Potters have worked at Bat Trang since the 14th century, using white clay from the Red River delta, and the village still supplies much of Vietnam's domestic ceramics along with export orders. Narrow lanes are lined with family workshops and showrooms, and most will let visitors throw a pot and have it fired for collection or posting. The spiral-shaped Bat Trang Ceramic Museum, opened in 2021 and designed by Hoang Thuc Hao, is the most visible modern addition and houses galleries, a market floor and a rooftop cafe.
Bat Trang is a ceramic village in Gia Lam district on the east bank of the Red River, about 13 kilometres south-east of the Old Quarter of Hanoi, Vietnam. Potters have worked here since the 14th century, using white clay from the Red River delta, and the village still supplies much of Vietnam's domestic ceramics along with export orders. Narrow lanes are lined with family workshops, kilns and showrooms selling tea sets, vases, bowls, tiles and decorative pieces, and the village has a busy, lived-in feel rather than a heritage-park atmosphere.
Most workshops will let visitors throw a pot on a wheel and have it fired for later collection or posting, with a simple wheel session costing 50,000 to 80,000 VND at a family workshop. A market hall sells finished pieces at prices lower than the Old Quarter shops, though quality varies and haggling is normal. Kilns are visible in many courtyards, and in the mornings, potters can be seen shaping, glazing and stacking work. The spiral-shaped Bat Trang Ceramic Museum, opened in 2021 and designed by Hoang Thuc Hao, is the most visible modern addition and houses galleries, a market floor and a rooftop cafe. A combined ticket with a pottery workshop there costs 198,000 VND. The museum is open daily 08:00 to 17:30, and workshops similarly.
A visit takes three to four hours including travel. Public bus 47A runs from the Long Bien terminal for 7,000 VND and takes about 40 minutes, while a ride-hailing car costs about 150,000 VND. Weekday mornings are best, when kilns are working and the market hall is open but not crowded, and weekends bring school groups and families. Summer is hot in the lanes, and the village is comfortable in the cooler months from October to April.
Visitors should wrap purchases carefully, since ceramics are fragile in transit, and check with the shop about packing and shipping for larger orders. Prices should be agreed before starting a pottery session. Bat Trang combines well with a morning on the Red River dyke and the Long Bien Bridge on the return.
| Admission | Village free; Bat Trang Ceramic Museum combined ticket with pottery workshop 198,000 VND (~$7.62); a simple wheel session at a family workshop costs 50,000-80,000 VND (~$1.92-3.08) |
|---|---|
| Hours | Village workshops daily 08:00-17:30; the Bat Trang Ceramic Museum daily 08:00-17:30 |
| Typical visit | 3-4 hours including travel |
| Best time | Weekday mornings, when kilns are working and the market hall is open but not crowded |
| Getting there | Public bus 47A from Long Bien terminal for 7,000 VND (~$0.27), about 40 minutes; Grab car about 150,000 VND (~$5.77) |
| Address | Bat Trang, Gia Lam, Hanoi |
Location
Bat Trang, Gia Lam, Hanoi
20.9760, 105.9140 View on map
Highlights
- Throw a pot at a family workshop and have it fired
- Browse the market hall and showrooms for ceramics
- See the spiral Bat Trang Ceramic Museum by Hoang Thuc Hao
- Watch potters and kilns at work in the lanes
Tips for visiting
- Go on a weekday morning when kilns are working
- Take bus 47A from Long Bien for 7,000 VND
- Agree prices before a pottery session
- Wrap fragile purchases carefully or ask the shop to ship
- Haggle politely in the market hall
When to visit
Weekday mornings for working kilns and fewer crowds. Cooler months from October to April are more comfortable.
Accessibility
Lanes are narrow and uneven with motorbike traffic, and workshops have steps and thresholds, so wheelchair access is limited. The museum is a modern building and may be easier to navigate.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit take?
Three to four hours including travel from central Hanoi.
How do visitors get there?
Bus 47A from the Long Bien terminal costs 7,000 VND and takes about 40 minutes, or a ride-hailing car costs about 150,000 VND.
Can visitors make their own pottery?
Yes, family workshops offer wheel sessions for around 50,000-80,000 VND, with pieces fired for later collection or posting.
Is it worth it for kids?
Children generally enjoy the hands-on pottery sessions, though the lanes can be hot and busy.
Tours and tickets
Bat Trang Ceramic Village
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