1. Where is Bat Trang Pottery Museum? How to get there?
Bat Trang Pottery Museum, also known as the Center of Vietnamese Craft Village Quintessence, is a prominent attraction in Hanoi. It is located in Bat Trang Pottery Village, which is about 20 kilometers away from the city center. The museum is open from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays and from 8 am to 6 pm on weekends.
Getting to Bat Trang Pottery Village is straightforward with several options, including traveling by river tour, bus, or motorbike.
- River tour: On weekends, there are river tours along the Red River that passes by Bat Trang Pottery Village.
- Motorbike: Traveling by motorbike is the most popular option, especially for backpackers. The journey from the city center to Bat Trang by motorbike takes only about 20-25 minutes.
- Bus: If you prefer public transport, you can hop on buses number 47A, 47B, or 52B are available. The journey from the city center to Bat Trang by bus takes approximately 40 minutes.
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2. What to learn about Bat Trang Pottery Museum?
2.1. Establishment
Bat Trang Pottery Village was founded by 23 families who left their original homes to create a new community centered around pottery. Today, 19 of these families still do their ancestral craft, fostering the village’s growth.
To honor these artisans and their ancestors, and to preserve the cultural heritage of Bat Trang pottery, Ms. Ha Thi Vinh, a 15th-generation descendant of the Ha Huu family, devoted her efforts to establishing the Center of Vietnamese Craft Village Quintessence. The idea for this project took shape over a decade ago, with construction on the 3,300-square-meter area completed in 2018. Bat Trang Pottery Museum, born from this vision, stands as a tribute to her dedication.
2.2. Architecture
Bat Trang Pottery Museum is an architectural marvel composed of seven interconnected funnel-shaped buildings. The outer walls feature multi-layered patterns, creating a unique design inspired by the pottery wheel, a fundamental tool for pottery-making artisans.
This distinctive appearance was achieved using fiber reinforced concrete, a material known for its light weight and exceptional durability. The museum’s primary color is earthy brown, symbolizing the clay used in traditional ceramic production and the alluvial soil of the Red River.
Inside, the museum spans six floors, each offering a unique experience:
- Ground floor: This floor offers an interactive space where visitors can experience being a pottery-making artist. You can participate in creating a ceramic product and take your handmade items home as souvenirs.
- First floor: This floor is adorned with giant spirals and serves as a beautiful photography spot for visitors.
- Second floor: This floor showcases ceramic sculptures from various periods, allowing visitors to explore the history of Bat Trang Pottery Village.
- Third floor: The contemporary art center on this floor features creative ceramic works, with impressive contemporary sculptures for visitors to admire.
- Fourth floor: Here, visitors can find a restaurant and a coffee shop. It is a perfect place to relax with a cup of coffee or enjoy the cuisine of Bat Trang Pottery Village after exploring the lower floors.
- Fifth floor: Here, Huong Sa Tra and Huong Sa Art House offer tea and a light sculpture art space while providing panoramic views of Bat Trang.
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3. Things to do on your visit to Bat Trang Pottery Museum
3.1. Take photos with the unique architecture
When visiting Bat Trang Pottery Museum, be sure to take advantage of the unique backgrounds for your photos. The museum’s giant spirals on the first floor provide an eye-catching setting for your shots. Every area within the museum is artistically designed, from the intricate outer walls to the various themed floors, each promising a visually stunning photo opportunity.
3.2. Explore the pottery exhibition space
The pottery exhibition space on the second floor features nearly 1,000 exhibits. It focuses on themes such as ancient ceramics, the migration journey of the villagers, the history of ceramic production, the tributes to talented artisans, the spread of ceramic craftsmanship, etc. This exhibition offers a comprehensive look into the legacy of Bat Trang pottery.
3.3. Experience hands-on pottery making
At Bat Trang Pottery Museum, visitors can step into the shoes of an artisan by donning traditional costumes and using authentic pottery instruments to create their own ceramic pieces. The hands-on experience includes three main activities: stroking, shaping, and painting, all performed on the turntable. This immersive process allows visitors to feel like true artisans. After crafting their own products, visitors can go on stage to take souvenir photos as “honored artists” of Bat Trang. In addition, you can bring home the ceramic products you made yourselves.
3.4. Enjoy tea and art at Huong Sa Art House
At Huong Sa Art House, visitors are enveloped in blooming flowers. The tranquil surroundings offer a profound sense of inner calm. It is an ideal setting to savor tea while admiring the unique light sculpture art space. Accompanied by melodious music, this peaceful tea and art environment promises to soothe the soul and provide the ultimate relaxation experience.
3.5. Buy Bat Trang pottery souvenirs
At Bat Trang Pottery Museum, visitors will find numerous stores on the first and second floors, each offering a wide range of ceramic products. Each store showcases the diversity and creativity of Bat Trang pottery. Whether you are looking for traditional pieces or contemporary designs, they provide a wide array of options, making it easy to find the perfect Hanoi souvenirs to remember your visit.
3.6. Savor Bat Trang’s traditional dishes
Beyond ceramics, Bat Trang Pottery Village is also celebrated for its culinary delights. The chefs at Bat Trang Pottery Museum are well-trained to preserve the traditional elements of royal feasts. Here, Tinh Hoa Restaurant offers visitors a rich menu featuring many rustic dishes. This approach ensures a variety of options that cater to all tastes, allowing guests to savor the authentic flavors of Bat Trang.
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4. How much are the ticket fees of Bat Trang Pottery Museum?
To fully explore Bat Trang Pottery Museum, it is important to know the ticket fees:
- Admission (access to the 1st, 2nd, and 4th floors): 60,000 VND
- Access to the 3rd and 5th floors: 90,000 VND
- Pottery-making experience on the ground floor: 70,000 VND for adults, 50,000 VND for children under 1.3m tall
- Pottery-recycling experience (2nd floor): 50,000 VND
- Dining (Tinh Hoa Restaurant – 4th floor): From 50,000 VND
- Combo ticket (access to all floors + pottery making experience): 198,000 VND
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Bat Trang Pottery Museum is an essential place to visit for enthusiasts of traditional Vietnamese ceramic art and architectural design. It provides a holistic cultural experience that spans from exploring the heritage of Bat Trang pottery to participating in interactive workshops.
After exploring Bat Trang, you can venture further east to Ocean City, a new urban area that is gaining more and more attention from both locals and tourists for its recreational offerings. In Ocean City, VinWonders Wave Park & Water Park features exhilarating water games suitable for all ages to beat the heat. Meanwhile, Grand World impresses with its vast scale, showcasing a blend of stunning architecture, vibrant festivals, and diverse culinary options.
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