Buzz
Situated approximately 50 km from central Hanoi, Duong Lam ancient village is an ideal choice for a weekend cycling excursion, especially for those keen on cultural and architectural exploration.
Now that Highway 32 has been completed, the route is beautiful and spacious, with stretches offering scenic views of lush rice fields and cornfields. The group pedals swiftly through the initial section, seemingly eager to escape the stifling air of the city, then slows down upon encountering vast, multicolored flower fields, relishing the refreshing morning breeze.
After over an hour of continuous cycling, we arrive in Son Tay town, just in time for the roadside eateries bustling with activity as they prepare breakfast. Everyone is feeling hungry by this point.
A knowledgeable member of our group leads us to a renowned noodle and rolled cake eatery, purportedly the best in the area. True to his word, we enjoy a delectable breakfast, with each of us indulging in a fragrant and rich Phu Nhi cake, a specialty of Son Tay.
Following about an hour of dining and rest, we continue along the route towards Trung Ha to reach the ancient village. This stretch of road spans only about 4-5km, flanked predominantly by expansive, green rice paddies extending all the way to the village entrance.
We halted at a quaint juice stall nestled under a massive banyan tree at the village entrance to sip on fresh tea, munch on peanuts, admire the surroundings, and snap some photos. The village gate with its distinctive architecture and the surrounding scenery epitomized the charm of the Northern Delta region with its ancient banyan trees, village well... imparting a refreshing and tranquil vibe.
Subsequently, our group passed through the wide gate, following the cobblestone paths to visit the ancient houses. A peculiar feature was that all the houses faced away from the road with their stone walls, moss-covered tiled roofs exuding a mysterious aura.
According to a local, there are approximately 45 ancient houses here built with wood and stone dating back hundreds of years. We visited the homes of Mr. Huyen and Mr. Hung, which are the most spacious, beautiful, and renowned in the area.
Here, we listened to the homeowners recount many fascinating stories related to the history of the houses and the current life of the people in Duong Lam village. Besides being pure farmers, the locals also engage in the traditional craft of making fermented tofu, displaying large jars of tofu around the yard, adding a touch of antiquity to the houses.
After a tour around Duong Lam, around noon, we returned to Mr. Hung's house for lunch. He has built a small dining area after the front yard to serve visitors.
However, due to the limited space, only a few guests can be accommodated. We were fortunate to arrive on a less crowded day and could have lunch at his house. Most other groups need to make reservations in advance.
Our lunch consisted of hearty dishes made from local produce in Duong Lam village, including boiled chicken with sugarcane, boiled morning glory with soy sauce dip, braised pork belly, crab soup with Vietnamese spinach and gourd, and pickled eggplants. For dessert, we were treated to rice cake, sweetened green bean soup, and refreshing tea. Despite its simplicity, the lunch was incredibly delicious, and we all indulged in seconds.
We bid farewell to Duong Lam around 4 p.m. and headed back to Hanoi, making sure to purchase some Mong Phu soy sauce, sweetened green bean soup, and peanut candy as souvenirs for our family back home, concluding an exciting outdoor excursion.
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Source: Travel guide by Mytour – Contributed by: iHay
MytourAugust 16, 2013
