Conveniently located within 13km of the city centre of Hanoi lies one of Vietnam’s best kept secrets. Tipped to be the country’s foremost folk art village the Bat Trang Ceramic Village is a one of a kind artisan hub dedicated to ceramic creations with a centuries old legacy. Frequently featured in Vietnamese folk poems and literature the tranquil village’s prowess at creating exquisite ceramic items has been a foregone conclusion for most art connoisseurs in Vietnam as the venue is quite literally synonymous with ceramic creations of an unparalleled standard. As one of the country’s chief exporters of ceramic ware the Bat Trang Ceramic Village is also a veritable treasure trove for pottery as it specializes in a variety of bowls, dishes, plates, vases and other creations that are hand-made, the old fashioned way.
A must-see point of interest for art lovers and handicraft fans visitors can also get firsthand experience in the fine art of pottery while uncovering the age old methods used to create ceramic pottery by the artisans at the village for a nominal fee.
Dating back to the Ly Dynasty the village now exports custom made ceramics to exclusive clientele in Europe, Scandinavia as well as Southeast Asia under the brand name “Kochi Ware”. The village’s foray in to pottery and ceramics has been largely attributed to the abundance and availability of white clay in the area as well as the iconic Nguyen Ninh Trang family that set up kilns in the village for the very first time.
Recognized for their unique features Bat Trang products are especially renowned for their beauty in design as well as high quality while the glaze is also revered among collectors and connoisseurs. Making items with melting as well as breaking glazes in white, blue, brown and moss green Bat Trang artists create decorative wares such as alters, fixtures and statues as well as purposeful ceramics such as candle holders, alter cases and light stands. Kettles, wine bottles, flower pots and tea cups are also specialty items created in the village that can be purchased after an engaging tour of the production methods.
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