Duong Lam ancient village is a long-standing ancient village with many unique cultural features. To this day, the village still retains the basic characteristics of an ancient village with village communal houses, banyan trees, water wharves, pagodas and temples... The artistic value here has made Duong Lam a highlight when travelling to Hanoi. So where is Duong Lam ancient village? Please follow us to explore this village known as the "Forgotten Ancient Town"!

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The famous ancient village of Hanoi, everyone wants to visit once because the scenery is so peaceful

Where is Duong Lam ancient village?

Duong Lam ancient village is 44 km west of Hanoi city centre, Son Tay town, Hanoi. Although often called an ancient village, in fact, Duong Lam in the past consisted of 9 villages belonging to Cam Gia Thinh district, Phuc Tho district, and Son Tay town, of which 5 villages, Mong Phu, Dong Sang, Cam Thinh, Doai Giap and Cam Lam are adjacent to each other. These villages are united into a unified whole with customs, practices and beliefs that have not changed for thousands of years. This place is also known as the land of two kings because it is the birthplace of Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen.

Currently, the ticket price for motorbike parking is 10,000 VND/motorbike, and the sightseeing ticket is 20,000 VND/person. You can also rent bicycles for 30-50,000 VND/hour or 80-100,000 VND/day.

First is the gate of Mong Phu village, built in 1833 with arched architecture and laterite layers next to a more than 300-year-old banyan tree, creating a truly peaceful and ancient landscape. This village is called laterite village. You can see houses built with this type of stone wherever you go.

In the past, when people here built houses, they dug up laterite layers underground to build ancient houses like today. Stepping through the village gate, we were swept away by this place's peaceful, ancient beauty. Under our feet are clean tiled paths and dark yellow laterite walls on both sides, making us feel the warmth and unique beauty that cannot be found anywhere else.

Mrs Dien's ancient house

Our first stop was Ba Dien's ancient house. As soon as you entered, an ancient architecture appeared right before you. This house is 200 years old. In the yard, the old lady, Mrs. Dien's grandchild, sat right there to welcome visitors who wanted to learn about this house. He is 93 years old this year but is still very lucid, talking and sharing with us about the historical values of this house.

There are indispensable specialties to invite tourists: traditional che voi and Lam cake. There's nothing better on a rainy and cold day than drinking a cup of hot tea and enjoying specialties right here. It is a traditional house with 3 rooms following the old Northern architecture. The altar is in the middle, facing the door, and flower gardens and very old wine jars are outside the yard.

Mong Phu communal house

After chatting and visiting for a long time, we left Mrs. Dien's house to continue going deeper into the village. Not far away, right in the middle of the village, is Mong Phu Communal House. The communal house was built 380 years ago, 1800 square meters wide, bearing bold Vietnamese-Muong architecture, simulating the architecture of a stilt house with wooden floors off the ground. Inside the pavilion, many prominent parallel horizontal panels are hanging.

Here, we were told by Mr. Phan Van Tich that the unique and sophisticated sculptures in the communal house were by Mr. Muc Hung - a talented master craftsman, with a creative mind and golden hands. He had the merit of directly drawing models and instructing a group of carpenters from the village of Mia to build this communal house. It can be said that Mong Phu Communal House is the quintessence of Vietnamese architecture, creating a communal house unlike any other communal house anywhere else.

Mr. Hung's ancient house

Luckily, while trying to find Mr. Hung's old house, we met a security guard who took care of the church to lead us there. On the way, he talked a lot about the history of this ancient village, and when coming here, you cannot help but visit Mr. Hung's house, the oldest house in Mong Phu village. This house was built in 1649, and so far, it has been nearly 400 years with 12 generations living here.

Mong Phu family church

Coming to Duong Lam village, people cannot help but mention the Mong Phu family church. The narrow road leading to the church with many turns made it difficult to find; fortunately, there was a security guard to guide the way. The church at Mong Phu parish stands out among hundreds of ancient roofs looking down from above.

The church is newer than the pure Vietnamese ancient houses. Its religious features cannot compare with the ancient features of Duong Lam. Still, when discussing the history of Catholicism in Vietnam, Mong Phu is truly worthy of praise. Maybe Duong Lam's neck created the Dao family's neck.

Duong Lam specialties

Coming to Duong Lam, you can see Lam tea makers everywhere. Here, Lam sweet soup is sold everywhere, a popular specialty you can enjoy wherever you go. There are also famous peanut candies, sesame candies, gai cakes or sticky rice cakes. The taste is very fragrant and unique.

And when mentioning Duong Lam, we cannot help but mention Rice Sauce. Soy sauce is always a popular dish for everyone and every home in Doai. Soy sauce is used to dip raw beans, fried beans, fish stew, water spinach, sweet potato, and meat stew. In particular, soy sauce is braised with fish and other spices such as fish sauce, a few slices of galangal, and a few pieces of pork belly in a clay pot, making the fish very soft and not fishy. Indeed, the specialties here have created a unique feature for this ancient village.

Tips for you when visiting Duong Lam's ancient village

Instructions to Duong Lam ancient village: You can take the bus to Duong Lam using the following routes:

• From My Dinh bus station to Son Tay bus station, take bus number 71, ticket price is 14,000 VND.
• Go from Kim Ma station to Son Tay bus station, line 70.
• From Ha Dong bus station to Son Tay bus station: line 77.
• When you arrive at Son Tay bus station, take a motorbike taxi or taxi to the Ancient Village.

Visiting Duong Lam is best done on foot or by bike because you can go into every village corner without disrupting the silence and peace of the ancient houses here. In addition, riding a motorbike to each attraction will require you to park your vehicle and spend a lot of money on parking. At some points, no one will write down the parking number, but when you leave, someone will come out to collect the money.

At sightseeing spots: At some spots, there are people from the monument management board (with badges) who will introduce that place to you. Giving tips is not required, but those older men are enthusiastic to explain to you, so we should also respond to their enthusiasm. Remember to greet family members and politely ask for permission when visiting ancient houses. They will enthusiastically welcome you. If you want to buy something as a gift for someone at home, you can buy it right from these families instead of at the market.

Regarding food and accommodation: If you want to use services such as booking lunch or hotels near Duong Lam Ancient Village but have yet to contact them, you should find a place to contact first and then go out because these families just started cooking when you booked.

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