Overview

As fast as Hanoi’s urbanization is growing, the old, traditional way of life can still be seen in its outer suburbs and the artisan villages dotted around the Red River Delta. The Bat Trang Ceramic & Dong Ho Painting Villages Tour, offered by Incredible Asia Journeys, takes you to two of these traditional villages to see the age-old art of pottery-making and folk art painting.

This day trip from Hanoi starts with a trip to Bat Trang, a village famous for its world-class ceramics that have been exported to East Asian countries since the village’s inception in the 15th century. We skirt the Duong River to the colorful commune of Dong Ho Folk Painting Village, where woodblocks print bright depictions of Vietnamese life onto durable paper in the same way they have been doing since the 16th century. We finish with an idyllic Vietnamese scene of banyan trees and ancient architecture at But Thap Pagoda.

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Places you’ll see

Hanoi

Highlights

Exploring the village of Bat Trang and seeing the creation of wonderful works of ceramic
Relishing a delicious local lunch
Learning of the ancient methods of woodblock printing in Dong Ho Painting Village
Wandering around an 800-year old temple showcasing the best of Vietnam’s ancient architecture

Itinerary

Activities: Explore the village of Bat Trang to see the creation of wonderful works of ceramic, visit Dong Ho paintings village, and discover Vietnam’s ancient architecture of But Thap Temple

Pick-up at your hotel will be at 8 am and we will begin the Bat Trang Ceramic & Dong Ho Painting Villages Tour. Bat Trang is about half an hour away and you will get to see some of rural Hanoi as we head towards its outer-lying suburbs.

We will have two hours in Bat Trang Village for walking around, seeing the locals make pottery and browsing high-quality and very low-cost souvenirs in the markets. You will have the chance to produce some of your own pottery after a lesson by a local, at an extra fee.

Lunch will be served at around 12 pm in a restaurant in Bat Trang Village.

After lunch, we will travel along the Duong River until we reach Dong Ho Painting Village. Here we can watch artisans printing layer after layer of colour onto their folk masterpieces with a steady hand, afterwards giving us the chance to buy colourful works of authentic art straight from the artist.

On the way back to Hanoi we will stop at But Thap Pagoda, an amazing 13th-century tribute to Buddha with a typical slanted roof and many statues demonstrating masterful Vietnamese wood-carving.

We will get back to your hotel at about 5 pm where we will drop you off for the end of your Bat Trang Ceramic & Dong Ho Painting Villages Tour. Our sincere thanks for joining Incredible Asia Journeys for this Hanoi day trip, we hope to see you again soon!

Meals: Lunch