Phuoc Tich ancient village has recently become the center of attention when it was chosen as the main setting in the movie "Cam", a horror version of the fairy tale Tam Cam. Director Tran Huu Tan and the film crew chose Phuoc Tich village to film thanks to its ancient beauty, unique architecture and peaceful atmosphere.
Phuoc Tich, the second ancient village recognized as a national heritage after Duong Lam ancient village (Hanoi), has a history dating back to the 15th century, founded under King Le Thanh Tong in 1479. The village is located about 40 km north of Hue city, along the peaceful O Lau river, where natural scenery and architecture blend together to create a space separate from the hustle and bustle of life out there.
The very Hue beauty of Phuoc Tich ancient village
The unique architecture of Phuoc Tich village is the elaborately carved wooden houses. The houses are usually three-room and two-wing style, the traditional design of Vietnam in the past. The special thing is that each house has a spacious garden surrounding it, separated by rows of straight green tea trees. Smart and careful planning in the architecture helps keep the village green and fresh, even though it has existed for hundreds of years.
Typical 3-room, 2-wing house architecture
One of the typical symbols of Phuoc Tich village is the ancient fig tree that is over 600 years old. After hundreds of years, the ancient fig tree still provides cool shade and a fragrant scent. Phuoc Tich villagers say that during the South wind season (summer's Foehn wind), ripe golden fig fruits will fall with the wind into the temple yard. Anyone who wants to pick the fruit to bring home must go to the temple to ask for permission from the Lady. Each season, the tree only drops less than a dozen fruits, so the villagers cherish them very much. Instead of eating them, they respectfully place the fruits on the altar, praying for protection from the temple god and the tree god.
The over 600-year-old banyan tree witnessed many ups and downs of the village.
Phuoc Tich is a place that preserves the traditional pottery craft that has existed for more than 500 years. Phuoc Tich pottery is characterized by the straw firing technique, creating products with high durability, smoothness and sophistication. Phuoc Tich pottery products have long been used as offerings to the Nguyen Dynasty kings. The pottery craft not only brings income to the people here but is also a testament to the enduring creativity and perseverance in preserving the traditional craft through generations.
Pottery making in Phuoc Tich
The natural beauty of Phuoc Tich is also embellished by the O Lau River surrounding the village. Originating from the 905m high mountain peak, the river meanders between the Truong Son range and then flows down to Van Trinh, flows into Tam Giang lagoon, stops at Lac estuary and out to the East Sea. O Lau not only provides a source of clean, fresh water but the clear water surface and the gentle, poetic flow of the river also captivates many tourists.
"A hundred years later, the appointment is still broken/ The banyan tree and ferry are different from before/ The ferry has died in the past/ The banyan tree and ferry still have the shadow of a person"
Tourist services in Phuoc Tich are quite diverse, from visiting ancient houses, experiencing pottery making, enjoying traditional cuisine to cycling around the village. With a rental price of 20,000 VND for a bicycle, visitors can freely explore every corner of the village, or pay an additional 50,000 VND to visit the gardens.
With its historical, cultural, and natural advantages, Phuoc Tich ancient village has great potential for sustainable tourism development. The appearance in films such as "Cam" will certainly help the village become more famous, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists to visit. However, to develop tourism while still maintaining its ancient and familiar beauty, preserving and maintaining cultural values is extremely important.
