Things to Do
Bat Trang Ceramic Village
Vietnamese pottery has been made in Bat Trang for hundreds of years, and a half-day trip here — workshops, a ceramics market, and the chance to shape your own piece — makes a good change of pace from central Hanoi.
A living craft village
Bat Trang has been producing ceramics since at least the 14th century, and it remains a genuinely working village rather than a recreated tourist attraction — family workshops still fire kilns and hand-paint pieces using techniques passed down for generations. Much of the pottery sold throughout Hanoi's shops and markets actually originates here.
What to do there
- The ceramics market — rows of stalls selling everything from everyday tableware to elaborate decorative pieces, generally cheaper than buying the same items in central Hanoi.
- Try shaping your own piece — several workshops let visitors sit at a pottery wheel and try their hand at throwing a simple piece, a popular activity for families.
- Wander the older lanes — some of the village's older brick alleys and family kilns are worth a slow walk, away from the main market stalls.
Getting there
Bat Trang sits on the far bank of the Red River, roughly 13km from central Hanoi — reachable by Grab, public bus, or as part of an organised half-day tour. It's close enough to combine with a relaxed morning or afternoon rather than needing a full day.