| Bat Trang, a small village in the north of Vietnam, | | | | product, one must follow 3 steps. The first step is |
| is about 13 kilometers south east of Hanoi center, | | | | making the product frame. The artists select the |
| on the other side of Chuong Duong bridge. Why is | | | | suitable clay, treat it and start making a raw |
| its name popular to most tourists to northern | | | | product. It must be repaired to get the best |
| Vietnam? The answer is its ever famous ceramic | | | | appearance. Secondly, they decorate and cover it |
| and pottery products of high quality. If you have | | | | with glazes. Last but not least, the raw products |
| known about Vietnam, you may not be surprised | | | | are baked in 3 days and 3 nights. There are |
| that Bat Trang’s vases, bowls, dishes, and | | | | several kinds of kiln, yet the temperature must |
| many other kinds of ceramic products have been | | | | be at 12000 or 13000. After baking, products are |
| exported worldwide. Should you would like to | | | | brought out, classified and repaired in case there |
| contemplate workers making ceramic products by | | | | are mistakes. And now we have the perfect |
| hand, just come here! What’s more, you can | | | | product. |
| also try it yourself! | | | | Popular product types. Bat Trang products are |
| History. Bat Trang village is said to be established | | | | divided into 3 kinds based on the purpose of use. |
| in 14th or 15th century in several documents. | | | | Decorating the product |
| However, according to the villagers, the village | | | | - Utilitarian wares: including plates, bowls, teacups, |
| perhaps appeared earlier. There are always two | | | | kettles, wine bottles, flowerpots, vases, jar… |
| stories concerning the village origin. One of these | | | | What differs is that they are thicker than Chinese |
| tells that under Ly dynasty, in 1100, when the | | | | ones. |
| nation was in its independence and initial growth | | | | - Cult wares: comprise lamp stands, candle |
| period, there were 3 scholars who came back | | | | holders, incense burner, altar boxes, swords… |
| from their mission trip to China bringing the | | | | These are valuable for collectors because of |
| ceramic craft industry learned there back to | | | | inscription of the production years, the names of |
| Vietnam and taught the people of Bat Trang. In | | | | the producers and the potters. |
| the other story, in the village history dates back | | | | - Decorative objects: house models, altars, |
| to the 10th century, when King Ly Cong Uan | | | | statues and architectural fixtures. |
| relocated the capital in Thang Long. With the | | | | The special trait is the diversified decorations on |
| establishment and development of the capital, | | | | the products. Thanks to a long–lasting history |
| many businessmen, crafters from many areas | | | | and development, the village’s works have |
| come to settle down here to work and trade. In | | | | been accumulated with a lot of different special |
| Bat Trang, there was a lot of white clay, so that | | | | designs. One more thing that makes them |
| many potters, among whom was Nguyen Ninh | | | | distinguished is the glaze, which is of high quality |
| Trang family, came and built the kilns here. | | | | and a variety of colors, such as blue, brown, |
| Accordingly, Bat Trang has gradually changed | | | | white, moss green, in both breaking and melting |
| from a normal ceramic and pottery village into a | | | | glazes. |
| famous ceramic and pottery centre until now. | | | | In fact, there have appeared a number of |
| As time went by, the village’s products have | | | | competitors both domestically and internationally |
| developed and become well known for the best | | | | who take advantages of high technology. Yet |
| quality, style and glaze, both inside and outside of | | | | most customers prefer the craft products that |
| the nation. Many of these are now customized for | | | | contain historical and traditional values. Hence, it is |
| aristocratic families and religious needs. Its popular | | | | no surprise at all that Bat Trang is still found in |
| foreign markets are Japan (under the brand | | | | busy days and works. More importantly, the |
| "Kochi (Giao Chi) ware"), the Netherlands, Britain, | | | | village is now so popular that absorbs a huge |
| Portugal, Southeast Asia, etc., | | | | annual number of tourists to visit and buy ceramic |
| The famous ceramic & pottery products | | | | goods. |
| Production Process. To produce a complete | | | | |