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Located about 15 km west of Hanoi's city center, Tay Mo village has long been a special destination not only for those who appreciate the beauty of Northern Vietnamese countryside but also for filmmakers.
Tay Mo Village is famous for its characteristic Northern Vietnamese countryside scenery, a feature not found everywhere. The moss-covered tiled-roof houses, ancient banyan trees providing shade, village wells, and communal courtyards steeped in history all create a peaceful and familiar rural landscape. As mentioned above, Tay Mo Village is chosen as a filming location and setting for most Vietnamese films about rural life, or scenes requiring a sense of antiquity, because of its beautiful scenery. Tay Mo Village began appearing in films more frequently in the early 21st century.
Despite decades and centuries passing, the ancient features of this village have been preserved almost intact. Upon entering the village gate, also known as the Phoenix Gate, visitors will see the inscription "Phượng Lĩnh Môn" (meaning Phoenix Gate), an indispensable symbol when mentioning Tay Mo village. Built hundreds of years ago, the village gate still retains its ancient charm despite several renovations. This is also the first stop for filmmakers when choosing locations for famous works such as "Land and People," "Wind of Kinh Village," "Village Ghost," and the film "The Curse of the Blood Orchid."
Upon entering the village gate, visitors will see the inscription "Phượng Lĩnh Môn" (meaning Phoenix Gate).
Venturing deeper into the village, the first place visitors should visit is Tay Mo communal house, built in the 17th century and still preserved intact today. In 2010, the communal house underwent a restoration and was one of the projects commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi. Currently, the communal house houses a royal decree conferring divine status in the 18th year of King Le Canh Hung's reign, and 12 other royal decrees dating from the time of King Le Canh Hung to the time of King Khai Dinh, along with many other historically valuable artifacts.
Go deeper inside...
...is the communal house of Tay Mo village.
However, Tay Mo village is not only famous for its beautiful scenery but also for its long-standing tradition of scholarship. According to historical documents, Tay Mo village once had 8 people who passed the highest-level imperial examinations, equivalent to a Doctorate, and 75 people who passed the Bachelor's degree examinations during the feudal era. Figures such as Nghiem Hoang Dat (second highest rank, 1583), Nguyen Duong Bao (1673), and Do Huy Dien (second highest rank, 1875) are not only the pride of the village but also symbols of its outstanding educational tradition. Today, the families in the village still maintain scholarship funds to encourage their descendants to study, upholding the reputation of a land of culture and learning.
The village exudes the tranquil charm of old Northern Vietnam.
What makes Tay Mo village even more special is the simplicity and friendliness of its people. Visitors are always welcomed with smiles and enthusiastic guidance from the locals. They readily share stories about history and culture and proudly introduce interesting places within the village. This spirit of hospitality contributes to the charm of Tay Mo village.
The locals here are kind and always willing to help and give directions whenever tourists visit.
Taking a stroll around the village, visitors will easily encounter familiar sights, from ancient banyan trees and riverside docks to village communal houses, old wells, and red brick houses that have stood for centuries. The tranquil atmosphere, gentle breezes carrying the scent of the countryside, and the chirping of birds create a peaceful rural scene, making all the worries of modern life seem to disappear.
Tay Mo Village, with its ancient beauty and rich cultural values, is not only the "Hollywood film set" of Vietnam but also a repository of beautiful memories from a golden age of Northern Vietnamese villages. Here, you can admire stunning rural landscapes and gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture, history, and people. A visit to Tay Mo Village is a journey back to the past, rediscovering precious traditional values in modern life.
Here are some more photos from the "film set village":
Despite the passage of time, Tay Mo village still retains its original simplicity, authenticity, and the soul of a Vietnamese countryside.
It's not difficult to find ancient ancestral temples, hundreds of years old, with gates that still retain their antique charm throughout the village.
Every path, alleyway, banyan tree, village courtyard, and even the moss-covered walls and bricks stained with the colors of time.
Am Temple is located to the west of the village, in the Ma field area.
Entrance to Am Temple
According to legend, the temple was built to worship Phuc Vuong Tranh, the sixth son of King Le Thanh Tong.
With its scenery characteristic of the Northern Vietnamese countryside and convenient transportation, Tay Mo village has become a "film set" for hundreds of movies.
