Bat Trang Pottery Village has become one of the most famous cradles of Vietnam ceramic art for many centuries. Throughout the big changes in history, this craft village still attracts a huge number of visitors by its cultural values. Each handicraft product of Bat Trang village not only showcases the exquisite of Vietnam art in the period of feudalism but also reflects local people’s lifestyle through each crafted Asian motifs.   

History of Bat Trang Pottery Village

It was said that Bat Trang village was established under Ly dynasty in the early 13th century. Initially, there are a group of potters living in Bat Bo village, which located on Thanh Hoa province- an area of Vietnam Central Land. After the first emperor of Ly dynasty removed his capital to Thang Long (the previous name of Hanoi capital).

Bat Trang was considered as an auspicious land for potters because it is extremely advantageous for waterway transportation, high quality of white clay and only 12km for access to the new capital. Therefore, Bat Trang gathered many skillful potters in order to develop their own traditional careers. With the development of trade between 15th-16th centuries, Bat Trang village went through the most prosperous period, where the upper classes were main consumers of ceramic products.  Nowadays, those craft products have become more popular in Vietnamese’s daily life.

Bat Trang pottery products' features

There is a variety of ceramic products in Bat Trang village, which meet the different demands of consumers, from dairy products (pots, plates, bowls…) top the luxurious products for decorations and worship purposes. Outsides, each ceramic product are covered with 5 different types of glaze: blue and white, ivory, moss green, iron brown and cracked. Each category of glaze brings a unique feature for pottery items.

Moreover, the Vietnam ancient motifs are also carved elaborately by talent workers with the typical pictures of Vietnam ancient art such as dragon, Asian flowers, and birds…

How to make ceramic products

To make a perfect ceramic product, potters have to conduct lots of complex processes, which requires the skillfulness and meticulousness. Firstly, local people collect a special kind of clay to process into materials for ceramic goods.

After that, clay will be shaped into different objects and dried under sunlight. Then, potters crafts and draw the traditional motifs into each of those items before it is covered with a layer of glaze.

Finally, ceramic items are put into kilns. This is also a difficult process because it requires the high skills of the craftsman, who can keep fire stable and avoid the minimum low-quality products. 

Useful suggestions for a wonderful trip to Bat Trang Pottery Village

Visitors can make pottery items by themselves when taking a tour around Bat Trang village. Along with discovering the complex process to complete a ceramic item and then, they can learn how to create a simple product with the guidance of potters.

Visitors also come pottery markets in Bat Trang village, where sells every sort of Bat Trang's products, from daily items to decorations, from normal objects to high-quality products

Situated on a corner of Bat Trang village, Van Van house is well-known as the living museum of Vietnam pottery art with more than 400 ancient ceramic items in the period of 15th -18th centuries. Especially, the products of Bat Trang pottery account for a large amount of those antiquities.