Duong Lam is called the land of two kings because it was the birthplace of Phung Hung, who rose against the Tang governors in the late 8th century, and of Ngo Quyen, whose victory on the Bach Dang river in 938 ended a thousand years of Chinese rule over Vietnam.
Beyond those two names, it is an old farming village of the midlands whose houses, communal hall and pagoda survived largely intact, which is why it was the first village in Vietnam protected as a national heritage site.
Hear the story where it happened
Our guide tells the history at the shrines of the two kings, not from a signboard.
★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 →Phung Hung
Phung Hung led a rising against the Tang administration and took the capital, then called Tong Binh, in the late 8th century. After his death he was honoured as Bo Cai Dai Vuong, the great king who was father and mother to his people. His temple stands in Duong Lam.
Ngo Quyen
Ngo Quyen defeated the Southern Han fleet on the Bach Dang river in 938 by planting iron-tipped stakes in the riverbed and luring the ships in at high tide. He declared himself king the next year, and his reign is counted as the start of lasting Vietnamese independence. His tomb is at the edge of the village.
Visit the shrines of both kings
Our half day ends at the temple of Phung Hung and the tomb of Ngo Quyen.
Duong Lam Half-Day Private TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →Duong Lam & Thay Pagoda Day TourAbout 9 hoursSee the tour →The village through the centuries
| Period | What survives |
|---|---|
| 17th century | The oldest houses, including one built in 1649; Mia Pagoda rebuilt |
| 1684 | Mong Phu communal house built |
| 1822 | Son Tay citadel built nearby of the same laterite |
| 2000s | Duong Lam listed as a national historic and cultural monument |
Much of what you see was saved by distance and farming: the village stayed rural while Hanoi grew. Read more about the materials in why Duong Lam is built of laterite and the heart of the village in our Mong Phu guide.
Questions people ask
Who were the two kings of Duong Lam?
Phung Hung, who rose against Tang rule in the 8th century, and Ngo Quyen, who won the battle of Bach Dang in 938.
How old is Duong Lam?
The village has been settled for well over a thousand years; its oldest standing house dates from 1649.
Is Duong Lam protected?
Yes, as a national historic and cultural monument, the first village in Vietnam to be listed.
Stand where the two kings began
Licensed guide and private car, every ticket included, 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 →Historical summary drawn from Vietnamese historical and heritage sources, checked September 2026.