A Memorable Hanoi Day Trip With My Daughter to Bat Trang Village, But Thap & Phat Tich Pagoda

A Hanoi Outskirts Day Trip with My Daughter to Bat Trang Ceramic Village, But Thap Pagoda & Phat Tich Pagoda

Last weekend, I treated my 8-year-old daughter to one of the most refreshing day trips from Hanoi. After a full week of rain, the sky finally turned bright and blue – an ideal day to escape the noise of the city and explore the peaceful countryside. In this travel blog, I’m happy to share our experiences visiting Bat Trang ceramic village, But Thap Pagoda, and Phat Tich Pagoda – a perfect Hanoi excursion for culture lovers and families.

Scenic stop in Dong Du on the way to Bat Trang

For flexibility, we travelled by motorbike and stopped anywhere we liked. On the way to Bat Trang ceramic village, we made a lovely detour to Dong Du commune, home to Vietnam’s famous “ổi Đông Dư” – one of the best guavas in the country. Riding along the Red River dyke, we passed endless green plantations and friendly locals selling freshly harvested guava along the roadside.

We wandered through dirt trails surrounded by lush fruit farms, soaked in fresh countryside air and took beautiful photos of the plantation – an amazing start to our Hanoi day trip.

Photo at Dong Du guava plantation

Discovering Bat Trang Ceramic Village : Hands-on pottery experience for kids & families

Our next stop was Bat Trang pottery village, a must-do for anyone interested in handicraft making . We strolled around the ancient hamlet and observed every step of the pottery-making process :from clay kneading and molding to painting and firing products.

To make the experience more meaningful, I let my daughter try making pottery with local guidance. She formed bowls and vases on the rotary wheel, then painted floral patterns on her favorite creations. The items will be fired and ready for us in a few days – an unforgettable keepsake of our Vietnam family travel experience.

We continued wandering through Bat Trang’s narrow historic alleys, which started making ceramics 700 years ago. The walking was along tiny alleys – just enough for pedestrians or one motorcycle going through, we could see many old buildings of ancient architectures & local pottery productions. The stroll led us to the Bat Trang communal house – next to the Red River, worshing the founder of the village,who taught locals how to make ceramics in the past

We proceeded to Bat Trang traditional market, where is exhibited with massive pottery items- you can choose anything that you like : tea set, bowl set, decoration objects….. If you are making a visit to Bat Trang Market, remember to compare the price between shops and bargain to get good deals.

Practice of making pottery by hand

Lunch break at Ecopark Residence

At noon, hunger (and thirst!) kicked in, so we drove to nearby Ecopark Residence – a beautiful, modern residential area surrounded by serene parks and tree-lined gardens. It felt like stepping into a different world from bustling Hanoi. We enjoyed a relaxed lunch here – KFC for my daughter, though you can also find excellent Vietnamese cuisine for families.

Lunch at Ecopark Residence

Ancient beauty of But Thap Pagoda

After recharging, our Hanoi day tour continued to Bac Ninh province, riding along the Duong River dyke with pristine views of endless green corn and banana farms. The route is perfect for a biking trip – quiet roads, rustic villages and peaceful local farms – an ideal choice if you prefer a day biking tour from Hanoi

Our next stop was But Thap Pagoda, an ancient temple renowned for its precious statues and remarkable sculptures. The highlight is the Bodhisattva statue with thousands of eyes and thousands of hands, crafted in 1656. Standing nearby is the iconic But Tower (Pen Tower), shaped like a pen pointing to the sky, built from stone with elegant lotus carvings as a tomb dedicated to Chuyet Chuyet – the famous Chinese monk who served in this pagoda during the 16th century.

We walked through peaceful courtyards, admired traditional wooden architecture and prayed for blessings – an ideal stop for culture and history enthusiasts.

Photos with daughter at Phat Tich pagoda

Climbing Phat Tich Pagoda – breathtaking views over Red River Delta

More adventure awaited us as we continued our motorbike trip to Phat Tich Pagoda (Buddha Trace Pagoda). The pagoda, originally built between the 7th and 10th centuries, was once the sacred venue for important Buddhist ceremonies conducted by the Kings of the Ly Dynasty in the 11th and 12th centuries to pray for national peace, prosperity and people’s safety.

From But Thap Pagoda, we could already spot Phat Tich Pagoda in the distance, easily recognizable by its massive tower and the giant Buddha statue perched on the mountaintop. From But Thap Pagoda, we rode back to the dyke road along the Duong River and found the local ferry crossing, which took us across the river to reach Phat Tich Pagoda – only about 4 km from But Thap Pagoda.

We began our visit with a short hike on hundreds of stone steps leading up to the main pagoda. Inside, the decorations and Buddha altars were incredibly beautiful, but what impressed us most was the ancient Amitabha Buddha stone statue, delicately sculpted in the 11th century during the Ly Dynasty.

Not stopping there, we pushed further uphill for an amazing trek to admire the colossal Amitabha Buddha statue, standing 27 meters high and weighing 3,000 tons – known as the largest stone Buddha statue in Southeast Asia. Nearby stood an equally impressive giant Buddha tower.

From the summit, the views were spectacular. We could overlook the vast Red River Delta and the surrounding landscapes, a breathtaking reward after the climb.

Entrance to Phat Tich Pagoda

A memorable Hanoi excursion with Golden Holiday Travel

We wrapped up our wonderful father-daughter outing with a peaceful motorbike ride along the dyke back to Hanoi. It was the perfect way to get away from the city rush and enjoy the charming countryside – handicraft villages, ancient pagodas and meaningful cultural experiences.

If you’re looking for day trips from Hanoi that combine nature, culture, hands-on activities and scenic rural views, this itinerary is absolutely perfect.

• Private car tours, biking trips or motorbike experiences available
• Family-friendly itinerary – fun for both adults and kids
• Customizable Hanoi excursions with flexible timing

For travel support or tailor-made Hanoi day tours, contact: [email protected] or  +84 988 45 15 30 (WhatsApp). We’re delighted to design a meaningful and memorable trip for you!