Duong Lam is the first ancient village in Vietnam to be recognized as a National Relic, marking an important milestone in the conservation of traditional rural heritage. Stepping through the old wooden gates, visitors will encounter houses hundreds of years old, where each wooden column, tile, and brick steps are imprinted with time.
Mr. Hung's ancient house, over 400 years old, is still preserved almost intact, from the ironwood frame, traditional worship space to the familiar living utensils of ancient Vietnamese people. Walking along the alleys paved with red bricks, with green moss-covered laterite walls on both sides, visitors can easily feel the rustic beauty that has created the uniqueness of Duong Lam. The laterite with its characteristic reddish-brown color is not only a building material but also becomes a "recognition mark" of this land. Each wall, each house gate has a rustic but durable beauty through hundreds of years of rain and sunshine.
The heart of the village is Mong Phu communal house, one of the typical ancient communal houses of the Northern Delta. The communal house roof is softly curved, the brick yard is wide and large rows of wooden pillars create a sacred but intimate space. Sitting in the shade of an ancient tree, listening to the sound of birds and the wind blowing through the tiled roof, people easily forget the hurried pace of life out there.
Duong Lam is not only attractive because of its ancient architecture but also because of its peaceful rhythm of life. Visitors can see young children leisurely cycling, people leisurely passing through laterite alleys, domestic or international tourist groups strolling in the village by bicycle, or calligraphers diligently writing calligraphy under the ancient communal house roof. Coming to Duong Lam, visitors can enjoy local specialties such as che lam, keo doi, banh te... and visit families who still preserve the traditional soy sauce making profession. The neatly arranged soy sauce jars in the yard have become familiar images, reflecting a handicraft passed down through many generations.
In the midst of modern life, Duong Lam is like a peaceful quiet space of Xu Doai. A day visiting this place is not only a trip to explore heritage but also an opportunity for everyone to find a feeling of peace, simplicity and closeness to traditional values that have been preserved for centuries.
