Bat Trang Village Festival declared National Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Hanoi Times — The Bat Trang Village Festival in Bat Trang Commune on the outskirts of Hanoi, the famous location that produces exquisite pottery, has been designated a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The designation was announced this week at the Bat Trang Village Festival 2025.

Held every year in the second lunar month, the festival celebrates traditional crafts and expresses the wish for a prosperous and happy life.

According to Truong Van Hoc, Vice Chairman of Gia Lam District People's Committee, Bat Trang Ceramics Village is home to hundreds of artisans and many ceramic products that meet OCOP (One Commune, One Product) 3-5 star standards.

The festival is an opportunity for the community to join hands to preserve heritage sites and promote Bat Trang craft village tourism, making the homeland more civilized, rich, and modern.

The festival started on March 13th with a palanquin procession and water giving ceremony to pay tribute to the village's patron deity and those who have contributed to the craft village.

This year, for the first time, a special culinary competition will be held. Bat Trang cuisine is known for many typical delicious dishes, both rich in flavor and attractive in form.

Tran Duc Thuan, head of the Bat Trang Ceramics Village Relic Management Board, expected that the festival running until March 15 would welcome about 2,700 people.

"This is not only a craft village, but also a tourist destination, so we are trying to give visitors the best experience to deserve the certificate of merit we just received," said Thuan.

Founded in the 14th century, Bat Trang Village is considered the cradle of ceramics in Vietnam.

In mid-2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism added Bat Trang ceramics to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognizing the spirit of preserving the cultural values that pottery has brought to the community.

Bui Thi Loi, Deputy Head of Gia Lam District's Office of Culture, Science and Information, told The Hanoi Times: "Bat Trang has tangible and intangible cultural values. Its tangible culture is the old village, ancient houses, historical and cultural relics, and pottery products. Intangible culture includes the festivals, cuisine and artisans, which I think is an attractive destination for Vietnamese and foreign visitors."

Bat Trang Commune, which consists of two traditional pottery villages: Bat Trang and Giang Cao, is home to 200 enterprises and 1,000 ceramic home workshops that export ceramics to many markets such as France, Japan, and South Korea. The commune has 120 artisans, the most of any village in Vietnam.

On February 14, the World Craft Council admitted Bat Trang Ceramics Village as a member in recognition of its contribution to the economy, culture, society, environment, community spirit, and innovation. "About 200,000 travelers visited Bat Trang each year, of whom 20% were foreign visitors and 40% were students and young people. In the peak season, Bat Trang welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors per day. Bat Trang hopes to become the top craft village tourism destination in the country," Loi said.

"We provide visitors to Bat Trang with an audio guide in 12 languages. They will be told the story of each place they visit in the village," she added.

Bat Trang Ceramics Village boasts over 700 years of pottery-making tradition. Known for its high-quality ceramics, skilled artisans, and interactive workshops, it combines cultural heritage with modern creativity, making it a must-visit for art lovers.