Duong Lam Ancient Village in the northern province of Ha Tay has a 1200-year history with many houses dating back 400 years. It is the only place in Vietnam that bred two of its kings.

Phung Hung (A.D. 761-802) and Ngo Quyen (A.D. 808-944) were born and raised in the village, and eventually led the resistance against China's Sung and Southern Han troops to win national independence.

The village consists of more than six hamlets. Among these hamlets, Mong Phu is the biggest and the most famous. Two popular sites are Sung Nghiem Tu (Mia Pagoda) and Mong Phu Temple. Mia Pagoda was constructed before A.D. 1632 on a small hill in Dong Sang Hamlet as a national cultural and historical site.

Most of the buildings in the village are made of laterite and mud, two materials that are abundant in the area. Laterite is used for house walls, gates, wells, temple walls, and so forth. The mud is taken from ponds.

These ancient buildings however, are deteriorating from natural and man-made causes.

Thus, the Ha Tay Province People's Committee has approved a project to preserve the ancient village through the year 2020 with a total capital of VND 200 billion. (SGT)