Bat Trang Pottery Village

Bat Trang pottery village is located along the Red River in Gia Lam District, Hanoi suburb. Bat Trang means The Great Yard, is a land of skillful craftmen.  This name is formed under Le reign which is the integration between the five families in Bo Bat Su Thanh village. The 5 biggest families including Tran, Vuong, Nguyen, Le,  Pham. They made a meeting  and decided to take some artists, potters and children left the village and migrate  to Thang Long citadle to develop their career.  They stoped at Ming Trang village.

Today the village of Bat Trang Pottery specializes in producing of many different capabilities from: utensils, worshiping, ceramics and fine arts, etc. Here the family retained quality craft passed down by his father, that the products are displayed and sophisticated feature set separately. Products from ceramics  also was well known and exported to many parts of the world.

If you take the bus, you will walk from the gate of the village and go through the Ceramics shops to Ceremic market in the core of Village. If you take a  motobike, let go straight to the Ceremic market. You can learn how to make a pottery. After finishing a ceramic clay, you have to wait for drying. During that time you walk around the village and visit the market. Also take a walk around the village, you can choose the form of buffalo ride, about $ 150k - 200k / truck is about 10 people. Buffalo vehicles will take visitors to go around the village.

You can model a portery. There are many families provide this service. This is how you play and learn how to makea  pottery and processes. It is quite simple: the landlord has given you one huge clods, one little moisture, provide you with one turntable, then you put clods between the turntable and visual delight for the land department. Most of you will make the cup, do dishes, do the usual utensils circle. If you are handy, you can squeeze the shape of animals. After molding is complete, you move on to the drying stage, takes about 30 minutes, during this time you can go out or lunch. Next you get to the stage of painting, decorating products. And finally, workers will paint ball outside to keep the product more durable over time. The cost for each product around VND30,000 - VND50,000. There are plenty of families are along the road from beginning to the end in the market. When visiting these families you can ask them about the process of making pottery, history, or simply watch them do it.

By Gray Line Halong Cruise

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Hoa Phong Tower at Hoan Kiem lake

Quietly on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake, not many people know that it is the remains of the largest temple in the 19th century.

The last ancient tower

With Hanoian people, a picture of Hoa Phong tower, located on the ancient Dinh Tien Hoang Street seems to have become all too familiar. The tower as a landmark in the heart of Hanoi old self. Most people not only in Hanoi but the guests to the Hoan Kiem lake tour are thinking that tower of populations Turtle Tower - Hoan Kiem Lake. But few know that is one of the architectural works of art surviving populations Bao An Pagoda was built hundreds of years ago.

Named Bao An Pagoda was built in about 1842. Because so many lakes in the temple so people also called Lotus Temple and Tri also known as The Master (official name of the temple establishment). Temple has 180 spaces, complex architecture and sophisticated. The temple is located on the east coast Hoan Kiem Lake, the Red River turns out front, and the back is based on the lake. Bao An Temple, located near the 100 samples, including 180 with 36 roof space.
11/ 1885 of the colonial governor who ordered Lanessan De France is burning the leaves around Hoan Kiem Lake. Night 22/01/1886, 300 Wood Bridge rooftop, Hang Be, Hang Mam, Hang Thung, Hangvoi was burnt. And the night of 28.1.1886, a major fire occurred destroying the village has a long Cu. Bao An Temple Area’s only land desolate.

By 1888 France had destroyed the temple to build a post office. Hoa Phong tower just behind the temple is retained and is the only remnant of Bao An Pagoda. Hoa Phong Tower square consists of 3 floors. On the 1st floor there are four open arches towards the exit. Above the door there are words such as Newspapers corrosion - Report That subjects - subject’s German newspaper - professional vindication.

