Day trip from Hanoi
Bat Trang Ceramic Village Day Trip
Bat Trang is a 700-year-old pottery village 13km southeast of Hanoi, easy to reach by public bus in 45 minutes. You can throw a pot for 60,000 VND, shop the enormous ceramic market, and eat a good lunch in the village lanes. It's a half-day at most — three to four hours once you're there — and pairs well with a morning in the Old Quarter.
Bat Trang is a 700-year-old pottery village 13km southeast of Hanoi, easy to reach by public bus in 45 minutes. You can throw a pot for 60,000 VND, shop the enormous ceramic market, and eat a good lunch in the village lanes. It's a half-day at most — three to four hours once you're there — and pairs well with a morning in the Old Quarter.
- Duration
- 5h
- From
- USD 15
- Departs
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- Updated
- April 2026
What you'll see at Bat Trang
Bat Trang has been firing ceramics for over seven centuries, supplying the royal court in Thang Long and, today, half the teashops in Hanoi. The village splits into three bits:
- Bat Trang Ceramic Market — a large covered hall with hundreds of stalls selling everything from 10,000 VND chopstick rests to museum-grade vases. Bargain; prices here are already cheap but there's usually 10–20% give.
- The old village lanes — narrow alleys behind the market where families still work in backyard kilns. You can peer in; a polite nod gets you a better reception than a camera.
- Pottery Museum (Bao Tang Gom Su Bat Trang) — a seven-tier curved brick building opened in 2022, worth 40 minutes for context. Entry 50,000 VND; the rooftop cafe is pleasant.
The hands-on workshops are the best value. For about $4 you get 45 minutes on the wheel with a teacher, clay, and painting time. Most studios are clustered just inside the market entrance.
How to get there
- Bus 47A or 47B — from Long Bien or Hanoi Old Quarter. 45 minutes, 7,000 VND. This is how Hanoians do it.
- Grab car — 150,000–200,000 VND one-way, 25 minutes. Easiest with kids or in heat.
- Motorbike — 30 minutes along the Red River dyke. Scenic but the final village lanes are tight.
- Organised tour from Hanoi — $15–30 for a half-day including transport, market, and a workshop. Worth it only if you want pickup from your hotel.
- River boat — Hanoi tourism runs a Red River cruise that stops at Bat Trang for $25–35. Slow but relaxing; half the day is on the water.
When to go
Any day. Weekdays are quieter and workshops have more attention to spare. The market is open daily 8am–5pm; some kilns close on Sundays. Avoid the week of Tet (Lunar New Year) when the village effectively shuts.
Typical cost for a half-day
- Return bus: 14,000 VND (~$0.60)
- Pottery workshop: 80,000 VND (~$3.50)
- Museum entry: 50,000 VND (~$2)
- Lunch in the village: 100,000–150,000 VND
- Shopping budget: as much as your suitcase allows
Total realistic spend: $10–20, plus souvenirs.
Is Bat Trang worth it?
As a half-day add-on from Hanoi, yes — particularly if your trip is otherwise short on hands-on activities. It's cheap, quick, and you leave with something you made. As a standalone "day trip," no; you'll finish by 1pm and feel you've padded it out. Stack it with a morning in the Old Quarter, or pair it with an afternoon at the Duong Lam Ancient Village if you're really chasing old-village days out.
Skip Bat Trang if you're only in Hanoi for 48 hours. Use those hours on Ninh Binh or Ha Long Bay; ceramic villages are a second-visit pleasure.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Bat Trang from Hanoi?
Easiest is bus 47A or 47B from Long Bien bus station — 45 minutes, 7,000 VND (~$0.30). Grab by car costs around 150,000 VND one-way and takes 25 minutes. The cyclo tour option is a tourist trap at $25+.
Can I make my own pottery there?
Yes. Workshops in the market area charge 60,000–100,000 VND (~$3–4) for wheel time, clay, and glazing. Firing takes 2–3 days, so you'll need it shipped to your hotel or collect it later.
How much time do I need in Bat Trang?
3–4 hours covers the market, a workshop, and lunch. Half-day territory. Don't build a full day around it unless you're serious about shopping.
Is Bat Trang worth visiting?
If you like crafts, yes. If you just want a village day trip with scenery, skip it — Bat Trang is industrial and busy, not pastoral. The appeal is the pottery, not the setting.
What should I buy?
Small teacups (20,000–50,000 VND each), sauce dishes, and rice bowls pack well. Avoid giant vases unless you're shipping. Prices here are 30–50% below Hanoi retail.