Duong Lam Ancient Village located in the outskirt of Hanoi. It takes about one and a haft hour to drive from Hanoi center to the village.

Duong Lam ancient village is very famous for its ancient houses system. The main material to build the houses here is laterite – a very popular material in this area. Local people have dug the laterite from underground and hew them to be different shapes, normally rectangular blocks, to build and decorate the houses.

 

Nowadays, Duong Lam ancient village still conserves about 800 ancient houses. The structure of a normal ancient house in Duong Lam includes the main gate, the garden, the yard, the main house, outbuilding, kitchen, well and livestock barn. The main house is the most important part where all the family lives and worship ancestors. Each family has three to five generations to stay together. Few houses here were built from 1803 and many others were built from the middle of the XIX century. Around the ancient houses are the paths, green gardens with betel and areca trees. Around the village are banyan trees, the village's gate, rice fields, temple, wells. All of them combine together and make a unique ancient village with the features of ancient Vietnam, a peaceful area that is very hard to find in the modern life of the cities.

Itinerary 

8.00: Our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel then transfer to Duong Lam ancient village, it's about 50km away from Hanoi. 

Upon arrival, we stroll around Mong Phu hamlet where still keeps its original architectures intact. Firstly, we pay a visit to Mia pagoda which was built in the 15th century to worship Buddha. You can admire 287 beautiful statues of all sizes & artful sculptures, notably the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of Eight Vajra Deities.

Continue walking along small alleys of the hamlets with stops to visit some typical ancient houses dated back to 400 years ago, have interesting talks with the host about the house's history & its architecture. Then we are heading to the village center where we are standing a massive & old communal house - the meeting place of locals in important events of the village. It is nice to find down about the village's symbols in Vietnam: banyan tree, water wells, entrance gate & communal house.

12.00: Enjoy your special lunch with Vietnamese foods in an ancient house.

13.30: After resting, we continue driving to visit Mia Pagoda (another hamlet in Duong Lam village), is built in the 15th century and admire 287 statues of all sizes, among with are famous sculpture such as the statue of Buddha in the Himalayas and the statues of the Eight Vajra Deities. 

Then visit Ngo Quyen temple and Phung Hung temple, places dedicated to two national heroes Ngo Quyen and Phung Hung. Driving back Hanoi. Tour finishes around 17.30 pm at your hotel in Hanoi. 

Inclusion

– Transfer by A/C car during the trip

– Lunch

– All sightseeing fee 

– English speaking tour guide

– Water bottled

Exclusion

– All other services not mentioned in our itinerary

– Beverages

– Other meals not mentioned in the itinerary

– Tip & Personal expenses