VietNamNet Bridge - Cycling to Dong Ngac, one of the oldest villages in Hanoi, has become an interesting experience and a new relaxing hobby of Hanoi people.

It is located about 10 km west of the city in Tu Liem District.

Away from the bustling, noisy atmosphere in Hanoi’s center, Dong Ngac not only attracts tourists for its reputation as the home of many famous scholars in Vietnam’s history but also its intact architecture and typical rural atmosphere. The village has preserved well many relic sites of hundreds of years old.

Stepping through the village’s mossy gate, cycling on the brick-paved road, you will come up with a completely different space, which is quiet and quaint.

The village elders said that in the past, when the village’s girls were married, they had to donate 300 bricks to pave the village’s road. After many years, the village roads were all paved with bricks.

The communal house, family temples and ancient pagodas are the favourite sites for tourists. The communal house was built in 1653 with many trees of up to 500-700 years old. It also has 45 documents issued by Vietnamese kings.

An old house in the village.

Cycling around the village, you can stop at old houses of a few hundred years, made of ironwood. You will also discover East-West styled houses, which were built from 1739 to 1740.

During your journey, you can stop at any house to rest and chat with villagers.

At noon you can stay with the families offering services for tourists to taste Vietnamese cuisine like spring rolls, salad, etc.

You can also stop at relic sites along the Red River like Chem, Nhat Tan communal house, Tay Ho temple and the villages of Nhat Tao and Lien Ngac.

Suggested itinerary:

The village road.

8am: Depart from Hanoi’s center to Dong Ngac village, about 15km.

8.30am: Arrive at the village and begin your exploration. If you don’t have a bike, you can go there by motorcycle or car and rent bicycles in the village.

9am: Visit Dong Ngac communal house, old houses, the temples of the large families as Do, Phan, Pham, and Nguyen.

11am: Have lunch and take a nap with a local family.

1.30pm: Continue your journey to explore the village.

3.30pm: Cycle to nearby places such as Lien Mac Village, Chem communal house, Tay Ho temple, Nhat Tao and Lien Ngac villages.

5pm: Return to Hanoi.

Pha Le