Recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site, Hoi An has many iconic items and destinations; Thanh Ha pottery village is one of them which is a unique and stunning. It is well-known for its Thanh Ha ceramic products and the Thanh Ha lifestyle that has been preserved in this village.
In this blog post, we will provide you with everything you need to know about Thanh Ha – Hoi An pottery village: the history, culture, lifestyle, how to find it, and when is the best time to visit!
Best time to visit Thanh Ha pottery village
The best time to visit this village of pottery Hoi An is from January until April. During the dry season, the weather is fine and it does not rain so much. So, you can enjoy your trip without any problem!
Every morning at 8 A.M., the village is opened to the public and draws its final visitors around 5:30 P.M., although they do not officially close until 6 P.M. Weekdays are preferable, and mornings are better choices during the hot summer days.
About Thanh Ha-Hoi An pottery village
Location of Thanh Ha village
Thanh Ha pottery village is located in the Thanh Ha ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, near the Thu Bon river.
This village is only about 3 kilometers to the West of Hoi An ancient town, which makes it a must-go spot when you visit this area.
History of Thanh Ha pottery
Thanh Ha pottery village is one of the oldest and most important ceramic production centers for Hoi An ancient town and Vietnam in general.
This place has existed for about 500 years and has developed alongside Hoi An’s trading port.
Thanh Ha ceramics were exported to China from the early 15th century until the 19th century, when this industry collapsed after a series of wars.
In the mid-1900s, this Hoi An pottery village became forgotten due to wars in the region until recently, when it started its revival from traditional food industry, cultural tourism, etc.
Traditional jobs in Thanh Ha village
Locals in Thanh Ha-Hoi An pottery village has a number of traditional jobs. These include farming, fishing, and making pottery products such as vases, jars, etc.
This tradition is still being preserved today, although most locals work in the nearby industrial zones to generate more income than from just the agricultural sector.
Many young generations have migrated from Thanh Ha village. However, most of them come back during weekends and holidays to enjoy their free time with families and friends.
How to make Thanh Ha pottery products
Making some products in Thanh Ha pottery village is not as difficult as it sounds and can result in hours of fun.
Find a Thanh Ha villager’s home to ask for a clay product
Thanh Ha pottery village’s most distinctive feature is how intimate it is. On the front porch of each house, you will find a pottery wheel and shelves filled with handcrafted creations.
If you want to make pottery products, just stop at a villager’s house, and an artisan will pop out and invite you to sit at the wheel. The locals here are more than friendly and welcoming to travelers, particularly those traveling with children.
Prepare before starting the making of Thanh Ha pottery Hoi An
Thanh Ha pottery village locals will teach you how to operate the wheel and create a bowl, vase, or other traditional Thanh Ha products.
This is an opportunity not only to learn about this ancient craft but also to support these families, who have been doing so for centuries.
Detailed steps to make a complete pottery product at Thanh Ha village
Although you will be guided by an artist from Thanh Ha pottery village, we want to briefly introduce you to some steps in making a pottery product:
First, grab some clay from the pile next to the wheel. Then roll it out into your desired shape (usually round).
Next, press down with your thumb to create an indentation where one end of this vessel will go; continue pressing down, but now on either side as well, so that another indent forms below it.
Now, grab a small piece of clay and insert it into each gap formed by your fingers. Press down again until no open spaces remain.
This is the base of your Thanh Ha pottery product; let it sit for a few minutes and then carefully slide off the wheel onto a flat surface where you can dry in the sun.
When finished drying, paint designs on them using brushes and paints created from natural ingredients such as tree bark and leaves while they are still wet to add an artistic flourish before letting them dry again overnight.
Bake and collect the product in Hoi An pottery village
The drying and baking processes are time-consuming as well. A jar that takes a few minutes to make might take a day to dry in the sun.
Depending on its size, it may take an additional seven days to bake in the kiln. If the artisans paint the product, this baking process can last for a few more days.
The heat modulations result in different colors in the clay. The majority is a deep terracotta red that you may see all over the village.
However, depending on how long it takes and the kiln’s temperature, it can range from pink to red, light yellowish-brown, and jet black.
