Using the coal fly ash (FA), pure-form Na-A and -X zeolites were synthesized by two-step process. The FA was pretreated in aqueous NaOH solution under stirring condition at 85°C for 18h. The amorphous aluminosilicate of FA was dissolved during pretreatment. Increasing the stirring speed accelerated the dissolution of FA and increased Si 4+ and Al 3+ concentrations in the solution. This fact indicated that the stirring during pretreatment significantly affected on the dissolution of FA. After pretreatment, remaining FA was removed and aqueous NaAlO 2 solution was added to the residual solution to control the molar ratio SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 of 0.5–4.5. After aging the resultant at 85°C for 24h, white precipitates were generated over the whole SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 range. Increment of Si 4+ concentration by stirring during pretreatment increases the yield of the product. At SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 =0.5, the material was identified as Na-A zeolite with a trace amount of hydroxysodalite. A single phase Na-A zeolite was obtained at SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 =1.0. The Na-X zeolite was emerged at SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ⩾ 2.0. At SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 =4.5, a single phase Na-X zeolite was formed. The cation exchange capacity of synthetic single phase Na-A and -X zeolites was respectively 4.78 and 3.88meq./g.