Tourists love to discover the traditional culture and lifestyle of the local people. Photo courtesy of the Bat Trang Tourism Company Hanoi (VNA) - In the mornings before he opens histraditional house to visitors, Meritorious Artist To Thanh Son preparestea to welcome his guests.
When Bat Trang commune on the outskirts ofHanoi was officially recognised as a tourist site last month, histraditional house with its beautiful garden, old kiln and showroom of potteryproducts started receiving many tourists every day.
In October 2019, the Hanoi People’sCommittee and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) broughtsmart tourism to Bat Trang, further highlighting it on the capital’s travelmap.
Smart tourism
Bat Trang commune is located in Gia Lamdistrict, 10km from the city centre. It comprises Bat Trang and Giang Cao villages.
A century ago, people of Bo Bat village (now YenThanh commune, the northern province of Ninh Binh) followed King Ly Cong Uanfrom Hoa Lu to Thang Long - the new capital city (now Hanoi). They set up apottery and brick-making ward on the banks of the Red River, which isnow Bat Trang.
Bat Trang is the only commune in the northerndelta region not associated with agriculture. It’s well-known forthe traditional pottery trade.
In recent years, tourists have flocked to BatTrang to find traditional artefacts and buy ceramic wares. People also come tomake pottery and go sight-seeing. Though the site has received touristsfor a long time, official recognition as a tourist destination has broughtmore ambition and professionalism.
Hoang Lan Anh from Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi,often brings her children to Bat Trang to buy decorative objects for theirhouse.
Though she admits she doesn’t know much aboutthe pottery wares, she enjoys the beauty of the countryside and thedelicate cuisine.
“We just come to the central market of Bat Trangto visit some big shops, and buy what we need,” she said.
“My children love to make pottery and paint onthe ceramic statues.”
Now, visitors like Anh have a chance tounderstand more about the special pottery villages and experience ancientcultural values that still exist today.
There are many places to visit in Bat Trang, oldhouses like the one owned by artisan To Thanh Son, Tieu Dao Pagoda, Bo Bat oldkiln, Kim Truc Pagoda, Giang Cao Temple and Mother Goddesses Temple.
Apart from these relics, the core of Bat Trangcommune is 23 traditional houses, 16 family temples and many oldkilns, all built with Bat Trang bricks.
Tourists can enjoy a traditional feast atHoa Thu Restaurant with artisan Pham Thi Hoa as well as traditional dishes suchas spring rolls and bamboo shoots and squid soup at a French-style housewith artisan Nguyen Thi Lam and Trang An old house with artisan Pham ThiDieu Hoai.
Artisan Son said he was happy when his mansionbecame a stop on the route to discover Bat Trang.
Tourists can see his artworks including a 1.65mhigh jar that has received much praise from cultural researchers and thepublic.
The jar is decorated with historical events fromthe Dinh (10th century) to Ly (1009–1225) dynasties that leads toKing Ly Thai To’s decision to move the capital to Thang Long. It is coveredwith tea-coloured enamel that was polished then burned at 1,270 degreesCelsius.
Son recited an old saying: “I wish I couldmarry you, I will buy Bat Trang bricks to build our house”. The saying showsBat Trang bricks were the pride of the north of Vietnam. They are firm,durable, not wet on humid days and not easily stuck to by moss.
“I feel proud to be a resident in the commune, Iam happy to receive tourists, sometimes they don’t ask much, just silentlydrink the green tea and contemplate my house under the green canopy,” Son said.
“The old house is like a museum where thelifestyle of the local people and the aged-old craft are preserved,” he said.
The Hanoi Department of Tourism, incollaboration with the Gia Lam District People’s Committee, has applied smarttourism to Bat Trang commune.
In the first phase of the project, the website have been built in Vietnameseand English providing information about Bat Trang. Tourists will find about theway to get there, what to do, what to eat and what to buy. Stories about thedestinations and products will be written by Bat Trang residents themselves.
Ly Duy Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Gia LamDistrict People’s Committee, is very excited to talk about the strategy todevelop smart tourism in the commune.
“We have tried to develop tourism in recentyears, we have received many tourists actually,” said Thanh.
“But now, the information is brought to touristsin a very amazing and innovative way to lure tourists to Bat Trang and bringwonderful experiences to them,” he said.
