Even though new houses have sprung up in Duong Lam Village, the antique Vietnamese-style buildings still garner most of the attention.

Located in the northern province of Ha Tay 50 kilometers north west of Hanoi, 140 antique homes constructed from earthy laterite bricks have attracted the attention of tourists and historians. Many of homes remain intact in spite of their 160-year history.

Each home features a row of rooms and a tiled roof in the shape of a dragon or unicorn. The entrances are made of ironwood and employ typical northern Vietnamese aesthetics. A giant banyan tree, fresh water well and communal house are also common features at the village.

Though Duong Lam has undergone changes as the result of urbanization, the daily life remains the same. Typical of countryside life in northern Vietnam, farmers retain community links and use buffalos and oxen to plough.

Adults often exchange greetings when they meet along the country road and children cross their arms in front of their chest and bend their bodies as a show of respect when greeting visitors.

Visitors will be able to smell freshly cut rice and see farmers drying straw along the country road during the village's harvest season.

Source : SGT