Preserving the Soul of the Ancient Village

While the world rushes by, Hung Lo Ancient Village maintains its own rhythm—slow, steady, and serene, much like the Lo River that flows quietly alongside it.

Experiencing Xoan Singing at Hung Lo Communal House.

Hung Lo located along with the Lo River, where the morning mist still carries the solemnity of a land once considered the heart of the Van Lang capital. Through many layers of history—from Kha Lam Trang, An Lao, and Ke Xom to the current Hung Lo—the names may have changed, but the memory of a sacred land has never faded.

The epicenter of that memory is Hung Lo Communal House, an ancient structure built during the reign of King Le Hy Tong, facing Nghia Linh Mountain. With its moss-covered roof, grand stature, and a system of ancient architecture and ritual objects, the communal house preserves the imprints of many centuries. In early 2022, the Hung Lo Communal House Traditional Festival was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, an official tribute to what the villagers have quietly guarded for generations.

A view of the Hung Lo Communal House complex.

Every year, Xom Village holds two festivals, but the most significant remains the Palanquin Procession to offer tributes at the Hung Kings' Temple. Over 200 young men in formal attire, carrying symbolic weapons, form a long procession with drums and flags resonating throughout the region. This is not a mere formal display; it is how the community expresses its reverence for the Hung Kings' Worship, a belief deeply rooted in the Vietnamese soul.

On this land, archaeologists have found artifacts from the Stone and Bronze Ages: stone hoes, axes, and bronze arrowheads—silent puzzle pieces of ancient Vietnamese footprints. More visibly, the past lives on in the daily lives of nearly 2,000 households, where 50 ancient wooden houses over 100 years old still stand, hearths still glow, and old stories are still told in a slow, rhythmic cadence.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duc Khanh, Deputy Secretary of the Van Phu Ward Party Committee: "Preserving the communal house, festivals, ancient homes, and traditional cultural activities has created a vital foundation for Hung Lo to develop community-based tourism. Only by keeping the soul of the village can we have a foothold to open new paths."

The advantage of being in the peri-urban area has fostered a dynamic spirit in the people of Ke Xom. They do not isolate themselves within the “ancient village” shell but proactively seek new paths from old values. Traditional crafts like making rice crackers, rice cakes and rice noodles are maintained not just as a hobby, but as commercial goods with a market standing.

A prime example is the Hung Lo Rice Noodle Cooperative—the brand of "clean rice noodles born from the village." Between 2023 and 2025, the cooperative produced and sold approximately 1,100 tons of noodles annually, generating revenue of 25-27 billion VND and providing stable jobs for nearly 250 members with an average income of 6.8 - 7.2 million VND/month. These figures show that the ancient village is creating sustainable livelihoods from the heritage left by its ancestors.

Alongside the craft villages, Hung Lo is developing urban agriculture and experiential models such as cage fishing and melon greenhouses. The alluvial plains along the Lo River have been reorganized to serve as both production sites and experiential spaces for tourists. By late 2022, several local products achieved 3-star OCOP status.

From this foundation, community and experiential tourism in Hung Lo have seen clear growth. Since the beginning of 2025, local tourist sites have welcomed nearly 200 tour groups with over 10,000 visitors. Specifically, the Hung Lo Cultural Community Tourism site welcomed 182 groups, including 37 international groups with about 500 visitors.

The Hung Lo Rice Noodle Cooperative operates effectively, creating jobs for local laborers.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Khanh affirmed: "Tourism development must start with the people. When they see the benefits, they will voluntarily preserve and enrich the village’s cultural values. We do not chase numbers but focus on the depth of the experience, combining heritage tours with craft village activities and local cuisine."

Huong Giang