{"id":6167,"date":"2025-06-09T17:15:16","date_gmt":"2025-06-09T10:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/battrang.museum\/journal\/the-village-festival-of-bat-trang\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T18:28:17","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T11:28:17","slug":"the-village-festival-of-bat-trang","status":"publish","type":"journal","link":"https:\/\/battrang.museum\/en\/journal\/the-village-festival-of-bat-trang\/","title":{"rendered":"The Village Festival of B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” css=”.vc_custom_1712074788218{background-image: url(http:\/\/battrang.museum\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/LIT02971-Copy-1.jpg?id=3235) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”20rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][vc_empty_space height=”48rem”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”3rem”][vc_empty_space height=”3rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_column_text]\r\n

The Village Festival of B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng<\/h1>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”1rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][vc_empty_space height=”3rem”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ offset=”vc_col-md-5 vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_column_text]\r\n

In every country, traditional craft villages are more than just sites of artisanal heritage \u2014 they are living expressions of a nation\u2019s cultural richness and diversity. However, under the pressure of historical changes and modern development, many once-renowned craft villages have faded, and with them, the intangible traditions they once held.<\/p>\r\n

Nestled on the left bank of the Red River, B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng is a nearly 700-year-old village that has remarkably preserved its ancestral ceramic craft. Beyond its thriving pottery heritage, the annual B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng Village Festival \u2014 held in the second lunar month \u2014 remains a vibrant cultural event, blending village traditions, community faith, and local architecture.<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”3rem”][vc_column_text]\r\n

Text by L\u1ed7 H\u1eefu \u0110\u1ee9c Anh<\/strong> \u2013 H\u00e0 Tu\u1ea5n Minh<\/strong>\r\nPhotos by L\u1ed7 H\u1eefu \u0110\u1ee9c Anh<\/strong> \u2013 V\u0169 Qu\u1ed1c Huy<\/strong> \u2013 V\u0169 Kh\u00e1nh T\u00f9ng – V\u1ef9 Nguy\u1ec5n<\/strong><\/h5>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″ offset=”vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-2 vc_col-sm-offset-1 vc_col-xs-offset-4 vc_col-xs-4″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_single_image image=”3244″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”6rem”][vc_empty_space height=”6rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-md-offset-2 vc_col-md-3 vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_hidden-sm vc_hidden-xs”][vc_empty_space height=”10rem”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text el_class=”no-indent”]\r\n

Alongside the continued flourishing of the ceramic craft, the annual B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng Village Festival\u2014held each year in the second lunar month\u2014stands out as a vibrant celebration that harmoniously weaves together village traditions, communal beliefs, and local architectural heritage.<\/span><\/h3>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-6 vc_col-sm-offset-2 vc_col-xs-offset-1 vc_col-xs-10″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md”][vc_empty_space height=”4rem”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-md-6 vc_col-xs-8″][vc_empty_space height=”4rem”][vc_empty_space height=”4rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][vc_single_image image=”5646″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/4″ offset=”vc_col-md-2 vc_col-sm-offset-1 vc_col-xs-offset-1 vc_col-xs-3″][vc_single_image image=”3053″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_empty_space height=”8rem”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_empty_space height=”8rem”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”8rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_column_text]\r\n

The B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng Festival honors both the founder who taught ceramics to the villagers and the tutelary deities credited with establishing the village. Celebrated from the 14th to 16th day of the lunar month, the festival features solemn rituals alongside festive games, preserving ancient Red River Delta customs.<\/p>\r\n

Key ceremonies include the Water Procession and the Bathing of Ancestral Tablets. Unique to B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng is the \u201cTam Sinh\u201d Procession, in which a symbolic offering of three animals \u2014 a young buffalo, a goat, and a piglet \u2014 is paraded. According to artisan Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n H\u01b0ng, the inclusion of a whole buffalo in the ritual traces back to an imperial decree from King T\u1ef1 \u0110\u1ee9c, who bestowed upon the village the honorary words \u201cHi\u1ebfu \u2013 Ngh\u0129a \u2013 C\u1ea5p \u2013 C\u00f4ng\u201d (Filial Piety \u2013 Righteousness \u2013 Readiness \u2013 Service), now inscribed and preserved in the village communal house.<\/p>\r\n

On the final day, these offerings are respectfully distributed among villagers as communal blessings. As the procession winds through the streets, each household displays a ceremonial tray to honor the village\u2019s founding ancestors.<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”4rem”][vc_single_image image=”3182″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][vc_single_image image=”8316″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][vc_single_image image=”3172″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”8rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_empty_space height=”6rem”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_section el_class=”.grid-collection”][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle”][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-md-4 vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_column_text]\r\n

