Dreamy Vibes in Phong Nam Ancient Village

Amidst the blazing midday sun, cruising along National Highway 1A towards downtown Danang, a chance glimpse at Google Maps revealed a green dot: Phong Nam Ancient Village, approximately 2km off the highway. Intrigued, we impulsively took a detour.

Exploring Danang: Marveling at the Dreamy Charm of Phong Nam Ancient Village

A small concrete road led us into a lush green countryside. The vibrant green of young grass, the deep green of distant mountain ranges, and the clear azure sky stretched as far as the eye could see… But what caught our surprise was the lush green intertwined with hints of light purple-brown from the dream leaves unfurling before us amidst the scorching midday sun.

Phong Nam Village belongs to Hoa Chau commune, Hoa Vang district, approximately 10km southwest of downtown Danang. On tourist maps, Phong Nam Village is renowned for its ancient architectural structures, temples, and communal houses that have stood for over 100 years, with tranquil village lanes that seem to lead visitors on a nostalgic journey to the past. However, during this spontaneous village visit, perhaps the most striking sight for us was the dream leaf gardens.

Against the tide of history, Phong Nam Village was originally one of the areas developed early during the Champa period. By the time of the Tran and Le dynasties, the first Dai Viet settlers set foot in this land, primarily engaging in wet rice cultivation, as well as growing various crops such as corn, sweet potatoes, and sesame…

Discovering the Natural Advantages of Phong Nam Village Residents Quickly

Initially, only a few households grew them to supplement their food sources and prepare family meals. Passing traders, upon seeing the lush vegetable gardens, inquired about purchasing them for urban markets or local markets. Subsequently, restaurants and eateries in Danang and Quang Nam renowned for sourcing from Phong Nam Ancient Village's dream leaf fields sought to buy and place orders.

According to village locals, dream leaves are available year-round, with continuous harvests fetching approximately 35,000 - 40,000 VND/kg. Each day, households harvest and sell around 7 - 8 kg of dream leaves, resulting in significantly higher incomes compared to rice cultivation.

Due to increasing demand, in recent years, many households have utilized their spacious garden lands specifically for cultivating this vegetable. Gradually, the entire village has transitioned to specializing in dream leaf cultivation.

Without the need for chemical fertilizers or pesticides, the vegetable plants thrive in the soft, fertile soil, imparting a unique charm to Phong Nam Ancient Village. Dream leaf fields line the winding concrete pathways. Countless dream leaf plants blanket the gardens. Houses are separated by fences adorned with dream leaves…

Dream leaves not only bring a simple green hue to Phong Nam Ancient Village but also serve as a precious ingredient in the local diet. A meal without a plate of fresh vegetables accompanied by a few dream leaves seems incomplete.

Visiting Phong Nam, tasting dream leaves reveals a remarkably unique flavor. An intoxicating sensation of rich, earthy, tangy, sweet, bitter, and fragrant intertwining tastes, as if all the natural flavors have been crystallized and melded into each leaf.

As for the specialties of Danang such as steamed pork rolls with rice paper, goat meat, fish salad… and even street foods like vermicelli with shrimp paste, they would lose their deliciousness if not paired with Phong Nam dream leaves.

Now in Phong Nam, strolling around the village, tourists easily spot many beautiful tiled-roof, multi-story houses emerging amidst lush green expanses of dream leaves, stretching endlessly. This is when one understands why dream leaves have long been intertwined with the lives of the villagers here.

Source: Tuoi Tre

 ***

Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour