Dai Yen Village (Làng Đại Yên)

Dai Yen Village (Làng Đại Yên) in Ngoc Ha, nestled in the Thap Tam Trai area, boasts a rich history dating back to the end of the Le and early Nguyen dynasties.

Initially a camp in Noi canton, Vinh Thuan district, Hoai Duc district, the village was upgraded to a commune in Hoan Long district, Ha Dong province, in 1915 (later becoming part of Hanoi). 

With prominent families like Hoang, Tran, Ngo, Trung, and Nguyen, each with their family churches, Dai Yen Village has deep roots in Vietnamese heritage.

Craft Village

Once sustained by rice cultivation, Dai Yen villagers later turned to growing traditional medicinal plants and processing herbal remedies. 

Many families specialized in selling traditional medicine in city markets, with villagers often venturing into the countryside and even mountains and forests to gather medicinal plants.

As Hanoi expanded under French rule, villagers also took up flower growing. 

However, the flower-growing tradition has faded due to shrinking land, and the medicinal plant profession is declining. 

In the past, skilled villagers were known for their prowess in construction.

Historical and Cultural Relics

Within ancient Dai Yen village, Elephant Mountain stood tall and wide, believed to be where ancient courts raised elephants. 

A temple once graced the mountain but was later bought and converted into a brewery by French bourgeois Homen in 1892 (now Hanoi Beer Company on Hoang Hoa Tham Street). Despite villagers’ protests, the pagoda was demolished. 

Dai Yen village also boasts a communal house facing Cung Mountain and Flag Pillar Mountain, dedicated to the tutelary god Princess Ngoc Hoa, who was crucial in repelling Southern invaders.

Bat Thap Pagoda

Bat Thap Pagoda stands at the edge of Dai Yen village, near Doi Can Street. Legend has it that the pagodas pagoda is recorded in historical books on Van Bao Mountain. 

Recently renovated in the Khi Dinh year of the Dragon (1916), Bat Thap Pagoda was once part of a trio of pagodas, including Van Bo, Cheo Vang, and Voi Pagoda on Voi Mountain. 

Some researchers believe Van Bo Pagoda is Chan Giao Pagoda, a significant structure in Thang Long Citadel built in the year of the Rat (1024) for King Ly Thai. Today, Dai Yen village has transformed into a bustling city.

Visit Dai Yen Village (Làng Đại Yên) today!

Experience the charm and history of Dai Yen Village on your next trip to Hanoi. 

Immerse yourself in its rich Vietnamese heritage and discover the beautiful stories that have shaped this unique part of Hanoi!