Table Of Contents
Introduction
Thanh Ha Pottery Village Hoi An is among the traditional craft villages that sincerely reflect the true values of Hoi An Ancient Town. Travelers fond of this city’s simplicity will find genuine delight in discovering the 500-year-old pottery guild. They will, thereby, step further into its culture, history, community, and local lifestyles.
If these ideas evoke your interest, you may wonder what is special about Thanh Ha Pottery Village, how to visit it, and what to do there. Let Hue Private Taxi show you all about this intriguing venue via the following travel guide.
Thanh Ha Pottery Village History
Thanh Ha Pottery Village in Hoi An Vietnam has been formed and developed for more than 500 years. Its history started in the sixteenth century and reached its peak in the seventeenth century. In those days, the local artisans could create such high-quality pottery products that the royals chose to use.
According to old documents, the residents of Thanh Ha Village originated from northern provinces such as Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, and Thanh Hoa. In the fifteenth century, they moved south to this small village in Hoi An and started earning their livelihood here by making pottery.
Since then, Thanh Ha pottery craft has experienced many ups and downs. Despite having a glorious era, it seemed forgotten when the industries developed. However, this tradition was reborn thanks to the local artisans’ passion.
Nowadays, by keeping and reigniting the pottery village’s merits, the locals have turned their rustic place into an enchanting venue for domestic and foreign tourists. Indeed, visitors to the pottery village Hoi An will be exposed to interesting activities, such as pottery workshops, shopping, exhibitions, etc.
How To Get To Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Address: Pham Phan Street, Dien Phuong Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam
Thanh Ha Pottery Village features a favorable location next to the peaceful Thu Bon River, which is 3 kilometers to the west of the city center. Additionally, this riverside pottery village Hoi An hides precious traditional vibes that can excite anyone curious about time-honored cultures.
Since it’s not far from the city center, vacationers can get there easily by taxis, Grab services, hired motorcycles, or bicycles. It won’t cost much, just around $2–4.
We highly recommend traveling by bicycle, which allows you to enjoy Hoi An’s countryside slowly and deeply. Otherwise, you can choose the tours from local agencies such as Hue Private Taxi.
Besides, Hoi An has lots of attractions that you shouldn’t miss. Check out our Hoi An tours to get more ideas for your upcoming journeys:
- Hoi An Countryside Tour – from 53 USD/pax
- Hoi An Cycling Tour – from 45 USD/pax
- Cham Island Snorkeling Tour – from 78 USD/pax
- Hoi An Basket Boat Tour (Half Day) – from 38 USD/pax
Opening Hours And Entrance Fees
Thanh Ha Pottery Village Hoi An opens from 8 AM to 5:30 PM, every day.
Its entrance fee costs only 35,000 VND per person (15,000 VND for kids). This ticket includes admission tickets to Xuan My Communal House, shrines, and artisan working spaces. Plus, you can join a basic pottery-making workshop with the locals.
Please note that it doesn’t cover tour guide fees and tickets to the museum (Thanh Ha Terracotta Park).
Best Time To Visit Hoi An Pottery Village
Hoi An has two weather patterns: The dry seasons last from February to August. The wet seasons start in September and end in January. Storms and floods may happen from October to December.
Therefore, many suggest February, March, and April are the best times to visit the pottery village Hoi An. These spring months will bring nice days, soft breezes, and cool air. It would be perfect for an outdoor sightseeing stroll and pottery-making classes.
More interestingly, if you visit this place on the tenth of the first lunar month (usually in February), you will see the locals do New Year rituals.
Also, we advise that visitors come at 8–10 AM or 3 PM to avoid intense heat. You shouldn’t go out at noon, around 11 AM to 2 PM.
Top Things To Do At Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Admire Pottery Artisans’ Expertise
Thanh Ha Pottery Village Hoi An differentiates itself by a completely hand-made manufacture. Upon your visit to this venue, the seasoned artisans will show you the miracle artifact formation from clay—the core material of their pottery products.
Ceramics in Thanh Ha Village originate from the brown clay along the Thu Bon River, which features high malleability and adhesion. For hundreds of years, gifted artisans have turned this special soil into aesthetic works.
Visitors can witness how they produce these creations step by step, from clay shaping and decorations to drying and firing. Their merchandise ranges from daily objects, such as bowls, pots, mugs, buckets, or vases, to animal figurines.
Enjoy Vintage Architecture And Ambience
Thanh Ha Pottery Village Hoi An gives visitors a distinct impression of a small ceramics world. Pottery works appear everywhere, from paths to roof tiles, creating a cozy blend with the countryside surroundings.
