Viet Nam has many tourist destinations, from hustle and bustle cities to exotic rural areas. The culture and traditional way of life in rural communities are increasingly seen as sustainable forms of tourism, especially in Viet Nam which has diverse and unique people.
Here are three rural areas in Viet Nam that have also become tourist attractions for visitors who are excited to learn local community and traditional Vietnamese life.
Mai Châu Valley
Mai Châu Valley is located 130 kilometers away from Hà Nội to the west, in Hòa Bình province. This area is known for nature lovers because of the cliff view and rice field terraces between mountains.
This area is inhabited by White Thai (Tai Dón), one of the minority ethnic in Viet Nam. They are known as polite, respectful, and hospitable. The local dishes that we can find are cơm lam (bamboo-tube grilled rice), Gà đồi (grilled native chicken), thịt lợn xiên nướng (pork skewers) and stir-fried greens. There is ve sầu chiên (fried cicadas) for adventurous palate.
Visitors may also rent a wooden stilt house as the traditional house that the local people use. It is easy to find it in Lac Village and Poom Coọng Village.
Cycling around the village, rice fields, and bamboo forests is the most popular tourist activity here. Visitors also can kayak on the Hòa Bình Reservoir, or take a full-day trekking tour in the neighboring Pù Luông Nature Reserve. There are waterfalls and caves nearby that visitors can take on tour.
Trà Quế Vegetable Village
This village is suitable for visitors who long for the countryside or farmer life and learn about Vietnamese farmers. Trà Quế Vegetable Village is located 3 kilometers away from Hội An Ancient Town to the northwest. It’s remarkable for its agricultural and cultural heritage.
The local households have utilized over 40 hectares of area to implement crop rotation and intercropping with more than 20 types of leafy vegetables and spices for nearly 400 years. It has become a vital source of local community income, with 326 workers directly involved in vegetable cultivation and tourism services, including farm visits, cooking classes, and homestays.
Visitors can learn more about vegetables, experience how to grow crops, participate cooking demo workshop, and enjoy dishes made from fresh vegetables. The best time to come here is from May to July or September to December when the weather is nice and the vegetables are lush.
Duong Lam Ancient Village
Exploring the living museum of an ancient Vietnamese village, Duong Lam Ancient Village is a suitable tourist attraction for historians and history enthusiasts. Located in Son Tay District, only 50 kilometers to the west of central Hanoi, Duong Lam is full of traditional Vietnamese heritage.
Duong Lam consists of nine villages, of which Mong Phu, Dong Sang, Cam Thinh, Doai Giap, and Cam Lam are where most heritage sites and ancient houses are concentrated. The village has nearly built 1,000 houses more than 370 years ago. Duong Lam is also known as the Museum of Laterite because most of the buildings use laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in this area.
There are lots of things to see in Duong Lam, such as following Mong Phu communal house, Mia Pagoda (Buddhist temple since the 15th century), King Phung Hung temple, and King Ngo Quyen temple. This is a great place to see the Vietnamese unique culture of the rural community.
Sources:
Vietnam Travel. (n. d.). Mai Chau. Retrieved from https://vietnam.travel/places-to-go/northern-vietnam/mai-chau
Vietnam Travel. (n. d.). 7 Essentials thing to do in Mai Chau. Retrieved from https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/7-essential-things-do-mai-chau
Klook. (n. d.). Mai Chau Valley Retreat Full Day Tour dari Ha Noi. Retrieved from https://www.klook.com/id/activity/1967-mai-chau-day-trip-hanoi/
Joshua Project. (n. d.). Tai Don. Retrieved from https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/18689/vm
UN Tourism. (2024). Tra Que Vegetable Village Viet Nam. Retrieved from https://tourism-villages.unwto.org/en/villages/tra-que-vegetable-village-viet-nam/
Vietnam Travel. (n. d.). Tra Que Vegetable Village in Hoi An: The Ultimate “Green” Trip. Retrieved from https://vietnam.travel/things-to-do/tra-que-vegetable-village-hoi-an-ultimate-%E2%80%9Cgreen%E2%80%9D-trip
Vinwonders. (2023, March). Tra Que Vegetable Village in Hoi An: Discover a Peaceful Life on Green Farms. Retrieved from https://vinwonders.com/en/wonderpedia/news/tra-que-vegetable-village-hoi-an-discover-a-peaceful-life-on-green-farms/
Nhan Dhan. (2024, October). Duong Lam Ancient Village. Retrieved from https://special.nhandan.vn/hon-que-viet-o-dat-hai-Vua-en/index.html
Vinpearl. (2024, January). Duong Lam Ancient Village in Hanoi: The Features of Northern Countryside. Retrieved from https://vinpearl.com/en/duong-lam-ancient-village-in-hanoi-the-features-of-northern-countryside
Vietnam+. (2023, January). Duong Lam First Vietnamese Ancient Village to Become National Relic. Retrieved from https://en.vietnamplus.vn/duong-lam-first-vietnamese-ancient-village-to-become-national-relic-post247116.vnp
Hanoiecotour. (n. d.). Duong Lam Ancient Village: an Unique Rural Village for Travellers. Retrieved from https://hanoiecotour.com/duong-lam-village-vietnam/