A tourist information centre is available now atthe entrance to support visitors and provide other services, including an audiotour in 12 languages, free maps, reservation for meals, bicycle hire andvirtual reality experiences.
“The local authorities and people are very happyand willing to welcome tourists, we realise clearly the innovation anddevelopment of our hometown,” Thanh said.
“Now the streets are cleaner, the kilns don’tspread smoke and dust from burning coal. We use smart devices to supporttourists. The whole tourist site is covered with free wifi.”
Thanh acknowledges that wifi is an importantfactor that helps tourists understand more about the destination and have moreinteresting experiences.
“In the second phase of the project in 2020, wewill use electric cars for transporting towards developing sustainable tourism.More services and tours will be designed to provide various options fortourists.
“We will continue to digitalise the heritage ofthe site through 3D images,” he added.
Community-based tourism
There are 200 enterprises and 1,000 householdswho produce and trade ceramic wares in Bat Trang commune. The products havebeen exported to many countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand,Russia, Italy, and France.
In recent years, Bat Trang has received 200,000visitors each year, according to Thanh.
“We acknowledge that the human factor is mostimportant to preserve the traditional trade and develop the local tourism andeconomy,” he said.
“The artisans with talent and high skill havemade sophisticated products that bring good fame for the site. So we aredetermined that tourism development is based on the community."
“Before launching the strategy of developingsmart tourism, the city's department of tourism organised a training course totell local people and potters the definitions of tourism and craft villagetourism,” Thanh said.
“They show awareness of preserving the trade,upgrading the product quality and how to introduce tourists about theheritage.”
“Being involved in local life and learning tomake pottery with skilled workers is attractive to tourists. That’s why localpeople play an important role. They are owners of the heritage.”
Nguyen Thu Thuy, PhD, lecturer at the TourismFaculty of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, saidcommunity-based tourism is the current trend of the world tourism industry.
“When travellers have a chance to visit theproduction chain, talk to the artisans and learn how the products are made,they will believe in the products’ quality,” she said.
“Tourists love the truthfulness of thedestination, they love to discover the traditional culture and lifestyle of thelocal people.
“The local people should be trained to introducethe original values to their guests. When they have professional skill andbasic knowledge of tourism, they will be the best tour guides.”/.
When Bat Trang commune on the outskirts ofHanoi was officially recognised as a tourist site last month, histraditional house with its beautiful garden, old kiln and showroom of potteryproducts started receiving many tourists every day.
In October 2019, the Hanoi People’sCommittee and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) broughtsmart tourism to Bat Trang, further highlighting it on the capital’s travelmap.
Smart tourism
Bat Trang commune is located in Gia Lamdistrict, 10km from the city centre. It comprises Bat Trang and Giang Cao villages.
A century ago, people of Bo Bat village (now YenThanh commune, the northern province of Ninh Binh) followed King Ly Cong Uanfrom Hoa Lu to Thang Long - the new capital city (now Hanoi). They set up apottery and brick-making ward on the banks of the Red River, which isnow Bat Trang.
Bat Trang is the only commune in the northerndelta region not associated with agriculture. It’s well-known forthe traditional pottery trade.
In recent years, tourists have flocked to BatTrang to find traditional artefacts and buy ceramic wares. People also come tomake pottery and go sight-seeing. Though the site has received touristsfor a long time, official recognition as a tourist destination has broughtmore ambition and professionalism.
Hoang Lan Anh from Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi,often brings her children to Bat Trang to buy decorative objects for theirhouse.
Though she admits she doesn’t know much aboutthe pottery wares, she enjoys the beauty of the countryside and thedelicate cuisine.
“We just come to the central market of Bat Trangto visit some big shops, and buy what we need,” she said.
“My children love to make pottery and paint onthe ceramic statues.”
Now, visitors like Anh have a chance tounderstand more about the special pottery villages and experience ancientcultural values that still exist today.
There are many places to visit in Bat Trang, oldhouses like the one owned by artisan To Thanh Son, Tieu Dao Pagoda, Bo Bat oldkiln, Kim Truc Pagoda, Giang Cao Temple and Mother Goddesses Temple.
Apart from these relics, the core of Bat Trangcommune is 23 traditional houses, 16 family temples and many oldkilns, all built with Bat Trang bricks.
