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. 16): National Assembly leader arrives in Türkiye for IPU-152 Assembly; Vietnam values US business community as trusted partner: NA Vice Chairwoman; Vietnam, Italy agree on new cooperation directions; Vietnam proposes three cooperation priorities at AZEC summit on energy security.
Vietnam News Today (Sep. 21): NA Chairman’s Malaysia trip achieves success on all fronts; State President’s UN trip highlights Vietnam’s global engagement; Vietnam, Russia see opportunities for trade expansion in Eurasian market; Investment Connectivity Forum 2025 highlights Vietnam–Italy economic ties.
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.
Peter Jankowitsch, Honorary President of the Austria-Vietnam Society and former Austrian Foreign Minister, together with the Austria-Vietnam Society, has made significant contributions to strengthening and developing the friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Austria.
In the second half of 2026, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association will focus on consolidating its local chapters following the administrative merger of provinces and cities while implementing the 2025-2030 cooperation agreement signed with the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association. The Association also identified strengthening youth exchanges as a key priority for its upcoming activities.
On July 18 in Quang Tri Province, the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association held its Executive Committee Conference to review its work during the first six months of 2026 and identify key priorities for the coming time. Among its major objectives are advancing the signing of a cooperation agreement with the German-Vietnamese Association (DVG) and strengthening people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Germany.
In the first six months of 2026, the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations mobilized more than USD 1.36 million in foreign non-governmental aid, with over USD 1.1 million disbursed. In the coming period, the city will prioritize expanding cooperation in climate change response, sustainable livelihoods, education, healthcare, and digital transformation.
The Quang Ninh Union of Friendship Organizations and the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations reached agreement on a wide range of cooperation priorities during a working session held on the morning of July 16, aiming to enhance the quality of people-to-people diplomacy and strengthen coordination between the two organizations.
On July 17, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung held talks with George Gerapetrins, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Greece, who is paying an official visit to Vietnam. The two sides discussed ways to further advance the friendly and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Greece in a substantive and effective manner.
“That is the greatest blessing of my life,” shared Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich Ha, former Dean of the Japanese Language Faculty at the Foreign Trade University, at the ceremony honoring her with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, conferred by the Government of Japan on July 17 in Hanoi.
The wife of the Russian Ambassador to Vietnam handed over three water puppet artifacts used in water puppetry performances of the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre to the Director General of the Museum of Oriental Art.