Thanh Ha pottery park: A piece of art in the pottery Hoi An
Thanh Ha pottery village is not just a place where artisans live and create. It is also home to one of Vietnam’s most popular attractions, the Thanh Ha Pottery Park. This outdoor space contains over 100 art pieces that are both practical (e.g., jars for rice wine) and artistic (e.g., pots made into dragons).
It is also a mini-exhibit of the world’s architectural wonders. If you walk around in the park and among the terracotta sculptures, you can recognize a few. They are the Notre-Dame de Paris, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Sydney Opera House, the Statue of Liberty, and many more!
Tips, Costs, and Transportation:
How to get to Thanh Ha pottery village
- By bus: There are two bus lines you can try: the Hoi An-Long Chau bus and the Da Nang – Thanh Ha bus.
- By bike: It is interesting to ride the bike around the village. Many hotels in Hoi An let their guests lend their bicycles for free. Parking the bike near the river has no charge, too.
- By motorbike: Going by motorbike is also a great choice to get to Thanh Ha. The parking fee here is $0.20 but here is a tip: you can park the bike right beside the ticketing booth for free.
- By taxi/Grab taxi/Grab bike: Travelling by taxi from the city center costs about $3.00 . However, remember to arrange with the driver when you want to get back since there are not many taxis available there.
- By boat: This option seems cooler but it is more expensive than other transportations. The price is negotiable but it may range from $6.50 for one and $21.50 for three people. Going by boat takes about half an hour giving visitors a wonderful view of Hoi An.
Ticketing
The entrance ticket to the Thanh Ha-Hoi An pottery village is $1.50. This price includes:
- Exploring the village
- Discovering Mieu Nam Dieu monument
- Dinh Xuan My relic
- Making pottery in a Thanh Ha pottery villager’s home and collecting one product
For the Terracotta Park and Museum, the entrance ticket is an additional $1.70. Children under 1.2 meters in height are allowed to visit the village, park, and museum for free; children above 1.2 meters are charged $0.65 for visiting the village and an additional $1.26 for the park.
Tips
If you visit Thanh Ha village during Vietnam’s traditional Mid-Autumn Festival, there are many interesting activities there. They include making delicate lanterns and eating moon cakes together.
It is the perfect chance for tourists to experience life in Thanh Ha pottery village!
In case you want to learn how to make ceramic products, the artisans there will give lessons for free, but they ask you to buy souvenirs afterward. The price for these is only $0.86 for one piece.
Most shops sell quite similar items, such as tea sets, decorative dishes, etc. But it is worth spending time looking closer to find more unique items.
If you wonder what to do in Hoi An next, please take note of some of the popular traditional foods there. For instance, Banh xeo Thanh Ha, Thanh Ha cake (made of sticky rice), Cao Lau noodle, Banh beo chen, Banh khot, etc. You should not miss trying them when you visit this village of pottery in Hoi An!
There are many traditional handmade souvenirs there that will make great gifts for your family and friends. You can also buy them as decoration pieces or simply use them at home every day because they look very stylish!
Thanh Ha village’s traditional value
Thanh Ha pottery village is a place with special value. It has been the home of many artists, artisans, and craftsmen who have been committed to preserving traditional values in daily life for years.
There, you will see every day the efforts that they put into making the Thanh Ha terracotta products, one of Vietnam’s ancient intangible cultural heritages.
This village of pottery Hoi An also has a unique lifestyle and culture influenced by both Cham (ancient kingdom) people who used to live there until the 19th century and Chinese villagers.
This place still believes in ancestral worship traditions. They celebrate their ancestors’ death every year with a lot of food, drinks, music shows, etc. If you are interested in these traditions or customs, then this trip will not disappoint you at all!
In Hoi An pottery village, people are very social and friendly towards foreigners. Either by yourself or on a group tour, you will always feel welcomed here!
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Conclusion
Thanh Ha pottery village is a wonderful place for visitors to spend their time. Its architecture, traditional values, and hand-made crafts are really worth exploring!
This outing is a great experience for those with children eager to get their hands dirty and those interested in this area’s history of pottery.
During your trip there, do not forget about taking photos because this destination will definitely look stunning through any kind of camera lens!