Bat Trang is the village where Hanoi’s bowls, vases and teapots come from. It lies beside the Red River roughly ten kilometres north-east of the Old Quarter, and its potters have been working the local clay for centuries. Tour descriptions give different ages, from over seven hundred years to over a thousand, so treat the exact date as uncertain, but the tradition is certainly old. Today the village is a patchwork of workshops, kilns, showrooms and a market lane where you can buy anything from a tea cup to a dinner service, much of it hand-painted. The tour we link is a half-day trip by jeep, rated 5.0 from fifty-one reviews, which takes the stress out of the journey and adds the fun of an open ride through the countryside on the way. It suits visitors who like crafts, photography and a break from the city, and shoppers looking for souvenirs that are better than a fridge magnet. Entering the village costs nothing; pottery workshops charge for making a piece and for finishing it.
How it works
The tour lasts about four and a half hours and is a small-group trip by jeep. Hotel pickup arrangements and exact inclusions are shown on the booking page, so check them for your date. Entry to the village itself is free. If you join a workshop, expect separate charges for making a piece and for finishing and collecting it, since the pot must be glazed and fired before it can be taken home. Some tours include the village’s pottery museum.
What to expect
The visit usually combines a walk through the lanes, a look at the workshops where craftspeople shape and paint ceramics and time to browse the market. Snacks and drinks can be bought in the village. A pottery piece you make yourself will not be ready on the day, so a workshop is best for the experience rather than for a gift you take away immediately.
A mosaic workshop with ceramic tiles, which needs no firing, is an alternative if you want something finished on the spot. Prices in the shops vary, and bargaining is normal in the market lane.
Making the most of it
Go in the morning, when the light is soft and it is cooler. Wear closed shoes, since the lanes can be dusty and uneven, and carry cash for small purchases. Ask the shop to wrap fragile pieces well, and keep in mind airline weight limits if you plan to fly home.
Because the village is small, combine it with another half-day sight in the city, such as the Temple of Literature, or finish the day with the water puppet show. If you only have time for one craft experience in Hanoi, this is the one.
If you are interested in the craft itself, ask your guide to point out the difference between the traditional kilns and the modern gas ones, and watch how the painters work with fine brushes at speed. Look for the maker’s marks on the base of a piece, check it for cracks and chips, and ask for a receipt. Tea sets, bowls and small vases travel best, and shops can pack them in boxes with paper for the journey home.
What to expect
The experience
A guided half-day jeep trip to Bat Trang, with a walk through workshops and lanes, time for the pottery market and optional hands-on workshops.
Best time
Morning, when it is cooler and the light is softer for photographs.
How long
About four and a half hours from start to finish.
Tips
Carry cash for small purchases, wear closed shoes and ask shops to wrap fragile pieces well.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Craft lovers and souvenir shoppers who want a half-day escape from the Old Quarter.
- Families
- Children enjoy the jeep ride and the workshops, though glazed pieces cannot be collected on the same day.
- Couples
- An easy, photogenic morning with a chance to buy hand-painted ceramics together.
- Pair with
- The water puppet show or the Temple of Literature in the same day.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Where is Bat Trang?+
It lies beside the Red River roughly ten kilometres north-east of central Hanoi, about a half-hour drive.
Is there an entry fee for Bat Trang village?+
No. Entering the village is free, but pottery workshops charge for making a piece and for finishing it.
Can I take home a piece I make myself?+
Not on the same day, because it must be glazed and fired. A mosaic workshop needs no firing and is finished on the day.
How long is the tour?+
About four and a half hours by jeep.
Is bargaining normal in Bat Trang?+
Yes, in the market lane, though polite and light-hearted bargaining works best.
