Bát Tràng is one of the oldest and most flourishing craft villages in the Red River Delta (Northern Vietnam). It has indeed become an important purchasing hub that produces in all styles, for an international clientele. It continues the manufacture of traditional ceramics and ventures into decorative creations of a more contemporary style.

Nestled on the banks of this river, the village has become in recent years one of the essential places for tour operators. It is undoubtedly the most famous craft village in Vietnam among foreign tourists, the one that appears in all travel guides.
For some time now, it has been possible to step into the shoes of a Bát Tràng ceramist for a few hours, in short, to make your own object, to personalize it and then take it home.

The village gate displays its colors: "Welcome to the world of ceramics". The main street is a bustling array of shops whose products spill out onto the sidewalk. Vases, crockery, tea sets stand alongside statues, decorative objects... Everyone finds something to their liking.

Throughout the day, Vietnamese and foreign visitors come and go. The atmosphere picks up a notch on weekends with the arrival of young people from the city determined to have fun. Because some workshops have been offering for several years to get hands-on, that is, to make a "work" of one's choice, from modeling on the wheel to brush finishes, including firing.

Discovering the potter's craft in Vietnam

Phung Huy's workshop offers 200 m² to "budding potters", separated into two distinct spaces: modeling and coloring.

In the first, about forty wheels are arranged. Hands covered in clay, everyone gives free rein to their imagination: heart-shaped vase, shoe, bell, bird's nest...! "It's really interesting. With clay and a little water, it's possible to create anything", enthuses a student.

Some spend hours modeling and "unmodeling" without managing to create the object of their choice. No matter! The important thing is to discover certain aspects of the craft and especially to have a good time with friends.

Once the object is finished, it's time for firing, which takes about fifteen minutes. The last step is the finishing, with a brush. It's difficult to describe the feeling of these "potters for a day", young and old, who, with a touch of pride, are about to cover their object with colors and designs. The whole is then covered with a light layer of fixative.

Holding a beautiful multicolored dragon in her hands, little Ngoc Lam confides with a smile: "I was born in the year of the dragon. This year 2012 is also the year of the dragon. This will be an extraordinary memory for me."

For all those who are put off by modeling, it is possible to try only coloring prefabricated objects.

Rows of small tables furnished with brushes and paints invite visitors to try their hand at this art. They have a wide choice of objects and figurines, sold between 10,000 and 30,000 dongs each.

A studious atmosphere reigns in the workshop. Around a table, little girls color their figurines, to the sounds of light music.

Promoting the Bát Tràng brand

"I don't remember how many times I've been here! What I like is the tranquility compared to Hanoi. And here I can satisfy my passion for pottery. Plus, it allows me to make nice gifts for my loved ones", confides Lan Huong, an agronomy student. For Việt Anh, an economics student: "Bát Tràng, for me, is synonymous with relaxation after a week of classes. It's really a pleasure to be able to create small objects oneself."

According to Mr. Phung Huy, this activity has seen real development recently. However, it is hardly profitable, because for only 10,000 dongs, it is possible to spend the day in the workshop! But the motivation of the workshop owners is elsewhere. "For now, it's mainly a way to promote Bát Tràng products. The more visitors there are, the more the Bát Tràng ceramic brand will be known, not only in Vietnam but also abroad", he explains.

Source: Le courrier du Vietnam

Photo: Nghia Đan/CVN

---

---

 

Share: