Gia Thuy Pottery Village: Discover Traditional Pottery Craft in Ninh Binh

Gia Thuy pottery village was established around the 13th–14th centuries, during the Tran Dynasty. According to local elders, the patron ancestor of the pottery craft here is ancestor Nguyen Thi Nuong (also known as the Pottery Goddess). When Thang Long capital was devastated by the Ming invaders, several talented potters followed the Tran King back to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu to settle, bringing with them secrets of making distinctive celadon glaze and crackle glaze pottery.

By the Le – Nguyen dynasties, Gia Thuy became one of the main centers supplying household ceramics and worship items for the entire Northern Delta region. Despite enduring many historical events, the craft here has been preserved by generations of descendants to this day.

Unlike Bat Trang pottery (mainly moss green glaze, white glaze), Phu Lang pottery (eel-skin glaze), or Thanh Ha pottery (unglazed terracotta), Gia Thuy pottery has its own distinctive features:

• White kaolin clay sourced locally (Tu Lam Mountain, Ninh Thang Commune) – a rare, plastic, highly heat-resistant clay type.
• Traditional crackle glaze: celadon glaze, tri-color glaze, and ivory white crackle glaze that are very refined.
• 100% hand-throwing technique on traditional wooden potter's wheels, without machines.
• Fired in toad-shaped kilns (gourd-shaped earthen kilns) – temperatures reach up to 1,200–1,300°C, creating durability and a characteristic resonant sound when tapped.
• Main products: terracotta jars, lime pots, herbal medicine pots, ornamental vases, worship jars, water basins, water pipe bowls… bearing strong Vietnamese cultural imprints.

These unique features make Gia Thuy pottery an interesting destination for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of Ninh Binh's traditional pottery craft.

Currently, the village has over 100 pottery-making households, concentrated mainly in Hamlet 1, Hamlet 2, and Hamlet 3 of Ninh Thang Commune. Some typical establishments frequently visited by tourists include:

• Anh Tuan Gia Thuy Pottery Facility
• Duc Quynh Gia Thuy Pottery
• Nguyen Hung Art Pottery
• Gia Thuy Antique Pottery Workshop of artisan Nguyen Van Khieu (recognized as Meritorious Artisan)

Gia Thuy pottery products today not only serve household needs but have also been elevated to high-end fine art ceramics, exported to Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

If you visit Ninh Binh, spend 2–3 hours visiting Gia Thuy pottery village. The experiential activities are very engaging:

• Tour the pottery making process from A to Z: collecting clay - kneading clay - hand-throwing - decorating - sun-drying - glazing - kiln firing.
• Try hand-throwing pottery on a wooden potter's wheel under the guidance of artisans.
• Try drawing patterns or carving relief and recessed designs.
• Buy souvenirs: crackle glazed flower vases, tea sets, mini worship jars… priced from only 50,000 VND to a few million VND.

Experience ticket price: 30,000 – 50,000 VND/person (some workshops offer free experience if purchasing products).

Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM daily.

To make your journey to discover Gia Thuy pottery village convenient and save time finding directions, you can refer to the following popular routes.

• From Ninh Binh City center: follow National Highway 1A towards Hanoi for about 7 km - turn left at Gian Khau Junction (there is a sign board for Gia Thuy pottery village) - travel another 3 km to arrive.
• From Hoa Lu Ancient Capital: only about 4 km away, take the Ninh Binh City bypass road.
• From Hanoi: take the Phap Van - Cau Gie - Ninh Binh Expressway - exiting at either IC Cau Gie or IC Ninh Binh interchange is convenient.

Gia Thuy pottery village is not only a place preserving a long-standing traditional craft, but also a touchpoint helping visitors better understand the life, culture, and resilience of the Ninh Binh people through each rustic pottery piece. From the steady rhythm of the potter's wheel and the heat of the kiln to the skillful hands of the artisans, everything creates a space that is both simple and rich in heritage value. If you are looking for a welcoming destination filled with authentic experiences, Gia Thuy is certainly a worthy choice to visit on your journey to explore the ancient capital land.