Duong Lam Ancient Village — A Day Trip to Northern Vietnam's Memories
400-year-old ancient houses, laterite stone, village wharf, communal house & countryside meal on the outskirts of Hanoi
Hanoi – Duong Lam – Mong Phu Communal House – Ancient Houses – Mia Pagoda – Village Wharf – Hanoi
Overview
A day trip from Hanoi to Duong Lam Ancient Village — the most intact Northern Vietnamese rural village, just 45km from Hanoi. Stroll through laterite stone village, 400-year-old ancient houses, Mong Phu communal house, Mia Pagoda, and enjoy a countryside meal.
Duong Lam — The Most Beautiful Ancient Village in Northern Vietnam
Just 45km west of Hanoi, the ancient village of Duong Lam is one of the most intact Northern Vietnamese rural villages, preserving traditional architecture and lifestyle. With ancient houses built of laterite stone, mossy yellow walls, yin-yang tile roofs aged 200-400 years, village gates, communal houses, pagodas, wells, and wharves — Duong Lam is a living museum of old Vietnamese village life.
In 2006, Duong Lam was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic — the first ancient village in Vietnam to receive this title. It is also the homeland of two kings: Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen.
The Duong Lam Ancient Village tour is a gentle one-day journey from Hanoi, taking you back to the slow pace of Northern village life: walking or cycling along laterite paths, visiting ancient houses, drinking tea with the homeowners, exploring Mong Phu communal house, Mia Pagoda, and enjoying a countryside lunch.
Laterite Stone — The Unique Architectural Mark of Duong Lam
What makes Duong Lam ancient village special is laterite stone — a type of stone mined from the ground, soft when first excavated and can be cut, but hardens like stone after sun exposure. All house walls, village gates, boundary walls, and village paths are built with the characteristic yellowish-brown laterite stone.
Highlights
200-400-year-old ancient houses — laterite architecture, yin-yang tile roofs, Northern brick courtyards
Cycling through laterite village paths — view rice fields, village ponds, wharves, ancient village gates
Mong Phu Communal House — 500-year-old village communal house, original Northern wooden architecture
Mia Pagoda — ancient pagoda with 287 statues, 17th-century architecture
Tea & chat with ancient house owners — meet real villagers
Countryside lunch: caramelized pork, fried tofu, crab soup, pickled eggplant — Northern village cuisine
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1
Hanoi – Duong Lam – Mong Phu Communal House – Ancient Houses – Mia Pagoda – Hanoi
08:00 | Pick up at Hanoi
Car and guide pick you up at your hotel in central Hanoi. Depart for Duong Lam, Son Tay town — only about 1.5 hours drive.
09:30 | Mong Phu Village Gate
First stop: Mong Phu village gate — an ancient gate built of laterite stone, without doors, only two stone pillars on each side. This is the main entrance to Duong Lam ancient village.
10:00 | Mong Phu Communal House
Visit Mong Phu communal house — a village communal house about 500 years old, with ironwood architecture, original Northern village communal house design.
10:30 | Village walk & ancient houses
Walk or cycle along laterite paths, visit typical ancient houses. Go inside an ancient house — where generations still live, with brick courtyard, rainwater tank, garden, and traditional three-compartment wooden house. Drink green tea and chat with the homeowner.
12:00 | Countryside lunch
Lunch at an ancient house: Northern countryside meal with caramelized pork, fried tofu, crab soup with jute leaves, pickled eggplant, boiled vegetables, fried eggs.
13:30 | Mia Pagoda
Visit Mia Pagoda (Sung Nghiem Tu) — a 17th-century ancient pagoda famous for 287 wooden and clay statues, including the famous Quan Am Tong Tu statue.
14:30 | Village wharf & free time
Stroll to the village wharf. Free time for photos and further exploration.
15:30 | Return to Hanoi
Depart back to Hanoi.
17:00 | Tour ends
Drop off at your hotel. End of a day back to the old Northern village — where time seems to slow down.
Included / Not Included
Included
- Round-trip transfer Hanoi – Duong Lam – Hanoi
- English/Vietnamese speaking guide
- Entrance fees: Mong Phu communal house, ancient houses, Mia Pagoda
- Countryside lunch at an ancient house
- Green tea & chat with the homeowner
Not included
- Drinks not included in the program
- Personal expenses
- Tips for guide and driver
- Korean/Chinese/Japanese speaking guide
- Personal insurance