Photo: Collected

Located in Duong Lam Commune, Son Tay District-level Town, the capital city of Hanoi, Duong Lam Ancient Village is the hundred-year-old indigenous site which still remains and honors such ethnic icons of Vietnamese countryside as banyan trees, wells, communal houses, and so on. On the way to Duong Lam Village, foreigners can see first-hand the only ancient village gate left in the North called Mong Phu Gate.

The highlight of Duong Lam Ancient Village tour is actually its culinary specialties. On January 26, 2024, at a formal event of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), Duong Lam Ancient Village is the tourism offering authentic northern dishes experience that received the ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award for Gastronomy Tourism. 

OCOP Programme (One Commune, One Product Programme) has promoted many local products here such as Mía Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), sesame candy, peanut candy, ramie leaves rice cake, lotus meals in summertime, and Ban soya sauce with iconic jars filling a large front yard. Honestly speaking, one dish you cannot miss out on when visiting Duong Lam Ancient Village is chè lam (sweet rice cake) eaten with a cup of hot tea. Although chè lam is a common snack in Northern Vietnam, Duong Lam Village stands out with its own flavor that carries the soul of Vietnamese villages in general and Duong Lam Ancient Village in particular.

Photo: TTXVN

The dishes in Duong Lam Ancient Village often reflect the traditional practices of the Vietnamese countryside, with a preference for homemade techniques. 

Being awarded this noble title, Duong Lam Ancient Village is expected to contribute to the growth of tourism in Son Tay town by offering exceptional services and amenities in the area. Additionally, it presents a chance for various organizations to enhance the effectiveness of their tourism promotion efforts and showcase the country's timeless charm through the national destination brand “Vietnam Timeless Charm”.

There is more for international visitors to explore when they get to this old village of Hanoi. It typically takes around 40 to 50 minutes to reach Thang Long Avenue or Cau Giay - Ho Tung Mau - Road 32 from the central area of Hanoi if you are traveling by private transportation. You can also catch a bus heading straight to the place for less than $2.