Make it. Then see how Bat Trang makes it.

Begin with a 1.5-hour hands-on pottery class in Hanoi’s Old Quarter. Then travel to Bat Trang with a local ceramics insider and step inside real working workshops to see how clay becomes finished pottery.

Video - Bat Trang Pottery Village Tour from Hanoi: Pottery Class & Real Workshop Visits

This half-day Bat Trang pottery village tour goes far beyond the usual market visit. You will discover clay preparation, traditional hand-forming and be chach, glazing, hand-painting, mould-making and the production of large Vietnamese luc binh vases. Before lunch, step inside the only surviving historic Lo Bau, or gourd-shaped wood-fired kiln, in Bat Trang. Enjoy a local lunch, walk through the ancient village and return to Hanoi by approximately 2:00 PM.

Start: 8:30 AM
Finish: Approximately 2:00 PM
Duration: Approximately 5.5 hours
Meeting and return point: Authentic Bat Trang, 115 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Price: USD 48 per person
Language: English
Experience level: No pottery experience needed

[Check Availability]

Why this Bat Trang tour is different

Many visitors go to Bat Trang to browse the pottery market or join a short demonstration. Our tour takes you behind the finished products and introduces you to the people, skills and working spaces that make Bat Trang ceramics possible.

First, you make pottery yourself in Hanoi. Once your hands have worked with the clay, you travel to the village and follow the production journey step by step. You will enter specialist workshops that independent visitors may not know how to find or be able to access on their own.

The experience is led by a local guide from a Bat Trang ceramics family. Instead of a staged presentation, you see a living craft village where artisans are preparing clay, shaping pots, mixing glazes, painting details, working with moulds and producing large traditional vases. You will also connect the workshops of today with Bat Trang’s past by visiting its last preserved traditional Lo Bau wood-fired kiln.

Tour highlights

• Learn pottery on an electric wheel during a 1.5-hour class in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

• Practice with clay under the guidance of an experienced Bat Trang pottery teacher.

• Travel comfortably from central Hanoi to Bat Trang and back.

• Visit six different working ceramic workshops.

• See a rare traditional be chach pottery technique.

• Understand the complete process from raw clay to a finished ceramic piece.

• Meet local workers and observe real production rather than a staged tourist demonstration.

• Step inside the only surviving historic Lo Bau wood-fired kiln in Bat Trang.

• Enjoy a local Vietnamese lunch in Bat Trang.

• Walk through the narrow lanes and old houses of Bat Trang Ancient Village.

• Return to 115 Hang Gai at approximately 2:00 PM, leaving the rest of your afternoon free.

Detailed itinerary

8:30–10:00 AM – Hands-on pottery class in Hanoi Old Quarter

Meet your teacher at Authentic Bat Trang, 115 Hang Gai, just a short walk from Hoan Kiem Lake.

Your teacher will demonstrate how to centre and shape clay on an electric pottery wheel. You can practise making bowls, cups, plates or your own simple design. Beginners are welcome, and the teacher will guide you throughout the experience.

Choose one piece to be fired and glazed after the class. Because pottery needs time to dry, glaze and fire, the finished piece is normally ready in approximately two to three days. Collection in Hanoi or shipping can be arranged.

10:00–10:40 AM – Travel from Hanoi to Bat Trang

Leave the Old Quarter by air-conditioned car or van. Bat Trang is approximately 15 kilometres from central Hanoi, on the bank of the Red River. Your guide will introduce the village and explain why ceramics have shaped local life for generations.

10:40 AM–12:00 PM – Behind-the-scenes workshop visits

Follow the journey of Bat Trang pottery through a series of specialist workshops:

1. Clay preparation workshop

See where a ceramic piece truly begins. Learn how raw materials are selected, mixed, filtered and prepared before the clay ever reaches a wheel or mould.

2. Traditional handmade and be chach workshop

Discover be chach, a rare traditional hand-shaping technique performed on a slow pottery wheel. The method requires patience, control and years of practice, and it preserves the human touch in every form.

3. Glaze workshop

Learn how glazes are prepared and applied, why colours can change inside the kiln and how firing temperature affects the finished surface. This is an important stage that most visitors never get to see or understand.

4. Hand-painting workshop

Watch skilled painters decorate ceramics by hand. See how fine brushes, steady movement and years of experience transform a plain ceramic surface into a detailed Bat Trang design.

5. Mould-making workshop

Explore how moulds are designed and used to create consistent forms. You will also see the careful hand-finishing that is still required after a piece comes out of a mould.

6. Large luc binh vase workshop

See how large Vietnamese luc binh decorative vases are formed and finished. Their size and proportions make them very different from the cups and bowls made during a normal pottery class.

The order of workshop visits may change according to daily production. These are active workplaces, so the process you see is real rather than staged.

