A woman washes clothes beside a century-old well in the village

The ancient village of Do in north central Thanh Hoa Province is steeped in history and traditional culture.

Today, there are only about 10 ancient houses left in the area that are inhabitable. Most of the other old houses are deteriorating and have eroded away, leaving only mossy walls behind.

According to 60-year-old local resident Do Thi Hoan, the village is named after the sacred Do Mountain. The Vietnamese legend said the 1,000-meter-tall peak is the site where the first humans were created.

Nguyen Si Chuc, a well-known dramatist from Do Village, said the community previously boasted an ancient house that was centuries old and surrounded by imposing brick walls. It also had a large natural pond with many fish.

Today, the pond has been divided into several smaller ponds which are cared for by different households in the village. According to residents, some of the larger fish can weigh up to 30 kilos.

Do Village has just six roads and each of them connects with one communal field. Each household raises a cow to help the family with transport and farming. The cows are considered extremely valuable and are thus kept in the front yard of each home.

Each house also has a mat spread out in front for visitors. Anyone is welcome to drop in, sit on the mat, and chat with the home owner over a cup of hot tea.

Visiting Do Village is like stepping back in time. The community is imbued with a deep sense of tradition and culture and as the locals always say, “anyone who comes will want to stay, anyone who departs will always return.”

Reported by Phan Huy Tram