Bringing the 'soul' of Northern Vietnamese villages closer to international friends
WVR - On the occasion of several international news agencies, foreign press, and overseas Vietnamese journalists covering the activities marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 – August 19, 2025) and National Day (September 2), the Press and Information Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) coordinated with the Hanoi Department of Tourism to organize a trip to Duong Lam ancient village.
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| Located about 50 km from downtown Hanoi, Duong Lam Ancient Village (Son Tay, Hanoi) preserves the old essence of Northern lowland and midland villages, with its ancient village gate, communal houses, temples, pagodas, wells, and family ancestral houses. Duong Lam consists of 9 villages, among which Mong Phu, Dong Sang, Cam Thinh, Doai Giap, and Cam Lam are home to many relics and old houses. The most intact and beautiful among them is Mong Phu village. In the photo, the group of journalists took a commemorative photo at Mong Phu Communal House. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| In 2006, Duong Lam became the first ancient village in Vietnam to be recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic. In 2019, it was certified as a city-level tourist destination. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| Visiting Duong Lam is like stepping into the traditional rural cultural space of the Vietnamese people, with its characteristic laterite walls, rustic houses, and ancient communal houses. To this day, the village has preserved more than 90 houses over 100 years old and nearly 1,000 traditional houses. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| Journalists enjoyed the activity of calligraphy writing. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| The group also visited the ancient house of Mr. Ha Huu The, which is also one of the well-known facilities producing soy sauce in Duong Lam. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| “At Duong Lam, we don’t just "see" relics; we feel the breath of history in Doai Region – where people preserve the old ways amid modern life.” These were the heartfelt words of Mr. Pham Khanh Nam, Editor-in-Chief of Huong Viet Magazine in Germany, when setting foot in this “quiet ancient village of the Northern Delta, birthplace of two kings: Phung Hung and Ngo Quyen.” For him, passing through the village gate, walking along brick-paved alleys, past dark brown laterite walls and the communal house, opens up a rich cultural space, where some structures preserved until today serve as living testimony to national identity and deep-rooted traditions. (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
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| For an overseas Vietnamese like Mr. Pham Khanh Nam, participating in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2025) was a sacred and indescribably proud moment. “What impressed me most is the vitality and momentum of development: dynamic cities, modern infrastructure, innovative young businesses, and above all, the people’s confidence in the nation’s future. From the oath of independence at Ba Dinh in 1945 to Vietnam today, I see a resilient journey of rise – strong yet compassionate, integrated yet steadfast in preserving culture and history.” (Photo: Ngoc Anh) |
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| Foreign journalists were excited to take photos with local residents. (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| Returning to Vietnam after nearly 20 years, American journalist Joshua Levine shared: “Hanoi has so much to see. I love both its development and the preservation of its ancient charm, as well as the continuation of traditional crafts such as those in Bat Trang and Duong Lam. Most importantly, Vietnamese people are truly proud of their homeland. After the National Day celebration, I plan to spend time exploring Hanoi and other places like Ninh Binh and Cao Bang.” (Photo: Thanh Long) |
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| Earlier, the group also visited Bat Trang Pottery Village. The Hanoi tour is expected to bring valuable experiences for the journalists, enabling them to convey the most authentic and positive images of Vietnam and its people to international friends. (Source: Tien Phong Newspaper) |
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