Hanoi’s Handicraft Centre at Bat Trang
Hanoi’s Handicraft
Centre at Bat Trang
Vietnamese ceramics have greatly contributed in shaping the country’s values and the importance
of its quality handicraft. Villages such as Bat Trang and the rice-paper making community
residing at Tho Ha are centres of the preservation of its heritage.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Popular among locals and visitors and one of the cornerstones of Vietnamese culture, the handicraft industry continues to set the tone for what has made the country such an established name in the tourism industry. Using ancient techniques and trying to avoid including a completely machine-made end product, artisans around the country have stayed true to something that cannot be left aside when visiting.
A famous region of the cradle of ceramic lies just outside Hanoi with all the material they need to fabricate pure masterpieces from the lands and the nearby Red River and ancient trade centres. Bat Trang’s history and its prominent place in the world of fine ceramics expand across close to seven centuries, blending influences from regional traders and international visitors into their design
TRAIL ITINERARY
08:00 - 12:30
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13:30 - 17:30
This half-day tour can both be booked in the morning or the afternoon and commence with a pick-up from your downtown Hanoi hotel by an English speaking guide and head straight to Bat Trang.
Situated in the Gia Lam district of Hanoi, the drive (around 20 minutes) will take you through the outskirts of the capital. All ingredients for making high-end ceramics lies just at the doorsteps of this community, alongside its old trading routes for domestic and international export.
Aside from local household products, Bat Trang has gained a reputation for having expanded its ceramic production techniques to decorative items and small trinkets that make for excellent souvenirs. It is also here where skilled artisans are eager to demonstrate the ways on how they turn raw material into stunning examples of ceramic while buyers and sellers weave through the stalls and markets. Avid shoppers and those appreciating the finer art of ceramic making tend to extend their stay at Bat Trang simply because there is so much to see and to take in.
Before we move back to Hanoi, the small alleys and streets of ancient Tho Ha are to be explored. Crisscrossing through the town like a snake, the old houses and terracotta elements are seen as what makes Tho Ha such a treat. Following in the footsteps of your guide, watch how new vantage points unveil different angles of the village as you soak in the town’s hues and rhythms. It will come as no surprise that Tho Ha has made various appearances in local movies, been a source of inspiration for painters, and is seen as an Instagram heaven for many.
Whilst wandering through the narrow alleyways may deliver that picture-perfect spot, the culinary side of this quaint little village will not be left aside. See how rice and cassava wine is made and watch how local artisans create rice paper cakes. It is time to head back to downtown Hanoi after this 4-hour encounter with Vietnamese handicraft.