\u201cTo hold a procession with a full sacrificial buffalo, there had to be royal permission,\u201d shared artisan Nguy\u1ec5n V\u0103n H\u01b0ng of B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng. \u201cIn the past, the people of B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng rendered great service and were granted the four royal characters \u2018Hi\u1ebfu \u2013 Ngh\u0129a \u2013 C\u1ea5p \u2013 C\u00f4ng\u2019<\/i> (Filial Piety \u2013 Righteousness \u2013 Readiness \u2013 Service) by Emperor T\u1ef1 \u0110\u1ee9c. These words are still displayed in the village communal house today, and since then, B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng villagers have been allowed to carry out the sacred Buffalo Procession.\u201d<\/span><\/h4>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-3 vc_col-sm-offset-2 vc_col-xs-offset-1 vc_col-xs-10″][vc_single_image image=”5648″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_column_text]\r\n

Traditional folk games such as human chess and ceremonial singing continue throughout the festival, drawing villagers and visitors alike.<\/p>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”4rem”][vc_single_image image=”8338″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][vc_single_image image=”3180″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][vc_single_image image=”8300″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_column_text]\r\n

Beyond its renowned ceramic craft [1]<\/strong> and impressive historical architecture [2]<\/strong>, B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng is also celebrated for its distinctive local cuisine\u2014another reason why visitors flock to the village each year for the spring festival. The B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng ceremonial feast is more than a traditional meal; it\u2019s a culinary experience that reflects the refinement and hospitality of the village\u2019s people. Though the dishes themselves are familiar to the Red River Delta\u2014such as b\u00e1nh ch\u01b0ng (sticky rice cake), boiled chicken, mung bean sticky rice, sweet mung bean paste, and dried pork skin soup\u2014they are meticulously arranged and prepared by renowned village cooks, turning everyday ingredients into a feast of rare allure.<\/p>\r\n

What sets B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng\u2019s feast apart are two unique dishes: bamboo shoot soup with dried squid, and stir-fried kohlrabi (a cabbage-stem vegetable) with squid\u2014both of which have earned a legendary reputation in local culinary storytelling. During the festival\u2019s final day, hundreds of these feast trays are laid out to welcome guests, extending from the communal house to the Mother Goddess temple, lining the Red River\u2019s bank for over half a kilometer. It is a spectacular scene, offering visitors a rare multi-sensory journey into the spirit of the village.<\/p>\r\n

According to the village elders, this traditional festival dates back to the very founding of B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng pottery village. Despite the passage of generations and changing times, its rituals have remained remarkably intact, embedded deeply in the villagers\u2019 collective memory. Attending the festival today feels like stepping into a multi-dimensional cultural experience\u2014one that fosters bonds between people, honors ancestral legacy, and reaffirms spiritual connections amid a rapidly changing society.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

*<\/h1>\r\n
[1]<\/b> Recognized for its cultural significance, the B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng pottery craft was inscribed into Vietnam\u2019s National Intangible Cultural Heritage list by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism under Decision No. 4610\/Q\u0110-BVHTTDL, dated December 20, 2019.<\/h5>\r\n
[2]<\/b> B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng preserves numerous important historical and religious monuments, including the V\u0103n Ch\u1ec9 (Confucian temple), \u0110\u00ecnh (communal house), Ch\u00f9a (pagoda), \u0110\u1ec1n (temple), and Mi\u1ebfu (shrine). These sites house imperial decrees, ancestral steles, and traditional calligraphic panels, reflecting the area\u2019s deep-rooted scholarly and spiritual heritage. Among them are nine notable sites such as Ti\u00eau Giao Pagoda, Giang Cao Communal House, B\u1ea3n Shrine, B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng Communal House, M\u1eabu Temple, Kim Tr\u00fac Pagoda, and the B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng V\u0103n Ch\u1ec9.<\/h5>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”4rem”][vc_single_image image=”5650″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][vc_single_image image=”8328″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”8rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column offset=”vc_hidden-lg vc_hidden-md vc_hidden-sm”][vc_empty_space height=”6rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”8332″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”8330″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”8324″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”8336″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”8340″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”8302″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”8310″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”8304″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”8318″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”8297″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”8334″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”8322″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”8342″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”8344″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3164″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3176″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3166″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3152″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3200″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3204″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3178″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3136″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3124″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3140″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3160″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3158″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3134″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3162″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3144″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3222″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”bottom”][vc_column width=”5\/12″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-1″][vc_single_image image=”3154″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/12″][vc_single_image image=”3170″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”2rem”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-4″][vc_column_text]\r\n
This article and its images are produced exclusively by B\u00e1t Tr\u00e0ng Museum.\r\nAny reuse requires prior permission.<\/h5>\r\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”4rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ offset=”vc_col-sm-offset-2″][vc_separator][vc_empty_space height=”4rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][\/vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”6rem”][vc_empty_space height=”6rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][vc_single_image image=”1194″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”6rem”][vc_empty_space height=”6rem” el_class=”hide-mobile”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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Four Women Designers in Dialogue with Ceramic Heritage<\/h4>\n \n\t
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