On the left bank of Hong
river and about 10 km from
Hanoi in East (in Gia Lam
District, Hanoi), there
situated a pottery village,
which is the most famous and
long-standing pottery
village in Vietnam for its
name of Bat Trang. Up to
present, Ba Trang Pottery
Village has still been
operating and developing
ceaselessly. According to a
legend, the village was
first called as Bach Tho
Phuong before its name was
changed into Bat Trang
Phuong. People in the
village remember in their
memory that the place of
their origin Bo Bat Village
(or called Bach Bat
Village), Yen Mo District,
Ninh Binh Province.
People cannot help talking
about Bat Trang, when they
discuss about pottery of
Vietnam. According to some
archaeological documents,
plenty of pottery items has
been discovered at many old
relics and monuments built
in Ly Dynasty. Sir Nguyen
Trai, a great politician,
strategist, diplomat and
poet, wrote in his Du Dia
Chi Book at the beginning of
Le Dynasty that Bat Trang
used to provide 70 sets of
bowls and plates as tribute
paid for China. This fact
proves that pottery items
were very sophisticated in
the past. At present,
pagodas and temples in
Vietnam still have
carefully-carved incense
burners and lamp stands,
which were made in the 16th
century (for example Boi Khe
Pagoda in Ha Tay Province).
Besides, some materials
indicate that Bat Trang
pottery items appeared in
16th and 17th centuries.
Based ourselves on that
information, we estimate
that Bat Trang Pottery
Village was founded as a
handicraft village at the
edge of Thang Long City
more than 500 years ago. Bat
Trang pottery items have
been circulated nationwide
as well as in many foreigna
countries. Of which, the
most precious pottery
items, which have been
famous in Vietnam and in the
world, are pottery items
with gem enamel (in Ly and
Tran Dynasties), pottery
items with brown enamel (by
the end of Tran Dynasty and
at the beginning of Le
Dynasty), pottery items with
crazed enamel (in Le-Trinh
Dynasty) and pottery items
with deep blue flowered
enamel (by the end of Le
Dynasty and at the
beginning of Nguyen
Dynasty). In the past
centuries, Bat Trang pottery
items were considered as
high-ranking, precious and
rare ones. In order to
satisfy the demand of the
market, Bat Trang Pottery
Village makes many family
use items from baked clay.
Besides, plenty of pottery
items with various kinds
and designs make us admire
the skill of craftsmen in
Bat Trang Pottery Village,
where there are people who
make soil and fire change
into gem enamel for life.