HANOI – Suburban Hanoi has an ancient town called Duong Lam – the ideal destination for visitors who want to temporarily stay away from the bustling town.
Referring to the Northern village, many people remember the banyan tree, the water station, the communal yard, the village gate … All these things can be found at Duong Lam.
Located only about 45 km from the center of Hanoi, the old village still retains its rustic character from the past, attracting visitors who want to experience a peaceful day, find old Vietnamese features. Out of thousands of villages across the country, this is the first village to receive the title of National-level Architectural Monument.
Morning Gate of Mong Phu village – Communal house of Mong Phu village – Walking distance
From Hanoi, you can go to Duong Lam by bus, bus, or motorbike. Travel time is about 1 hour.
There are many entrances to the old village, but Mong Phu Gate is still the most popular place for tourists to visit. This is the only remaining old village gate in the Northern region. Through many ups and downs of history, the village gate is still very intact, imbued with the spirit of the northern village.
This is the place that separates the village fields from the area where people live. Mong Phu village gate is like a rustic greeting, waving visitors to explore the ancient town of Doai . Step through the gate, time slows down, the journey to find the past begins.
Located in the middle of the old village is Mong Phu communal house. Legend has it that the communal house in Mong Phu village was built on the forehead of a dragon. The communal house was built in 1684 under the reign of King Le Hien Tong, bearing bold ancient Vietnamese architecture, was designed in the Cong script.
This is the busiest part of the village, where all important and collective activities take place here. Standing next to the communal courtyard, visitors can feel the old atmosphere when seeing the eateries and water shops that are the very country soul.
From Mong Phu communal house, visitors can visit the surrounding ancient streets. Different from Hoi An with the old houses painted with gold, in Duong Lam, the old houses are built of laterite, oval wood, terracotta brick, tile …
Visiting some old houses here, you can buy sticky rice as a gift. The jars of soy sauce are displayed in the yard, sometimes in the air with a characteristic salty smell. Visitors can manually open the jars of soy sauce being brewed and listen to the owner explain carefully the process of making a proper sticky soy sauce bottle.
Noon
Enjoying home gifts at the old house
Not only is a village preserving special ancient architecture, coming to Duong Lam you also have the opportunity to enjoy famous specialties. There are many old houses used as restaurants, of which the famous ones are Uncle Vung’s old house.
It is peaceful in the afternoon when diners can sit by the river, enjoy simple gifts of the countryside, breathe the fresh and quiet air in the countryside. You can try specialties such as roast meat, banh chung, candy rice, sugar cane, chicken – the things that make a name for Duong Lam in particular and Son Tay in general.
Afternoon
Visiting Cane Pagoda – Discover “land of two kings”
The village not only attracts tourists who love nostalgia but also attracts visitors who want to find spirituality. Mia pagoda holds the Guinness Vietnam record for the most ancient Buddha statues when it holds up to 287 ancient statues, of which 6 bronze statues, 107 wooden statues, and 174 terracotta statues are kept. The sacred temple has many mysteries surrounding it.
Local people said that no one was allowed to take pictures and videos in the temple. Legend has it that many visitors have taken photos and videos and when viewed again, the images and videos will disappear or no longer complete. Going to the temple, visitors often pray for health and peace, but only to Mia Pagoda, to the worshiping committee of Mia Pagoda, you can pray for fortune, fortune, and fame.
Duong Lam people are proud of being descendants of the “land of two kings” when this is the birthplace of two national heroes – Bo Cai Dai Vuong Phung Hung and King Ngo Quyen. There are many temples for the two kings across the country, but Duong Lam is the main place to keep the temple located at the place where the two kings were born.
Going to Mass at these two shrines, you also have the opportunity to admire the interesting historical sites. It is Tiger Mountain. Legend has it that this is the place where Phung Hung does not kill tigers in order to protect the good people.
Near Ngo Quyen temple, there is an ancient chain of 18 trees. Legend has it that Ngo Quyen forced elephants here. The ancient mangrove range is more than 1000 years old. Associated with King Ngo Quyen, currently at the temple, he still keeps two stakes from the historic Bach Dang battle.
Along the way to visit two historical sites, visitors will smell a fragrant scent in the wind. That is the smell of cassava people dried in the street, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy a very “country” scent. Duong Lam is always like that, making anyone who leaves flustered.
| On November 28, Duong Lam Ancient Village marked the 15th anniversary of being recognized as a National Architectural Monument (2005 – 2020) and organized activities to honor and promote the heritage. This decades-old living heritage is preserved, cherished, and preserved by each Duong Lam people to this day. Also on this day, the fam trip group with the theme “Finding treasure in Duong Lam ancient village” with more than 20 participating tourist businesses under the sponsorship of AZA Travel, visited and surveyed the ancient village, creating opportunities for tourism in Duong Lam is more developed in the future. |
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