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Over 200 years have passed, but Nom Village has maintained its tranquility despite rapid modernization.
Nom Village is an ancient village rich in tradition with a historical and cultural relic complex that still retains the characteristics of a traditional Vietnamese village. Visiting Nom Village, visitors can immerse yourselves in Vietnamese village life, where there is a complex of ancient relics including village gates, wells, communal house yards, Nom pagodas, ancient houses and local traditional markets. In 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism classified the Nom Village relic complex in Dai Dong Commune, Van Lam District, Hung Yen Province, as a national historical, architectural and artistic relic.
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Unique features of Nom Village - a unique ancient village near Hanoi
A typical village in the countryside north of the Red River
Built decades ago, Nom village resembles the idyllic image of a Northern Vietnam village, complete with ancient banyan trees, wells, communal houses, red brick roads, and the mossy gate of old houses.
The hundred-year-old village entrance
The village has a long history, but it wasn't until the end of the 15th century that the population became overcrowded. In the past, the villagers worked as sellers of scrap metal, which they sold to local bronze foundries and the surrounding area. Through hard work and compassion, the village flourished as it possessed the first sophisticated bronze casting craft in Vietnam. At one point, the village was commissioned by the king of the Nguyen dynasty to strike silver and bring it back to the capital.
In the village of Nom, time seems to stand still. The houses, with their ancient architecture, the hundred-year-old trees, and the imposing arecas, gently cast shadows over the village's clear green pond. The pace of life is also peaceful and slow.
Upon arriving at the Nom village, visitors will admire the old village entrance. Elderly villagers say that the village gate is over 200 years old. Due to the devastation caused by the war, the village gate has fallen into disrepair but still retains many of its sophisticated designs. As you pass through the majestic village gate, a nostalgic ink painting immediately appears, surprising visitors from all over. You will feel the rustic and peaceful beauty of the Nom village at once.
The well used to be the main water source
In addition to the village gate, Nom village also boasts the Tam Giang communal house, which venerates a general under Hai Ba Trung. The communal house features ancient architecture with a banyan tree, a well, and a courtyard that is highly representative of the northern homeland. There are lush green banyan trees next to the communal house, each over 100 years old.
As you walk through the village, you'll notice that the layout is quite impressive. The entire village is connected by a network of crisscrossing paths and shortcuts like fishbones. This means that no matter which house you visit, you simply have to open the door, and the exit will lead you to a lane, which in turn leads to the village road.
The ancestral temples of several families
In Nom Village, ancient houses and ancestral temples of the Nguyen, Le, and Ta families are still standing near the lake. These old houses are built with a unique architectural style, featuring traditional designs with 3 to 5 rooms, gardens, courtyards, main houses, outbuildings, kitchens, and surrounding fences. Despite the addition of many high-rise buildings, the village still manages to preserve its historical charm.
Hundred-year-old Stone Bridge
The Nom village stone bridge spans a small river and is a proud symbol of the villagers.
Not only does it have unique historical, cultural, and architectural value, but this 200-year-old stone bridge is considered by researchers to be a unique and intact structure that has never been seen in any other ancient village in the Red River Delta.
During the rainy season, the water sometimes rises until it almost floods the bridge
The bridge has 9 stone spans and is almost 2 meters wide. According to ancient beliefs, the number 9 symbolises total luck. Both sides of the bridge still have intact stone outcrops and the girders of the bridge are carved with elaborate cloud art, resembling dragon heads. The special feature is that the bridge is supported by simply stacked stone pillars, without any binding material, but still solid.
Nom Village’s market - a bustling traditional market
Crossing 9 stone bridges, the path leads to Nom market, a traditional market typical of the northern Vietnamese countryside.
Traditionally, Nom market holds 12 sessions a month on days ending with the numbers 1, 4, 6 and 9. In the past, Nom market was one of the places that regulated the rhythm of life in the whole village, with its famous bronze casting trade. Unlike the town market, the Nom market is held inside plasterless brick houses. The brick-red colour, broken over time, evokes something very nostalgic.
The market buildings are made of ancient bricks
People go to the market to sell all the local produce, from jackfruit, vegetables and fish to household utensils such as knives, chopping boards and hats. People even bring kittens and puppies to sell to those who want to buy and raise them.
The area for selling clothes and conical hats
The wide variety of local produce are sold in some certain days
The noodle stalls are crowded in the morning
Daily market in Nom village
Today, people still flock to the market to trade, making the whole market more bustling on certain days than usual.
Nom Pagoda - a peaceful and tranquil paradise
In Nom village, there is also an ancient pagoda with bold traditional architecture. Nobody remembers exactly when the pagoda was constructed, but two surviving stelae indicate that it was built in 1680 and restored several times. In the past, the Nom pagoda was built in the middle of an ancient pine forest, which is why the pagoda was also called ‘Linh Thong Co Tu’ (Ancient pagoda in the sacred pine forest).
The majestic gate of the pagoda
Nom Pagoda is located right next to Nom market. It boasts beautiful structures such as three gates, a bell tower, a drum tower, an ancient brick tower garden, an old pagoda... and a vast courtyard. The Pagoda also contains over 100 ancient terracotta statues that have survived many turbulent periods of history and harsh natural disasters yet still stand the test of time and retain their original beauty. The relics found in pagodas and communal houses preserve numerous precious objects, including Buddha statues, stone towers, bronze bells, wooden incense sticks, parallel phrases, and altars.
An overview of Nom Pagoda
A corner in Nom Pagoda
Some statues built in Nom Pagoda
An easily seen thurible in Nom Pagoda's yard
A giant bronze bell inside Nom Pagoda
How to get to Nom Village
Nom Village is located around 30km from Hanoi. It takes around 1 hour to get there. Depending on your preference, you can choose one of the following ways to get to Nom Village from Hanoi.
By motorbike: If you're up for an adventure, renting a motorcycle in Hanoi and riding to Nom Village is a great option. It gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and avoid Hanoi's hectic traffic. However, be sure to drive carefully and follow traffic rules, as riding a motorcycle in Vietnam can be risky. Follow QL5, then ĐT385 to reach Dai Dong commune, Van Lam district, Hung Yen province. Then, find the location on the map named “Đình làng Nôm” (the communal house) or “Chùa Nôm” (the pagoda). You can start to explore the village from these locations.
By car: the same way as by motorbike.
By taxi: If you prefer a more comfortable and flexible option, taking a taxi from Hanoi to Nom Village is a good choice. Although it's more expensive, you can negotiate with the driver to wait for you or return later to take you back to Hanoi after your visit. The price is from 450.000 VND/ one way.
By guided tour: As not all local people can speak English very well, another option is to book a Nom ancient village tour with a travel agency. Guided tours typically take care of transportation and often include interactions with local artisans or residents, offering more immersive experiences. Our package tours are designed to make the most of your time, ensuring you see the key highlights and attractions without wasting time.
A tranquil scene in Nom Village
The long-standing traditional cultural values that are still preserved in Nom Village are the pride of the Vietnamese people. The village is becoming an attractive nostalgic destination, a place to explore history and culture for tourists seeking the most authentic travel experiences.
Thank you for reading this article. If you would like to explore Nom Ancient Village, please contact us by email at sm@izitour.com or by phone at +84 382 536 266 (Whatsapp is available).
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