The second floor, four square corner office building located four vocational subjects are oriented to the east. Third floor burn “Hoa Phong Tower”, on top of a raised ornamental lake lots election. This is a little tower seen in Buddhist architecture. Floor 1 to and higher than the top two floors. If at that time the lotus stupa at the Tran Quoc Pagoda West Lake reached 11 floors, 15 meters high, the tower Hoa Phong only 3 floors and brick ceiling. Perhaps because it is located outside the entrance, but not as the master of the garden tomb tower temple.

According to the remained material, who presided over the building stands out as governor temple Ha Ninh ( Ha Noi - Bac Ninh ) Nguyen Dang Giai. Nguyen Dang Giai capital is the village of Phu Chanh Le Thuy District,Quang Binh Province. He came in a very grand, grandfather, Dr. Nguyen Dang Heng, his father is the covariance University Dr Nguyen Dang Tuan ( the school teacher of King Thieu Tri ).

Childhood, Nguyen Dang Giai studied with his father, the first year of Minh Mang ( 1820 ), he shows them the ( bachelor's ) and then turn appointed the vital functions of the Nguyen Dynasty . He is the god name has many great contributions in the clean piracy, war boats rectify, eliminate harassment caused multiple accidents population, up riots, opening people's homes for economic crop failure, famine. Binh Ngo.. In 1846, during the reign of Thieu Tri, Nguyen Dang Giai when he served as governor of Ha Ninh ( Hanoi and Ninh Binh ) has stood the chair and raise money for the construction of Bao An pagoda with big scale large.

Bao An Pagoda after inauguration superficial world scale in most types of Hanoi at that time. From the eastern lakeside path can lead to Hoa Phong Tower, then to the entrance, cross the bridge to cast tiled floor protector, the two sides have four symmetrical towers three stories high.
Next to "The postal hero” enshrined many statues of Bodhisattvas gorgeous. There corridor covered bowl, carved scenes “Pluto electrical Cross”, described the report in ten suffer hell so vividly. Behind the Marian shrine, increased health, hall, master pagoda roof 36, 150 times. Garden around the temple walls octagonal building surrounded, outside trenching lotus.

Beer stone in Bao An Pagoda.

This is one of the works bear the imprint of the Nguyen Dynasty in Thang Long. It also represents lines of thought “small stuff Grave Like “prevailing in the Nguyen Dynasty. Thought this means that religious education is still small but popular Buddhist devotees. The governor Nguyen Dang Giai Confucianism is the house (father’s lack of Nguyen Dang Tuan Thieu Tri King's school teacher) but stood up to lead the temple.

With a prime location next to the lake sacred sword, Bao An ancient temple is like “the first” place between periods with the storied fishing as: “Almost cried jubilantly slave away / In view of the Divine Master first. The scene purity , Bao An Pagoda 's beautiful when she had gone into the folklore of the sentence all the words of praise : " scene position Rooms hundred lines / in building nine wells, hexagonal outer wall / Of the ten stores each flushing / golden Temple shine like pearls of each wedge. "

As most large temples was seven hour periods, but perhaps the Bao An pagoda “stanza " most . The documents exist today have the same warped about five years to build the temple and destroyed, documents said Bao An Pagoda built in 1842, destroyed in 1883, has re- written material built in 1846, was destroyed in 1888 ... but does mark the umbrella Bao An pagoda still have the shortest survival time in the history of the great temple in Vietnam.

By halong bay tours

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Delicious as rice paper rolls Hanoi

One winter morning wake up craving something hot, which is not easy to swallow noodles, spring rolls I remembered. The jacket is back; catch a bus to a friend's house knocking Hang Cot and two user-defined to Hang Ga, “Blintz Phoenix " opened the door, to welcome the first guests.

Tiny shop, house number 68, new paint repair should look outstanding between the houses wall yellow, brown roof nearby. Unique in that shop is only open from 7 am correct and not all guests at up to 11 noons. Tables and chairs can be stowed most are due in Town particular, crowded.

A small - plot protruding pavement is the seat of the coated cake specialist, who specializes sprinkle onions, do not move to the client, who oversees dedicated parking, clean bowl chopsticks. Yet almost all dense, the people who have it, never quarrel occurred, although customers sometimes have to stand in line to turn into new business.

