A must try! - My friend and I started the day with pottery lessons which was fun and engaging. Hang was great at what she does best. The owner was very accommodating and discussed so many information as well as history of the village and design. We ended up buying some items at the Ceramic Market. I recommend the tour with 5 star.

Insightful and interesting experience of Vietnam’s local craftsmanship - I met my tour leader at the Authentic Bat Trang shop in the Old Quarter at 8:30AM to begin the tour (I went the night before to confirm that the meeting point was here as there was no other confirmation/communication before the tour began). The tour had two parts: a ceramics workshop at the upper level of the shop, and a visit to the Bat Trang village (40 min drive away from the Old Quarter). In the workshop, I had the hands-on experience of making the ceramics ware with guidance from the staff. I found this to be quite fun but also quite challenging (and I got wet clay/mud all over me by accident 😀 so maybe don’t wear your favourite clothes to the workshop). The staff/instructor was skilled and knowledgeable in their craft and they helped me when I couldn’t understand how to do something. This was very fun (would recommend if you like hands-on and crafts). There was also a pottery painting session after this workshop but since my tour had a travelling component I left the workshop early to go to the village. A nice thing with this workshop was that you get to keep all the things you made (they would fire and glaze your stuff and you can pick it up in 2–3 days, so it might be helpful to book this activity at the start of your Hà Nội trip to give the staff enough time to finish your ceramics for pickups a few days later). For the second part of my tour, the tour leader chartered a car taking us to Bat Trang which is a village southeast of Hà Nội CBD specialising in traditional Vietnamese ceramics. According to the tour leader, typically his tour might have up to around 10—12 people a time although I was the only one on this particular day so I did get a one-on-one experience with the guide. The tour leader has 25 years of experience with ceramic craftsmanship and is the owner of the shop in the Old Quarter and co-owner of one of the ceramics factories in the village. He was very knowledgeable in providing the history of the village and the crafts, and the processes of ceramics making (I won’t give you more spoilers as this was a very insightful experience best done in-person on-site 😉). As I could speak Vietnamese so we had conversation in Vietnamese, however the tour leader and all staff members could speak both English and Vietnamese (as from my workshop experience) so that was helpful if you don’t know Vietnamese. Lunch was provided by the tour and we ate at one of the restaurants in the village before exploring other parts of the village. I was guided to the narrow meandering passageway of the village, learning a bit more about the history of the village from my guide, and seeing the daily life/livelihood of the locals. I got to see the "đình" which is a gathering place in traditional Vietnamese villages (similar to a town hall or a community centre), overlooking the Red River. Then finally I got to see the ceramics market in the village although my guide told me the market would be more lively on the weekend in the morning (probably this would be a better time to visit this market). My tour finished around 2PM and we returned to the Authentic Bat Trang shop in the Old Quarter. I think overall I really enjoyed this experience, particularly getting to make my own ceramics (and getting getting to keep them, will be collecting them in a few days) but also more importantly getting to see the faces behind the products you see on the shelf in souvenir shops around Hà Nội, getting to see these products coming to life. It was also heartwarming to see the artisan’s passion for their crafts, and their struggle/determination to preserve their crafts in modern time. If you like to experience something slightly off the beaten track and seeing a little bit more of local life, then this tour is for you.

A rare tour of the pottery workshop in action - This is a valuable activity where you can visit and experience the Bachchan pottery workshop. Sony, the shop's owner and guide, will show you around his workshop and his friend's workshop and explain the production process in fluent English. You can also experience pottery and they will teach you carefully. You can also see the old kilns and streets of Bachchan. Travel was also by comfortable, air-conditioned car. If you are interested in ceramics, this tour is definitely recommended.

Fun activity and tour to escape the streets of Hanoi! - A fun experience and activity to do in Hanoi as a way to get away from the bustling city! Our tour guide was really helpful and friendly in his guide. We visited a lot of factories and stores that had different pottery specialities such as being handmade, hand painted or specialising in producing specific goods. I also had the chance to buy a ceramic good from one of the stores. We had a choice betweeb Banh Cuon or Bun Cha for lunch and we chose the former. We appreciate the variety they provide, as well as the service of pick up and drop off. We also got the opportunity to make our own pottery using a wheel and we made 6 in total between 2 people. They provide shipping of our goods once they have finished glazing and baking them. We had a lot of fun seeing the ancient village and the village overall. The history was explained really well and the tour guide was very helpful!

Awesome tour with Tony - This tour was awesome. Loved the pottery class then went out to Bat Trang village. Tony was fabulous and took us to his factory there along with other fantastic places. It was a great day out and I would definitely recommend this tour.

Knowledgeable friendly guide showed us things we could never access by ourselves - This was a really interesting and informative tour, run directly by one of the small factory owners. As a pottery worker and factory owner himself, our guide was very knowledgeable about the local ceramics industry and all aspects of production. We visited four different factories making different products with different techniques, as well as a large historic kiln where you can see the old style of firing with huge wood kilns. You would not be able to get access to the production side of the Bat Trang factories unless you are on a properly organised tour with good relationships. So I highly recommend this tour, as the guide can show you many different things you can’t see on your own. We also made a short tour of the residential part of the village so we could better understand the daily life of the workers in this area. There was zero pressure to purchase from particular factories or stalls, so you are free to make your selections as you like. We also had a really delicious lunch, and our lovely guide made sure we were all well looked after on the hot day. The tour was customised to our small group. We didn’t need the pottery workshop so we swapped that for a trip to a store selling pottery tools instead. All in all, this was a really excellent tour and I would highly recommend it for anyone interested in ceramics. You will come away from it with a new appreciation of the people who make your everyday items. Thank you Sonny! You are a wonderful guide and we wish you all the best.

Experience train street, street vendors, self care and more in Hanoi - A wildly busy town with lots of small street vendors, shops and eateries. Lots of noise, jostling and traffic, but it also has its charm. It is hot and humid, so you have to dress in thin clothes. Choose a hotel with soundproofing and air conditioning and the possibility of taking a dip in a pool. Download the app Grab, then the price of the rides you take is predetermined and the driver knows the route, otherwise it can be difficult to communicate with them as they are not very good at English. Plenty of options for massages, pedicures and manicures for super cheap money.

Fun ceramics tour! - Really nice factory tour and great experience making pottery - we love being able to take our creations home as well. Sonny was a great guide. Highly recommended.

Super Nice - I did a pottery class at the Authentic Battrang in Hanoi. Sony was helpful to arrange the class and pickup. My teacher was very very patient and helped a me lot to do the pottery 🙏

A peek into an artists village - I highly recommend this tour of Bat Trang and its shops and factories. Our guide Sony was incredibly friendly and hospitable, answering all our questions and taking us to a local spot for lunch. Witnessing the artistry and skill it takes to make the ceramics gave us a greater appreciation for the craft, especially after trying to make some ourselves. Make sure you book this tour 3 days before you leave Hanoi, as it takes that long to fire and glaze any products you make. We didn't know this, but Sony was very accommodating and we will have our bowls and cups shipped to us.