Bat Trang Ceramic Boot Exhibition – Cultural Bridge between Vietnam and Italy
For the first time, the full collection of 12 ceramic boots created by late People's Artisan Vu Thang is on display at an exhibition titled “The Bat Trang Ceramic Boots - An Inspiration from Italy”.
The exhibition is inspired by Italian fashion. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
The event is held at Casa Italia, Hanoi from April 10 to May 3, by the Embassy of Italy and the Hon Dat Viet Bat Trang Art Museum (Bat Trang Museum).
This invaluable legacy of contemporary Vietnamese ceramic art inspired by Italian fashion builds an artistic bridge between Vietnam and Italy and between the East and the West.
Vu Khanh Tung, Director of the museum and the son of artisan Vu Thang, said apart from the 12 ceramic boots, his father created thousands of other works during his 50-year career. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
Organizers said the powerful creativity, unique skills and delicate ceramic techniques of Vu Thang, one of only two People's Artists of Bat Trang ceramic village, are exquisitely represented through the image of the boot embroiled with Vietnamese traditional motifs.
Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro has described the exhibition as a cultural bridge between Vietnam and Italy. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
The highlight of the exhibition is a ceramic pair of shoes that was recognized by Guinness Vietnam in 2013 as the highest quality.
Vu Thang is one of only two People's Artists of Bat Trang ceramic village. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
“ Talented craftsmanship from a 700-year-old Vietnamese village and the unique taste for beauty and style of Italy, the “boot-shaped country”, have much in common in spite of their geographical distance: they are both expressions of people's creativity and skillfulness and are deeply connected to each country's traditions and cultural heritage ,” organizers noted.
Each boot is a smooth blend of Vietnam's contemporary art with Italian style. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
The exhibition builds an artistic and cultural bridge between Vietnam and Italy: classical Vietnamese elements, such as ceramic motifs and enamel colors, blend with Italian elegance and style, thus making every ceramic work an extraordinary piece of art.
The Bat Trang Museum has established thanks to the enthusiasm and efforts of artisan Vu Thang. It owns hundreds of ancient ceramic artifacts of Bat Trang collected by the late artisan, along with many of his ceramic works./.
An exhibit at the museum. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
The collection is expected to be displayed in Rome soon. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
A visitor at the exhibition. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
The exhibition draws the attention of young people. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
A visitor is taking photos at the exhibition. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
The event is held at Casa Italia, Hanoi from April 10 to May 3, by the Embassy of Italy and the Hon Dat Viet Bat Trang Art Museum (Bat Trang Museum). Entrance is free. Photo: Lao dong (Labour) newspaper
The museum consists of seven funnel-shaped buildings which are intertwined together, their outer walls carved into multi-layered patterns that forms a unique work.
A host of activities from October 10-13 will follow the recognition ceremony including the opening of the Trang An ancient house, a tourism and culture ...
Vietnam News Today (Apr. 14): P4G Summit - opportunity for Vietnam to affirm strong commitments to SDGs: Deputy PM; Youth of Vietnam and China join hands to promote traditional friendship; Italy's Liguria region eyes stronger economic cooperation with Vietnam; Vietnam promotes investment, tourism potential at Expo 2025 Osaka.
A ceremony is scheduled at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel to honor the recognition of Hanoi’s two traditional craft villages, Bat Trang ceramic village in the Gia Lam district and Van Phuc silk village in the Ha Dong district as members of the World Crafts Cities Network.
On April 17 in Quang Ninh, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) held the closing ceremony of the 24th Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting in 2025. During the 6-day exchange, delegates from both countries visited and shared experiences in youth union work, enhancing understanding and connecting the two countries' youth.
That was the message conveyed by President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son during a reception with a delegation from the Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD) and the National Council of Elders (NCOE) of the United States held on April 17 in Hanoi.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025) and to foster friendly cooperation and people-to-people exchange activities, the Vietnamese Embassy, in collaboration with the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD), organized the Vietnam-Brunei Friendship Concert.
On April 17, in Hanoi, the Vietnam-Myanmar Friendship Association delegation, led by its President, Chu Cong Phung, visited the Myanmar Embassy to Vietnam to present nearly VND 400 million to support the people of Myanmar to overcome the consequences of the March 28 earthquake.
A delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy in France, led by Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang, paid a working visit to the Hauts-de-France region from April 13-16.
On April 16 in Vinh Phuc province, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association, and the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam jointly organized the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Gathering to commemorate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1960–2025), and the 64th anniversary of the Giron Victory (1961–2025).
On April 16, in Hanoi, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV hosted a ceremony to commemorate its 30th anniversary of operations in Vietnam. In his remark, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Hung stated: "By bringing Dutch and international friends to Vietnam and bringing the story of Vietnam to the world, Dutch NGOs such as SNV are excellent ambassadors of people-to-people relations over the years."
On April 16 in Hanoi, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Hung received the State Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano.