If you are looking for a destination with breathtaking scenery, unique culture, and friendly residents, Halong Bay in Vietnam should be on your Vietnam tour. Yen Duc village in Halong Bay still retains traditional agricultural features and the sincere beauty of Vietnam’s rural life. This travel blog will guide you through all you need to know about Yen Duc village to help you plan a perfect journey to this off-the-beaten-track destination.
Where is Yen Duc village?
Just 100 km from Hanoi and 60 km from Halong Bay, Yen Duc is the perfect place to take a break if you move between these two famous destinations in northern Vietnam.
It’s less than a 2-hour drive from Hanoi and just 1 hour from Halong Bay, so you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of a Vietnamese countryside village and easily visit the top tourist sites in the area.
This hidden village still retains intensely typical Vietnamese tradition with its immense rice fields, vegetable gardens, fish ponds, local pagodas, folk songs, ancient houses, etc.
Things to do in Yen Duc village
Experience the daily life of local farmers
Visiting this rural village, you can experience the daily life of local farmers by being real farmers, with many activities to learn more about life in the countryside of Vietnam.
- Witness the traditional method of rice processing. You may be surprised that planting and harvesting rice in rural Vietnam is a back-breaking process in calf-deep mud and water. You can see how they used to produce rice before machines were available.
- Join the locals in catching fish from fish ponds by using “nom”, a traditional bamboo fishing basket. Then, the fish you catch will be turned into yummy dishes for dinner by a local chef.
- Visit home gardens, where locals grow practical fruits, vegetables, and herbs for their daily needs. You can participate in the growing and harvesting of these fresh ingredients, which can then be used for your meals.
- Try local specialties made by local farmers, such as sweet potatoes, corn, and green tea.
Learn how to make a broom from straw
Another activity that you shouldn’t miss in this village is learning the intricate process of making these traditional straw brooms directly from the skilled artisans of the village.
This is a unique hands-on experience since you can learn step-by-step how to make a broom from straw: how to select and prepare the straw, tying techniques, and shaping the broom.
Bike around the village
Exploring Yen Duc Village on a bike is a fantastic way to experience the peaceful surroundings, enjoy the beautiful views, and connect with friendly locals who are happy to share their stories and knowledge about the area.
It is advisable to take your bike tour in the late afternoon when you can admire the stunning sunset – it’s truly a magical sight.
Watch Yen Duc water puppet show
When you visit Yen Duc village in Vietnam, make sure not to miss the water puppetry show and other fun folk games. Water puppetry is a unique cultural tradition in Vietnam, and travelers are always thrilled to watch the shows in Yen Duc village.
The performances feature traditional musical instruments like flutes, percussion, gourds, and zithers. The puppeteers skillfully control the puppets to the rhythm of the music, telling stories that capture the essence of village life and festivals.
Visit the local wet market
In rural areas, rural markets are important hubs for buying and selling essential goods, such as rice, vegetables, eggs, and fish. These markets also serve as gathering places for people to exchange information and socialize.
The market in Yen Duc village is lively and offers a variety of items like utensils, food, drinks, and clothes. It’s also a great place to meet friendly locals, buy agricultural products, and experience village life.
Stay overnight in Viet houses
When traveling to Yen Duc Village, you can stay overnight in Viet houses; which have a unique design, and imitate the traditional rural houses of Vietnam.
From there, you can experience harvesting agricultural products by yourself in the garden “of your own house” and cooking delicious dishes. Travel guides—the local farmers—will directly help you during your stay here.
Visit relic sites
As a national relic, Yen Duc Village is famous for many relic sites:, such as Canh Mountain, 73 Cave, Canh Huong Pagoda, etc.
- Ancient Canh Huong Pagoda: a place for the locals to pray for health, weather, and bumper crops.
- The 73 Cave: is famous for the story of 73 guerrillas sacrificing for their hometown protection.
Moreover, when traveling to Yen Duc Village, travelers can stay overnight in Viet houses; which has a unique design, imitate the traditional rural houses of Vietnam. From there, you can experience harvesting agricultural products by yourself in the garden “of your own house” and cooking delicious dishes. Travel guides – the local farmers – will directly help you during your stay here.
Yen Duc village tour
The village tour can be combined with the Halong Bay cruise tour. Depending on your time and budget, you can have 2-day 1-night or 3-day 2-night cruise tour with Yen Duc village tour on the last day afternoon.
After disembarking the cruise, you’ll be driven to Yen Duc village for a short break. There, you can enjoy a 30-minute water puppet show performed by local artists. The tour ends, and you’ll be back in Hanoi by 5 pm.
If you would like to spend more time exploring the village, we have another option of a 5-hour tour. You will have chances to enjoy a water puppet show; cycle around the village to visit the culture house; and experience farming activities such as harvesting and planting vegetables, fishing; etc.
Suggested Halong Bay cruise to Yen Duc village
Together with the Halong Bay cruise tour, the Yen Duc village tour is a journey to trace back Vietnamese rural life with typical traditional culture. If you’re planning to visit northern Vietnam, don’t miss the chance to explore this peaceful village, a hidden gem between Hanoi and Halong Bay.
From Halong Bay Junk Cruise Team, a brand of Indochina Voyages!