Tourists can enjoy a traditional feast atHoa Thu Restaurant with artisan Pham Thi Hoa as well as traditional dishes suchas spring rolls and bamboo shoots and squid soup at a French-style housewith artisan Nguyen Thi Lam and Trang An old house with artisan Pham ThiDieu Hoai.
Artisan Son said he was happy when his mansionbecame a stop on the route to discover Bat Trang.
Tourists can see his artworks including a 1.65mhigh jar that has received much praise from cultural researchers and thepublic.
The jar is decorated with historical events fromthe Dinh (10th century) to Ly (1009–1225) dynasties that leads toKing Ly Thai To’s decision to move the capital to Thang Long. It is coveredwith tea-coloured enamel that was polished then burned at 1,270 degreesCelsius.
Son recited an old saying: “I wish I couldmarry you, I will buy Bat Trang bricks to build our house”. The saying showsBat Trang bricks were the pride of the north of Vietnam. They are firm,durable, not wet on humid days and not easily stuck to by moss.
“I feel proud to be a resident in the commune, Iam happy to receive tourists, sometimes they don’t ask much, just silentlydrink the green tea and contemplate my house under the green canopy,” Son said.
“The old house is like a museum where thelifestyle of the local people and the aged-old craft are preserved,” he said.
The Hanoi Department of Tourism, incollaboration with the Gia Lam District People’s Committee, has applied smarttourism to Bat Trang commune.
In the first phase of the project, the website have been built in Vietnameseand English providing information about Bat Trang. Tourists will find about theway to get there, what to do, what to eat and what to buy. Stories about thedestinations and products will be written by Bat Trang residents themselves.
Ly Duy Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Gia LamDistrict People’s Committee, is very excited to talk about the strategy todevelop smart tourism in the commune.
“We have tried to develop tourism in recentyears, we have received many tourists actually,” said Thanh.
“But now, the information is brought to touristsin a very amazing and innovative way to lure tourists to Bat Trang and bringwonderful experiences to them,” he said.
A tourist information centre is available now atthe entrance to support visitors and provide other services, including an audiotour in 12 languages, free maps, reservation for meals, bicycle hire andvirtual reality experiences.
“The local authorities and people are very happyand willing to welcome tourists, we realise clearly the innovation anddevelopment of our hometown,” Thanh said.
“Now the streets are cleaner, the kilns don’tspread smoke and dust from burning coal. We use smart devices to supporttourists. The whole tourist site is covered with free wifi.”
Thanh acknowledges that wifi is an importantfactor that helps tourists understand more about the destination and have moreinteresting experiences.
“In the second phase of the project in 2020, wewill use electric cars for transporting towards developing sustainable tourism.More services and tours will be designed to provide various options fortourists.
“We will continue to digitalise the heritage ofthe site through 3D images,” he added.
Community-based tourism
There are 200 enterprises and 1,000 householdswho produce and trade ceramic wares in Bat Trang commune. The products havebeen exported to many countries such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Thailand,Russia, Italy, and France.
In recent years, Bat Trang has received 200,000visitors each year, according to Thanh.
“We acknowledge that the human factor is mostimportant to preserve the traditional trade and develop the local tourism andeconomy,” he said.
“The artisans with talent and high skill havemade sophisticated products that bring good fame for the site. So we aredetermined that tourism development is based on the community."
“Before launching the strategy of developingsmart tourism, the city's department of tourism organised a training course totell local people and potters the definitions of tourism and craft villagetourism,” Thanh said.
“They show awareness of preserving the trade,upgrading the product quality and how to introduce tourists about theheritage.”
“Being involved in local life and learning tomake pottery with skilled workers is attractive to tourists. That’s why localpeople play an important role. They are owners of the heritage.”
Nguyen Thu Thuy, PhD, lecturer at the TourismFaculty of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, saidcommunity-based tourism is the current trend of the world tourism industry.
“When travellers have a chance to visit theproduction chain, talk to the artisans and learn how the products are made,they will believe in the products’ quality,” she said.
“Tourists love the truthfulness of thedestination, they love to discover the traditional culture and lifestyle of thelocal people.
“The local people should be trained to introducethe original values to their guests. When they have professional skill andbasic knowledge of tourism, they will be the best tour guides.”/.
VNA