We were the opening line of “cake Phuong book “earlier that day. The coated wheels wearing only a sweater once, because the heat radiating from a separate boiler warm up enough to make her pink cheeks.

On the table, sauces, herbs, peppers, garlic, pepper ready. Fresh green basil, greasy. Fill sauce are warm, shining amber, visible red pepper slices and pieces of the sliced mushrooms. I “to” Hang Ga -rolls as well as material things, “not just one” of this dish: mushrooms.

Along with the fungus, lean meat, onions, mushrooms and fried shredded cooked to make people cake. Also be chopped mushrooms, sautéed aromatic bowl and drop into hot sauce, diners feel the aroma, a crunchy dish.

Two- spring rolls are brought out in front of us. Pieces of soft white rolls, shining, clear view of both the executive and slice mushrooms shredded stacked on a turquoise plate. Next to it was a few slices of cinnamon rolls were steaming hot. A few stalks of green herbs coated with a green top. I 'm curious companions looked carefully sprinkle a little pepper; add a few slices of chili drop into the bowl of sauce. “It is cold, this is the best!” He laughed.

Air sauce salty enough sweet tart taste. Hot rolls, soft, fragrant smell of mushrooms, lean meat, black fungus. A little basil stalks of airlines. All air into an irresistible taste. We constantly pick anyone until the empty disc, only a few left ... thyme stalks. The friend winked, “Warm people, right? “. I regret , not want to stand up for busy inhaling the aroma of the bread plate is to be brought to book for the next guests ...

I love the rolls. Most of the provinces I also tasted this dish. Lang Son eat egg rolls on the day, is strange. Spring rolls accompanied Halong delicious bold ink. Tam Dao rolls barbecue food between heaven and earth a foggy and chilly mention interesting.

Particularly in Hanoi alone how many rolls formula : Cake rolled Thanh Tri ( suburban ) a simply delicious, chicken rolls last person unfamiliar Hang Bo Street, Thanh Van 's shrimp rolls fragrant shrimp Hang Ga Street illustrious head .... And yet, recognition, I just love fungal rolls, meat shop Phuong Hang Ga .

Not small shops , beautiful look to Hang Ma brilliant Christmas colors each level , new year , bowl nor tasty sauce tasted soft lips every time , do not you go along you charming smile ..., which is probably a good dish of Hanoi in the main space , where the dishes have a hundred years of age , was formed in an ancient street, ancient ...

I love Hanoi early winter, when the wind blows cold enough to make people sit down to a top restaurant rolls Hang Ga Street, watching the smoke coated the cake on hand, smell the fragrant rice , from onions, mushrooms , pie tasted great book but very simple feat of making it . So how much is enough for loving me in a land called Hanoi!

By halong bay tour

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Tet reminds Vietnamese customs

Tet is from “Tiet” it means a season or “weather”, or understanding in other meanings Tet is a festival. Tet is the occasion of family reunion, visiting relatives, ancestor worship. Tet is also an opportunity to rest, to play to prepare for a new year.

Tet tradition reflects the particularities of culture Vietnam through many generations, and will depend on the region of the country. But we can still divide into two main types: Tet with family and Tet with village.

Tet is the time as all family members gathering. Whoever is going far for studying will be home around December 23 to welcome the New Year with family. Typically 1 Vietnamfamily spent half months to prepare for the New Year, such as housekeeping, shopping, decorating house... Normally Tet customs with families include: visiting ancestral graves, grandparents shadowy procession, fireworks, exodus, stormed the house, good life, taciturn, visits, and continuous abstinence.

We also welcome Tet traditions from ancient villages because society is organized according Vietnam village system, in which the village is the smallest unit. Welcoming New Year with villages include: up yet, Lucky early spring, the crowd singing the Spring Festival as they sing, then wrestling, rowing competition, competition for food.

