Hung Yen Nom Village - A timeless ancient village imbued with the essence of Northern Vietnam.

Hung Yen Nom Village is located 35km from Hanoi, in Dai Dong commune, Van Lam district, preserving many ancient architectural structures along with communal houses, ancient wells, century-old banyan trees, and hosting various ancestral lineages such as Le, Ta, Tran, Dan, Nguyen, Phung, Do.

Hung Yen Nom Village - A timeless ancient village imbued with the essence of Northern Vietnam.

The gate of Nom Village was constructed over 200 years ago with 4 square pillars intricately carved with numerous exquisite motifs. The village resembles what one would envision of a typical Northern Vietnam village in the old days, with communal houses, ancient wells, century-old banyan trees, and red brick pathways, rare ancient house gates.

The village still retains ancient houses by the lake, ancestral temples of the Nguyen, Le, Ta clans... creating a cultural charm in the land of the Hien town. What impresses visitors most is that the village still maintains its simple rural way of life through generations, minimally influenced by urbanization.

Hung Yen Nom Village currently has over 600 inhabitants. According to historical records, the village was established in the early years of the Common Era, but it wasn't until the late 15th century that the population became dense. In the past, villagers were engaged in trading scrap metal.

Thanks to compassion and hard work, the villagers' livelihoods are flourishing more and more. The village was once entrusted by the Nguyen dynasty to mint coins, as the locals here are skilled in copper casting, the earliest in Vietnam.

Within Nom Village stands a ancient pagoda, known as Nom Pagoda belonging to the Lam Te Zen sect. No one remembers exactly when the pagoda was established, but two stone steles indicate that the pagoda was built in 1680 and has undergone multiple renovations. In the past, Nom Pagoda was built amidst ancient pine forests, hence it's also called “Linh Thong Ancient Pagoda”.

Alongside the pagoda, Nom Village also boasts another famous relic, Tam Giang communal house, dedicated to a general of the Trung Sisters. According to legend, this general wished to have a shrine built in Nom Village after his death, where he once stationed his troops.

The communal house features ancient architecture with banyan trees, a well, and a spacious courtyard, epitomizing the Northern homeland. The lush green banyan roots next to the communal house, each tree over 100 years old. Nom Village communal house and pagoda were recognized as National Historical Relics in 1994.

Moreover, visitors to Nom Village must visit Nom Market, an ancient market with red brick walls. The market is still bustling with buyers and sellers. The colorful stalls, simple cakes... make visitors feel like they've traveled back in time.

In the past, Nom Market was one of the busiest trading centers in Van Lam region. Therefore, the villagers had a relatively affluent life, with well-built and stylish houses compared to other villages.

Nom Stone Bridge spans across the Nguyet Duc River, serving as a unique highlight. Not only holding historical, cultural, and architectural significance, the ancient stone bridge is evaluated by researchers as a unique structure still intact, unseen in any ancient village of the Red River Delta.

In the 16th century, the bridge was made of ironwood. To ensure the locals' mobility, during the reign of Emperor Tu Duc, the bridge was entirely replaced with stone. The bridge deck is nearly 2m wide, made of solid green stone. The bridge consists of 9 spans, symbolizing complete luck according to ancient beliefs.

The bridge beams are rectangular in shape. Despite moss covering over time, the ancient decorative patterns are still visible, easily observable. Both sides of the bridge retain stone blocks, the bridge beams intricately carved with cloud patterns, resembling dragon heads. Despite the bridge deck, bridge abutments, and piers only resting on each other without any connecting materials, the bridge remains sturdy and steadfast to this day.

The long-standing traditional cultural values preserved in Nom Village are not only the pride of Hung Yen people. The village is becoming an attractive nostalgic destination, a place to explore the history and culture of the Vietnamese land.

 According to Mytour

***

Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour