The Duong Lam village ticket is 20,000 VND (~$1) for an adult, bought at the booth beside the Mong Phu village gate. It covers entry to the village and its public monuments, including the Mong Phu communal house and Mia Pagoda.
The old family houses are private homes, so they do not sell tickets; visitors leave a small offering at the family altar instead, usually 20,000 to 50,000 VND. The village itself is always there, but houses and shrines keep roughly daytime hours, about 8am to 5pm.
Every ticket and offering, already taken care of
Your guide pays at the gate and at each house, so nothing is collected from you on the day.
★Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursSee the tour →What you pay, and to whom
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Village ticket, adult | 20,000 VND (~$1) | Sold at the booth by the Mong Phu gate |
| Children | Reduced or free depending on height and age | Ask at the booth |
| Old houses | Small offering, often 20,000 to 50,000 VND | Placed at the ancestral altar, not paid to a cashier |
| Parking | A few thousand VND for motorbikes, more for cars | Paid at the car park |
| Mia Pagoda, communal house | Covered by the village ticket | Donations welcome, never required |
When things are open
The lanes are public, so you can walk them early or late. The communal house, the pagoda and the houses that receive visitors are open in daytime, roughly 8am to 5pm, and families close their doors at meal times more often than signs suggest.
Mornings from 8am to 11am are the best time: the light is soft on the laterite, families are working in their courtyards and coach groups have not yet arrived.
Paying at the old houses
Houses such as the Nguyen Van Hung house, built in 1649, are family homes. The custom is to greet the family, look around, and before leaving place a note on the altar tray. Some families also sell tea, che lam or lunch, which is paid separately.
Carry small notes. Nobody expects a large amount, and a crisp 50,000 VND note left at the altar is appreciated more than any tip.
Rather have it all arranged?
Our guide handles every ticket and offering and knows which houses are receiving visitors that day.
Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourAbout 9 hoursSee the tour →Festival days and holidays
The Mong Phu communal house festival runs in the first ten days of the first lunar month, around Tet. The village is busy and joyful then, but some families close their houses to visitors. Weekends bring day-trippers from Hanoi to the main lanes by late morning.
Questions people ask
How much is the Duong Lam entrance fee?
The adult village ticket is 20,000 VND (~$1), bought at the booth by the Mong Phu gate.
Do I pay again inside the old houses?
Not a ticket. Families ask for a small offering at their altar, usually 20,000 to 50,000 VND.
What are Duong Lam opening hours?
The lanes are always open. Monuments and houses receive visitors in daytime, roughly 8am to 5pm.
Can I pay by card?
No. Bring cash in Vietnamese dong for the ticket, offerings and anything you buy.
Nothing to pay at any gate
Car, guide, ticket, offerings and tastings in one group price, free to cancel until 3 days before.
★Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourThe laterite lanes, a 400-year-old house and a che lam kitchen, with your own guide · About 5.5 hoursfrom$45/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$165BOOK →2 guests$170BOOK →3 guests$175BOOK →4 guests$180BOOK →See the full tour page →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourDuong Lam in depth, lunch cooked in an old house, then the pagoda where water puppetry began · About 9 hoursfrom$93/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$275BOOK →2 guests$305BOOK →3 guests$340BOOK →4 guests$370BOOK →See the full tour page →Ticket price checked in September 2026; the ticket is set by the Duong Lam management board and house offerings are at the families discretion.