Phuoc Loc Tho ancient village is a unique attraction of Long An Province with many old wooden houses in Vietnam, bearing the cultural identity of three regions of the country. The area has a charming, ecological landscape with ethereal beauty and an enchanting nostalgic soul.

The village is located in Huu Thanh Commune, Duc Hoa District, about 4km from Duc Hoa Town and about 50km from HCM City.

The road to the village is relatively convenient. It only takes about two hours by motorbike from HCM City. Heading in the direction of Ben Luc - Long An, the village is located near Tan Tao University.

This destination is set beside a peaceful and poetic river called Vam Co Dong. This famed river has been mentioned in many reputable poems and was inhabited by the Phu Nam people of Oc Eo culture. It is a restful resort to relax and soak in the beauty of nature. The destination is always crowded with tourists, especially those who love ancient beauty and traditional southern architecture.

The village in its current form was built by Duong Van My, a passionate collector of antique furniture and construction, and opened in 2006 in an area of more than 10ha. It is divided into two separate areas: sightseeing and entertainment.

This village gate was built like the old city gate of the Vietnamese kings. The gate leads visitors to a large rock garden with images of birds eating fish and murmuring waterfalls. From the main entrance, on the right, is a set of marble statues, Phuoc Loc Tho.

The village has 22 old wooden houses dating from 80 to 150 years old, restored by talented sculptors, bringing the images of the cultures of three regions of Vietnam. They are arranged according to each area with its own characteristics.

There are also hundreds of precious antiques, from daily life items of kings, mandarins, landowners and people to spiritual and cultural objects of the Vietnamese people, which are arranged in ancient houses.

The Garden house in the village has a simple southern style. It consists of three compartments and two lean-tos. Strong and valuable wood such as căm xe, gõ, trắc and cẩm lai were used in the construction of the houses.

There is a house for famous families of the Nguyen Dynasty. Inside it is decorated with many rare items such as dragon–shaped tables, elephant tusks, and antique sideboards inlaid with colourful mother-of-pearl.

Hue's ruong house is extremely sophisticated. This was a common house of mandarins and the upper class of the feudal period. Inside are many precious antiques of different ages, made of stone, wood, metal and ceramic.

In addition, there are six houses in the village in the style of the Central Highlands with gongs, statues and tools of ethnic minorities.

Notably, there is a house over 100 years old with 104 columns; it is designed under the ancient architecture of the north. The house represents majesty and magnificence. The columns in the main compartment are elaborately inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

On its ceiling are images of a dragon, unicorn, turtle, and phoenix alongside four noble trees of apricot blossom, orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo. The walls are carved with fruits and birds representing happiness. Many rare and precious antiques are displayed, such as the queen's mirror and king's bed.

In the village, visitors can see many cultural objects of the Vietnamese people with diversified materials of wood, iron, bronze and ceramics of various ages. Antique items that bring modern style from the French colonial period to Việt Nam include telephones, radios, phonographs, cameras, and night lights.

Because of the ancient and unique features, Phuoc Loc Tho Village has become a filming location for many historical films. The Vietnam Book of Records also recognised the village as the place with the most ancient houses in the country.

This stunning village is an absolute must-see for anyone interested in Vietnamese history, architecture, or elegant aesthetics. 

Source: Vietnam News