Visitors will find traditional houses, areca palms, and especially groups of terracotta drying themselves under the sunlight. Such honest rural scenery will fascinate those keen on the Vietnamese countryside and the native community.
Furthermore, this tranquility is colored with vividness every tenth of the first lunar month. It’s time for the New Year ceremony, so there is more to see and join, such as procession parades, rice cooking, etc.
Create Handmade Pottery Products
Apart from direct observation, Thanh Ha Pottery Village Hoi An offers visitors a chance to create products themselves. The local pottery-making households welcome tourists to their working spaces and passionately instruct them through basic progressions.
During this session, you are free to promote your creativity under the enthusiastic guidance of the local artisans. It’s one of the best experiential activities many visitors wish to try at the Hoi An Vietnam pottery village.
Visit Thanh Ha Pottery Village Museum
Address: Pham Phan Street, Thanh Ha Ward, Hoi An, Vietnam (750 meters away from Thanh Ha Pottery Village)
Thanh Ha Terracotta Park is a must-see place for those who want to further explore the pottery traditions of Hoi An. With a scale of 6,000 square meters, it serves as a museum of the iconic pottery works from Thanh Ha Village.
In particular, it has two divisions, including upside-down premises and face-up premises. While the former preserves pottery artifacts from ancient times, the latter accommodates exhibitions of new creations.
Moreover, its highlights are numerous ceramic sculptures of famous constructions, making it a miniature world. It boasts the Pisa Leaning Tower, the White House, the Pyramids, Notre-Dame de Paris, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Turtle Tower, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, etc.
Thus, Thanh Ha Terracotta Museum is the largest pottery park in Vietnam. Its mission is to not only preserve exhibits but also maintain cultural values and promote Vietnamese pottery to the world.
Please note that this is not a part of Thanh Ha Pottery Village (10 minutes of walking). Hence, it has a separate entrance ticket fee of 50,000 VND (30,000 VND for kids).
Plus, there are other charged services, such as the breaking pot game (30,000 VND), making pottery (40,000 VND), and tour guide (100,000 VND).
Shop For Pottery Souvenirs
Furthermore, Thanh Ha pottery products will be lovely souvenirs for your loved ones. There are quality souvenir shops for tourists to drop by to choose one or two items to bring home. A wide range of objects, e.g., reliefs, statues, bowls, or vases, are displayed for purchase.
More interestingly, even if you don’t buy anything, the village gives you an adorable pottery tò he, or toy figurine, to take home. It’s a gift from the villagers as a way to show their appreciation to visitors.
Attractions Near Thanh Ha Pottery Village
Thanh Ha Pottery Village Vietnam is only 3 kilometers from the city center. Therefore, tourists can visit many other places besides the village. We recommend the following attractions:
Japanese Covered Bridge (3.5 kilometers): It’s the most famous icon of Hoi An Ancient Town. It features a bridge base across the Thu Bon River supporting an ancient temple above.
Hoi An Silk Village (4 kilometers): It’s a living exhibition of a 300-year-old traditional silk craft in Hoi An. Visitors can see mulberry gardens, admire colorful silk products, learn about silk manufacture, weaving, etc.
Hoi An Night Market (4 kilometers): It gives off lively vibes of Hoi An by night. Tourists can find the best street food cuisines, garments, and other items.
Travel Tips
- You shouldn’t get close to kiln areas for safety.
- Neat, comfortable, and convenient outfits are highly recommended for activities in the pottery village.
- You will spend a lot of time walking outdoors when visiting the village. Hence, we suggest bringing umbrellas, hats, and bottled water.
- You should come at 8–10 AM and 3 PM and avoid the time from 11 AM to 2 PM (the hottest time).
- There are very few cafeterias and eateries in Hoi An pottery village. So, you should enjoy good food in the ancient town before going.
- Menu recommendations are dumplings (White Rose Restaurant), mi Quang (Ong Hai or Ong Sinh Restaurants), cao lau (Khong Gian Xanh Restaurant), banh mi Phuong or Madam Khanh, and chicken rice.
Conclusion
Through the past 500 years, Thanh Ha Pottery Village Hoi An has been peacefully nestled by the Thu Bon River with diligent artisans, contributing to the unique beauty of Hoi An. Without bustles and hustles, it exists as proof of the ancient town’s diverse traditions and cultures.
It’s clearly an ideal place to come across if you fall in love with the simple and vintage vibes of Hoi An Ancient Town. Hue Private Taxi hopes our travel guide has helped you understand more about this venue. Thanks for reading.