat Trang and Chu Dau (Hai Duong province), struggled. Since 1986, owing to economic reforms and prosperity, the hamlet has received more attention, and the world has had the opportunity to learn more about Vietnamese porcelain through the many high-quality exported Bat Trang ceramic goods.
The special architecture of the Bat Trang Pottery Village Hanoi:
Bat Trang Ceramic Community House opened in 2021, three years after it was constructed. The project, which has a total expenditure of 150 billion VND, is part of The Center for "Quintessence of the Vietnamese Craft Village" initiative to establish craft villages and conserve over 500-year-old ceramic craft traditions.
Bat Trang Ceramic Community House is a key component in village planning. It is situated near the entrance to welcome travelers, facing the Bac Hung Hai canal and connected to the Red River. The building shape is carefully examined in order to limit construction density and height, establish harmonious proportions and vistas, improve the canal scenery, and recreate the hustling and bustling atmosphere of the canal's historic ceramic market.
The proposal is a five-story, multi-functional facility. The architectural design is the product of seven interlocking ceramic wheels inspired by the picture of a ceramic artist polishing a lump of clay into overlapping curves that progressively grow. It adds amazing volume and improves usefulness, such as creating a shelf for displaying ceramics or a staircase to connect levels. From another aspect, the project resembles Bat Trang's historic gourd furnace.
The predominant motif in the pottery village is the reddish-brown color of rough ceramics, which emphasizes its rustic and pastoral traits. It makes extensive use of traditional artisan village materials including Bat Trang bricks and tiles.
The expansion of Bat Trang Pottery Village throughout time:
Bat Trang is considered Vietnam's oldest ceramic-making hamlet. How old is Bat Trang Pottery Village? Although records of the Bat Trang Ceramic hamlet in Hanoi history indicate that it was founded in the 14th or 15th century, the hamlet is said to have existed far earlier.
When Emperor Ly Thai To (the first emperor of the Ly Dynasty) chose to relocate the capital to Dai La (now Hanoi), a number of artisans followed suit to settle and establish their companies in the new capital. Five large pottery-making families picked Bat Trang because it was adjacent to the Red River and provided convenient access to boat transportation. This area contained a lot of white clay as well.
Bat Trang Pottery Village has had various ups and downs during its existence. Nonetheless, the locals have successfully preserved their forefathers' traditions. Bat Trang is now a leading brand in Vietnam and Asia for ceramic items. Bat Trang ceramics are among the most famous examples of Vietnamese fine art.
There is no admission fee at Bat Trang Pottery Village. You just have to pay if you want to attend a pottery workshop or browse around. A ceramic-making session will only cost you around 20,000 VND. To carry your handcrafted item home, you must pay an extra 35,000 - 50,000 VND for each item.
If you are not participating in a Bat Trang Village trip, you might visit a local restaurant to sample the delights of Bat Trang Vietnam food. A lunch of 6 - 8 outstanding dishes for 6 persons would cost between 1,200,000 and 1,500,000 VND.
Bat Trang Pottery Village is a must-see destination for every Hanoi cultural and fine art trip. This location not only introduces travelers to Vietnamese handcraft traditions but also offers a variety of entertaining activities.
If you're planning a visit to this historic ceramic town, don't miss out on the following attractions:
The historic town of Bat Trang readily catches travelers' hearts with its antique architecture and melancholy atmosphere. You may even go on a buffalo cart and tour the community from the inside out.
Another must-try event at Bat Trang Pottery Village is participating in a pottery workshop and creating your own ceramics. Playing with clay is enjoyable, but creating a finished ceramic object is not a simple task. With a large clump of clay and a spinning table, you will be able to make your own objects. You may even carry them home as mementos.
The Pottery Market:
Bat Trang Pottery Village, like other traditional artisan villages, has a market for ready-made products. Several stalls inside this 6,000-square-meter market provide a wide range of outstanding ceramic products, including domestic items (cups, bowls, etc.), rockery miniatures, decorations, ceramic images, and religious materials. Although it is easy to buy Bat Trang items in Hanoi's Old Quarter or other ceramic stores in the city center, the pricing and designs in the village are unrivaled.
Bat Trang Pottery Museum:
For admirers of fine arts, the Bat Trang ceramics museum is a must-see. The museum has six storeys and displays beautiful ceramics organized into categories of different types.
The first level features Bat Trang Pottery Village's ceramic items. It also makes an excellent backdrop for young people to shoot pictures, thanks to its vibrant architecture and amazing lighting. The second level provides detailed information on the village's history and growth.
The Modern Art Center, located on the third level, showcases exquisite specimens of modern art. On the fourth level, visitors may enjoy coffee and a view of the Red River. The fifth floor has tea and light art.
In addition, there is a creative room on the bottom level where you may create your own ceramic items.
Bat Trang Pottery Village, together with Van Phuc Silk Village in Ha Dong District, is a must-see Hanoi tourist destination for anyone interested in Vietnamese fine arts and handicrafts.
- Things to do at Bat Trang Pottery Village Hanoi:
Bat Trang, with its picturesque lanes lined with enterprises and kilns, allows tourists to experience the delicate craft of pottery creation. Here are some excellent activities to make the most of your visit to this well-known ceramic village in Hanoi.
Explore old pottery kilns: Take a leisurely stroll around the hamlet to see the famed historical pottery kilns. These traditional kilns, such as the famed "Lo Bau," serve as a tribute to the village's rich ceramic history. This antique kiln, dating back to the late nineteenth century, is Bat Trang's oldest and biggest relic.
Participate in hands-on ceramic classes: At Bat Trang Village, you may take part in workshops taught by professional artists to shape and mold clay into your own ceramic masterpieces. This interactive experience helps you realize the skill and devotion necessary to make great ceramics.
Delight in the cuisines of Bat Trang: Treat your taste buds to the numerous culinary options of Bat Trang Pottery Village, which include scrumptious "banh san nuong" and "banh te" offered at extremely reasonable costs (about 6,000 VND each piece). Don't miss out on trying the unusual meal "canh mang muc," a culinary specialty particular to Bat Trang Vietnam that will delight your taste buds.
Bat Trang Pottery Village has stood for generations, keeping a prominent position on the map of Vietnamese handicraft communities. A visit to Bat Trang Ceramic Village not only provides a fascinating insight into Vietnamese ceramic-making heritage, but also provides unforgettable delightful recollections of your time in Hanoi. Do not hesitate to organize your trip there; the experiences it provides will not disappoint you.
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