The spring recreation include: pen spring opening, Festival couplets, New Year paintings, knife sharpener, rated chess lion dance.
Food is very much spring day on the altar but usually always have 4 fruits (bridges, coconut, papaya, mango) stands for " spending enough bridges " in the South, also in the North often green bananas, grapefruit, blueberries, persimmons, eggs, Buddha's hand fruit. Especially some indispensable on ancestral altars that pair’s rice cakes, jam box.

Some cultural practices:

Visiting ancestral graves: From 23 December to 30 children in the family gathered together enough east to visit, remodel ancestral graves and bring fruit aroma lamp to cozy, inviting ancestral spirits to eat Festival for children.

Give the kitchen god to heaven also known as king kitchen. Legend each year to theHeaven god gives kitchen god 1 time, on December 23 to report to God what's happened in that time of year. So on that day people usually worship Vietnam is a precursor to Apple solemn adoration of the Creator and to 30 re-offered to invite grandparents and military Apples spend the holidays. According to custom, practice outside of Kitchen god  also coat crown tray of rice paper, double- hia, and carp drop in the water bowl to create military ride to heaven. Generally this ratio in order to keep the commandments we should preserve behavior, because everything would ship up to the Jade Emperor.

His torch shadowy third: the festival invited him to spend the holidays with her children and grandchildren.
On the afternoon of 30 December, on the ancestral altar was presented first feast included fruits and food. The chief offered incense on the altar, begging ancestors witness and bless the family many blessings in the new year. By then everyone in the family are respectfully invited to join hands and shadowy grandparents spend the holidays.

Fireworks: firecracker believed to be able to drive out evil spirits and bring blessings for the new year. There are legends that among teenagers Na 2 Asian couple or vandalism Vietnam harm people, they are just afraid of light and noise, and the people we laid out loudly dazzling fireworks to chase the 2 teenagers. New Year's Eve fireworks right (time between 12 midnight reconciled December 30 of the previous year and the first of the new year), people set off firecrackers at the same time, all sorts of wild crunchy crackers main gun and the burning smell firecrackers mingled scents of incense on the altar lights create a very special festival atmosphere of our nation.

Today not many people still believe the fireworks to banish evil spirits, but firecracker explosions today represents the day the jubilant excitement of spring, determine crimson fireworks symbolize good luck for the new year . But now this is no longer customary for the production and fireworks have caused too many tragic accidents.

Choose a family member passed out in the first minute of the new year. The exodus to view the calendar, choose a good direction, steamed with lucky old to look forward to in the new year when stepped out of the house.

There are so many people believe that the first step in his house at the beginning of the year will bring luck, bad for families throughout the year. Should one or inviting people have luck (thriving, happy family) stormed home to Dum. The bath house had dressed, walked into the front door and went around the house, the kitchen, implying bring luck in every corner home.
In the morning first day of Tet, the children in the show filial piety through good old congratulated for their parents and grandparents. Good old as the Vietnam notion that each person that day to 1 year old, regardless birthday as Westerners.
Li xi word means: is the transliteration from Cantonese to Vietnamese, formerly the “marketing margin “in kanji, which means money, benefits. To celebrate the age of the children, the adults in the family donated the money and wished them a small fast growing, reaching that learning in the new year. It is placed in the red bag, because red symbolizes luck.
Visiting customs: it's time to welcome all the dear friends to visit, and also visited paid holidays. Usually the first day is dedicated to the good life for elders, relatives. 2nd day for teachers, the 3rd is fun to visit with friends
In the first 3 days it is common to eat voices cautious words and actions because we believe that it may bring bad luck for the whole year. For example, do not sweep, scan identify most guns out of the money being considered to the door sweep. No drugs or knives gift of being seen as a sign of illness and conflict. Do not lament or weep smashing dishes because it is a sign of the breakdown of the family. Do not wear white or black because being seen as a sign of mourning.

By Gray line Halong

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