12:00–12:20 PM – Visit Bat Trang’s ancient Lo Bau wood-fired kiln

Step inside the only surviving historic Lo Bau, or gourd-shaped kiln, in Bat Trang. In the past, the village had around 20 kilns of this type. Wood fire moved through a series of connected vaulted chambers, creating the high temperatures needed to fire Bat Trang ceramics.

The kiln is no longer used for production, but its preserved structure allows you to understand how generations of local potters worked before modern gas and electric kilns became common.

12:20–12:50 PM – Local Vietnamese lunch

Take a break and enjoy a local lunch in Bat Trang. This is also a chance to speak with your guide, ask questions about village life and learn more about the people behind the ceramics.

12:50–1:20 PM – Walk through Bat Trang Ancient Village

Step away from the busy market area and enter the narrow lanes of the old village. Discover traditional houses, small family workshops and the quieter residential side of Bat Trang that many day visitors miss.

1:20–2:00 PM – Return to Hanoi Old Quarter

Travel back to central Hanoi and finish at Authentic Bat Trang, 115 Hang Gai, at approximately 2:00 PM.

Times are approximate and may vary slightly with Hanoi traffic and the production schedule inside the working workshops.

What is included

• 1.5-hour pottery wheel class

• Clay, tools and teacher guidance

• Firing and glazing of one selected pottery piece

• Round-trip transportation between Hanoi and Bat Trang

• English-speaking local guide

• Visits to working ceramic workshops

• Visit to the preserved Lo Bau wood-fired kiln

• Entrance fees

• Local Vietnamese lunch

• Bottled water

What is not included

• Firing of additional pottery pieces

• Delivery or international shipping

• Personal purchases and other personal expenses

• Hotel pickup outside the listed meeting point

Who will enjoy this tour?

This experience is ideal for:

• Travellers looking for an authentic cultural experience near Hanoi

• Beginners and experienced pottery lovers

• Couples, solo travellers and groups of friends

• Families with older children who enjoy arts and crafts

• Designers, artists and anyone curious about handmade production

• Visitors who want to meet local makers rather than only shop for souvenirs

Important information

• Please arrive 10 minutes before the 8:30 AM starting time.

• Pottery can be messy, so comfortable clothes are recommended.

• Your selected piece normally requires approximately two to three days for drying, glazing and firing. We recommend joining the tour early in your Hanoi stay.

• Collection is available at 115 Hang Gai. Shipping can be arranged for an additional fee.

• Workshop order and visible production stages may vary because the factories are active workplaces.

• The ancient village has narrow lanes and some uneven surfaces. Please contact us before booking if anyone in your group has mobility requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bat Trang Pottery Village worth visiting from Hanoi?

Yes, especially if you want to understand how Vietnamese ceramics are really made. Bat Trang is close enough for a half-day trip, but it feels very different from central Hanoi. This tour adds access to working workshops and local expertise that would be difficult to arrange independently.

Do I need pottery experience?

No. The pottery class is suitable for complete beginners, and your teacher will demonstrate each step.

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and finishes at Authentic Bat Trang, 115 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately 5.5 hours, from 8:30 AM to around 2:00 PM.

Which workshops will we visit?

The planned route includes clay preparation, traditional handmade and be chach pottery, glazing, hand-painting, mould-making and large luc binh vase production. You will also visit the only surviving historic Lo Bau wood-fired kiln in Bat Trang. The order of the working workshops can change with the daily production schedule.

What is the ancient Lo Bau kiln?

Lo Bau means a traditional gourd-shaped kiln with a series of connected vaulted chambers. Bat Trang once had around 20 wood-fired kilns of this type, but only one is still preserved today. It is no longer used for production and now helps visitors understand how ceramics were fired before gas and electric kilns became common.

Can I take my pottery home on the same day?

No. Pottery must dry before it can be glazed and fired. Your selected piece is normally ready in approximately two to three days. Collection or paid shipping can be arranged.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A local Vietnamese lunch and bottled water are included.

Is the tour suitable for families?

The tour is a good choice for families with children who enjoy creative, hands-on activities. Please contact us with the ages of younger children before booking so we can advise you.

Can I book a private tour?

Private experiences may be available for families and groups. Contact Authentic Bat Trang with your preferred date and group size.

Don’t just see Bat Trang pottery. Meet the people who make it.

Make your own pottery in Hanoi, follow the clay through six specialist workshops and discover a side of Bat Trang that most independent visitors never see.

authentic bat trang hanoi old quarter - 115 Hang gai str

Start at 8:30 AM from 115 Hang Gai and return by approximately 2:00 PM.

[https://authenticbattrang.vn/tham-quan-xuong.html]

Authentic Bat Trang
115 Hang Gai, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Website: www.authenticbattrang.vn
Email: info@authenticbattrang.vn