Discover the village of Bat Trang and its history, where pottery and ceramics have been made for centuries!
Promoted by nature, urban and rural areas around Hanoi There are many treasures. Many small cities around, in view of the many sacred pagodas and citadels, testify to the history of Vietnam but there are also many traditional artisanal villages.
This is the case for the village of Bat Trang which is only 10 km southeast of Hanoi. This small potter village has been cultivating an old tradition for over 500 years.
The porcelain market welcomes many tourists who have come to discover unique pieces every day but the richness of the city is in the small streets away from the crowd. Often lost, almost invisible, the small alleys of Bat Trang hide brick kilns and large tanks filled with liquid white clay. In the past, it was not dishes or even 3-metre high urns that were sold to Bat Trang but bricks. According to the villagers, a plaque would have even been offered for the artisans, by Emperor Gia Long in thanks to the bricks used for the imperial city of Hué created in the early nineteenth century.
Photo credit: Wikimedia –
Today most creations are intended for temples, sacred pagodas and individuals for more personal use.
The Bat Trang market is a must-see for all travellers in the Vietnamese capital, the ancestral traditions of these craftsmen and their know-how are remarkable. Only 30 minutes away from Hanoi, this journey in time marks the spirits and often the exchange of travellers who have not resisted the charm of authentic porcelain. It is also possible to register for one of the many organized pottery workshops... Vases, teapots and other porcelain treasures will accompany much of the tourists to the other end of the world, at home.
Main photo credit: Flickr – ePi.Longo
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