The 5-star quality of OCOP ceramic products in Bat Trang.

Most proudly, Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi has two units with OCOP products that received the maximum score, 5 stars.

Báo Nông nghiệp Việt Nam•17/11/2025

Established in 2013, the members of Tan Thinh Ceramic Production and Business Cooperative are all skilled artisans sharing a passion for the village's ceramics. Distinguished artisan Tran Duc Tan, the cooperative's director, shared that many Vietnamese people, when mentioning Bat Trang ceramics, immediately think of the glazes from the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties... However, from the very beginning of establishing the cooperative, he has been researching and exploring new ways to create traditional ceramics for contemporary decorative art.

From that innovation, a new glaze was born, embodying the yin-yang and five elements, called Jade Spring. Besides symbolizing the essence of the three indispensable elements in pottery making—earth, water, and fire—this glaze also embodies the wish for favorable weather, abundant harvests, and flourishing life.

The Suoi Ngoc glazed ceramic product line of the cooperative is made entirely from domestic materials, combined with a proprietary blending technique that creates five distinctive colors. The vibrant effect on the surface of Suoi Ngoc glazed ceramics is formed by the firing process in the kiln at temperatures ranging from 1,250°C to 1,300°C. Under the influence of such continuously high temperatures, oxides, carbon, silicon, etc., melt and blend together, creating a shimmering, translucent color like jade.

Typical ceramic products of Bat Trang. Photo: Dinh Thanh Huyen.

Typical ceramic products of Bat Trang. Photo: Dinh Thanh Huyen.

What's special is that each piece is unique, with no two alike, creating a distinct imprint of earth, water, and fire. When light shines on some pieces, the glaze colors can transform into multiple hues, creating translucent effects, giving the impression that one can see through the ceramic.

Currently, the cooperative offers a wide variety of Suoi Ngoc glazed ceramic products to meet diverse needs. These include exquisitely designed tea sets that resemble works of art; dinnerware sets in various styles and sizes that are both elegant and cozy for family meals; vases and decorative jars that add a touch of style to interior spaces; and religious artifacts that carry profound spiritual significance, expressing reverence for ancestors and deities.

Appreciating their aesthetic value, practicality, and uniqueness, in 2023, Mr. Tan's Suoi Ngoc glazed ceramic product line was awarded 5 stars by the National OCOP judging panel. Currently, the Tan Thinh Ceramic Production and Business Cooperative not only creates jobs for its members but also provides livelihoods for hundreds of local and out-of-province workers. Since being recognized as a 5-star OCOP product, the cooperative's prestige has steadily increased, contributing to spreading the good reputation of Bat Trang ceramics not only in the domestic market but also in the international market.

Not content with his past successes, Mr. Tan aims to continue investing in science and technology, improving designs, enhancing quality, and researching modern consumer trends to create the most suitable product lines.

Pottery making in Bat Trang. Photo: Dinh Thanh Huyen.

Pottery making in Bat Trang. Photo: Dinh Thanh Huyen.

Before Tan Thinh Ceramic Production and Business Cooperative had its product line awarded 5-star OCOP rating, Quang Vinh Ceramic Co., Ltd. already had 4 products awarded 5-star OCOP rating, including "Red Lotus Ceramic Dinnerware Set", "Swallow and Lotus Ceramic Dinnerware Set", "Dragon and Phoenix Ceramic Dinnerware Set", and "Swallow and Lotus Ceramic Teapot and Cup Set".

The director of Quang Vinh Ceramic Co., Ltd. is Ms. Ha Thi Vinh, the 15th-generation descendant of the Ha Huu family from Bat Trang village. Her love for ceramics is deeply ingrained in her, and through many ups and downs, she has steered the Quang Vinh ceramics "ship" to the open sea, competing with renowned ceramic cultures around the world .

Currently, over 90% of Quang Vinh ceramic products are exported to more than 30 countries, including demanding markets such as Korea, Japan, the US, Australia, Canada, and Northern Europe, where quality and aesthetic standards are the strictest.

Ms. Ha Thi Vinh shares her experience in pottery making. Photo: Dinh Thanh Huyen.

Ms. Ha Thi Vinh shares her experience in pottery making. Photo: Dinh Thanh Huyen.

In her capacity as President of the Hanoi Handicraft and Traditional Village Association and Vice President of the Vietnam Traditional Village Association, Ms. Ha Thi Vinh has made many important contributions to connecting, guiding, and enhancing the value of traditional village heritage.

She also initiated and directed the construction of the Vietnamese Craft Village Excellence Center – a cultural space combining exhibition, creativity, experience, and tourism, welcoming hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors, introducing and promoting the culture and history of Bat Trang. The project has become a cultural symbol of the craft village, a source of pride for the local people, having won numerous major architectural awards such as: Gold Award - National Architecture Award 2022-2023; Winner of the Year 2023 - Design Education Awards; The International Architecture Awards 2023 (IAA).

Regarding her experience registering for the OCOP program, she shared that she had previously studied the OVOP (One Village One Product) program in Japan and in Thailand. "Seeing how successful it was elsewhere, I wanted to help producers in remote areas of Vietnamese craft villages access the market as quickly as possible. I established this center not for profit, but to contribute to society, because I already have a pottery factory that has achieved 5-star OCOP status, with 95% of its products exported to other countries. I believe that each pottery product tells a story, and the potter is the storyteller using clay and fire," Ms. Vinh said.