Bát Tràng

I have a break from teaching for the next two weeks as Vietnam celebrates Tet, the lunar new year.  This celebration is like Christmas, Easter, 4^th of July (and any other holiday/remembrance day you can think of) combined. The only down side to this holiday is that practically everything has shut down since 4/5 of Hanoi’s population has left the city to spend time with family in the provinces. Fortunately for me, the Cimas and a couple other people from Church stuck around Hanoi so I had someone to hang out with on Monday.

Since I haven’t had the chance to see anything besides Hanoi so far, J.P. planned a trip to Bát Tràng, a ceramics village just outside of Hanoi. We were joined by his (almost) 4 year old daughter and two guys from bible study. We got a taxi and drove about 13 km outside of Hanoi (to the south, I think). When we got there we walked around the market area and admired the ceramics for sale. I am not usually a huge fan of pottery (mostly because I am clumsy and I am afraid I will break something) but I was impressed but some the intricate work I saw (and realize now I should have taken pictures of…). Bát Tràng is famous for its ceramics, and they export all over the world, but it is much cheaper if you buy it directly there. I found a tea set for 200,000 VND (about 10 US $)



After meandering through the market, we ate lunch and then MADE OUR OWN POTTERY!!! I was very excited because I have been wanting to use a pottery wheel for years (17 years to be exact), but I never had the chance until now! I made a bowl and painted it purple. Enjoy the picture because I pretty sure it will break before I get it home.



Happy Tet! - Hanna