Ancient villages, old houses - the soul of the countryside lies there.

Located in the long-established cultural region of Ngoc Linh Mountain - Thu Bon River, Tien Phuoc possesses both the distinctive cultural characteristics of Quang Nam province and the unique cultural imprint of the midland region. It is also home to two fairytale-like villages: Loc Yen ancient village (Tien Canh) and Hoi An ancient village (Tien Chau).

The gate leading to the old house in An Son village.

In Loc Yen, listen to the whispers of a hundred years.

Loc Yen Ancient Village is one of four ancient villages nationwide that were classified as a National Monument by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2019. According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Lien, an elderly resident, Loc Yen village was formed after land reclamation efforts around the 15th-16th centuries. The name Loc Yen (originally Loc An) dates back to the Tay Son period (1778-1802), given by Mr. Nguyen Cong Tuyet, a native of Tan Phuoc village (Tam Ky), who established the village.

With an area of ​​approximately 279 hectares, encompassing a cluster of hills, rivers, streams, and small terraced rice fields winding along the slopes, Loc Yen, despite the vicissitudes of time, has preserved almost entirely the peaceful beauty inherent in Vietnamese rural villages. Ancient houses, stone alleys, and tea plantations form an architectural ensemble that embodies the distinctive beauty of this village. Currently, there are 8 ancient houses made of jackfruit wood, featuring a traditional three-bay, two-wing house architecture, combined with exquisite and unique carvings on the rafters, purlins, and gables... crafted by the skilled carpenters of Van Ha village in Tam Thanh commune, Phu Ninh district, Quang Nam province. Notably, many of these ancient houses still preserve a magical rotating table, astonishing visitors with its unique experience.

The entrance to the old house that Ngo Dinh Diem twice tried to buy but the owner refused to sell.

Most of the old houses are nestled against the mountains, with stone paths lined with tea bushes arranged in tiers, winding and leading out to the fields. The stone paths lined with tea bushes widen on both sides, forming picturesque garden borders. Typical examples include the houses of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Man, Mr. Dong Viet Mao, and Mr. Tran Cong Khiem. Most notably, the house of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoan, dating back approximately 150 years, is considered one of the most beautiful old houses in Quang Nam province. This house sits halfway up the hill, nestled against the Bang May mountain range, with the distant Hon Ngang mountain range in the foreground. The path branching off to the south is paved with mountain stones featuring many beautiful patterns. The path is lined with two rows of tea bushes, their color a vibrant green all year round, meticulously trimmed. Surrounding this picturesque house are the Ho and Roc fields, yielding two rice harvests annually.

Many visitors believe that when visiting the ancient houses in Loc Yen, one should walk barefoot, very slowly, feeling the cool sensation on the body, and breathing in the clear, fragrant air filled with the scent of fruits and trees. This is the moment to truly enjoy, live deeply, and understand the real meaning of peace.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoan, the owner of the unique ancient house, recounted: "I am the fourth generation to live in this house. In the last century, Mr. Ngo Dinh Diem came here twice, trying to persuade my father to sell the house to him. But my father resolutely refused, because it was a blessing passed down from our ancestors, and we, the descendants, must preserve it at all costs." Mr. Hoan and his wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Suong, still daily add stones to the garden, plant flowers, meticulously tend to the charming garden, and protect the ancient house with its mysterious rotating table as a priceless treasure.

The ancient village of Hoi An is tranquil and poetic.

Located 3 km west of the center of Tien Phuoc District is Hoi An village, belonging to Tien Chau commune. Once again, visitors are surprised to find that the place named Hoi An is just a village, not the ancient town of Hoi An - a World Heritage site. The history and origin of the name Hoi An still invite further research.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoan is currently the heir to the old house that Mr. Diem tried to buy twice but failed.

Hoi An village currently has about 12 out of 33 ancient houses from 5 villages in Tien Chau commune. The architecture is quite similar to the three-bay, two-wing jackfruit wood houses with carved rafters, gables, and purlins... like the ancient houses in Loc Yen and An Son villages of Tien Canh commune, but the houses are smaller in scale.

A prime example is the old house of Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dong. According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan, 75 years old, Mr. Dong's wife, this house is nearly 150 years old, and she is the fourth-generation daughter-in-law. The great-grandfather of the house was the village chief. The house still preserves a rotating table and a palanquin. Over time, the yin-yang tiled roof deteriorated, so the family replaced it with terracotta tiles. These tranquil houses, reflecting the passage of time, are nestled amidst lush gardens and fruit trees, beside terraced rice fields that curve along the hillsides, each season offering a different beauty; the winding, charming village roads lined with betel nut trees and tea bushes... this beauty has been preserved for centuries.

It can be affirmed that the highlight of tourism in Tien Phuoc is the two ancient villages of Loc Yen and Hoi An. To preserve and promote these inherent values ​​and develop tourism in a systematic and professional manner, the locality needs a suitable strategy, as stated by Mr. Duong Duc Lin, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Tien Phuoc District: "In the future, the locality will invest in tourism development in an environmentally friendly direction; at the same time, creating opportunities to widely promote tourism products, contributing to the overall development of the district." (to be continued)

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/lang-co-nha-co-hon-que-o-do-185240118225423841.htm