Dong Hoa Hiep Ancient Village, nestled in Cai Be, Tien Giang, is a cultural gem of the Mekong Delta, renowned for its centuries-old houses and lush fruit orchards.
Cai Be, Tien Giang has long been renowned for its lush fruit orchards, thriving eco-tourism centered around the floating market, and Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village, a magnet for numerous tourists.
Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village, located in Dong Hoa Hiep commune, Cai Be district, Tien Giang province, lies in the downstream area of the Mekong River. From My Tho city, visitors can travel along National Highway 1A to Cai Be intersection, then turn onto Provincial Road 875 for about 4 km to the town center of Cai Be. From there, it's an additional 2 km to Bridge No. 2, where signs point towards the ancient houses: Ba Duc, Ong Xoat, Ong Tong...
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Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village consists of 7 hamlets, with nearly 4,000 households primarily engaged in cultivating various fruit orchards: Hoa Loc mangoes, tangerines, green-skinned pomelos, longans, and Vinh Kim milk apples. Traditional handicrafts include making com (young sticky rice flakes), rice paper, and popping rice cakes.
Historical records indicate that in the 18th century, in 1732 during the Nguyen Lords' era, a new administrative unit called Long Ho Dinh was established at Phien Tran Palace, choosing An Binh Dong hamlet in today's Dong Hoa Hiep commune as its headquarters. By 1757, the administrative center moved to Long Ho hamlet, now Vinh Long city in Vinh Long province. During its 25-year tenure as the Long Ho Dinh headquarters (1732-1757), Dong Hoa Hiep village attracted many mandarins and landlords, enriching the region.
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From the late 19th to early 20th century, many houses were built using precious woods with tiled roofs, combining Eastern and Western architectural styles, nestled among rivers and fruit orchards, enhancing its architectural and scenic prominence compared to other regions.
The first impression upon visiting is the sight of ancient houses with over 150 years of history, interspersed among lush fruit orchards, creating a charming allure. These ancient houses in Dong Hoa Hiep are not clustered closely like some other ancient villages but are intertwined with abundant fruit gardens, adding to the village's romantic beauty that attracts tourists.
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One of the oldest houses is Ong Xoat's house (in An Thach hamlet), built in 1818, now standing for 200 years. Although its exterior reflects Western architectural influences, its interior features traditional Southern Vietnamese house structures blended with Hue's architectural style. Today, the sixth generation of descendants lives in this house.
Not as serene as Ong Xoat's house, Ong Kiet's house (in Phu Hoa hamlet) is more bustling with numerous visitors and descendants, vividly reflecting daily life.
This house bears the hallmark of northern delta ancient villages with five chambers and three roofs, supported by numerous columns and beams made from precious wood, built in 1838. Inside, it preserves valuable antiques such as mother-of-pearl inlaid screens, intricately patterned furniture, and porcelain utensils, considered the "nine great homes" of Vietnam.
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Within a spacious 20,000m2 area surrounded by perennial fruit gardens, Phan Van Duc's ancient house blends harmoniously between Southern Vietnamese and French cultural influences.
Built in 1850 on a 0.5m high foundation above ground level, consisting of two houses divided by a Thien Tinh courtyard (courtyard with a skylight). Many precious antiques are still preserved inside, showcasing the lavish, refined lifestyles of wealthy Southern Vietnamese families in the past. In addition to the fruit orchard, visitors can admire beautiful flower pots and bonsai trees in front of the house. The romantic highlight is the convenient ferry pier at the house's doorstep, ideal for waterway tours, with paper flowers blooming brightly year-round.
There are many other ancient houses in the village, each with its own unique characteristics. Ong Tong's house, nestled behind a golden allamanda flower fence, with ancient plum trees, exudes the ethnic cultural values of the Southern Delta region. Ong Vo's house features dark tiled roofs and shiny black glazed pottery, reflecting the passage of time.
For those seeking a rustic lodging experience, dining in ancient houses, you can contact the families of Ong Kiet, Ong Vo, Ba Duc... These ancient houses offer homestay tourism services, allowing visitors to experience daily life with local residents: participating in com making, rice paper making, popping rice cake rolling, tending fruit orchards, visiting Cai Be floating market, canal fishing; listening to traditional Tai Tu music...
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Since 2013, Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village festival has been regularly organized every two years, with numerous cultural and folk activities attracting a large number of participants.
Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village, with its monumental cultural and architectural values, was honored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national heritage site in 2017.
Alongside ancient houses and lush orchards, Dong Hoa Hiep villagers preserve and promote the values of a simple life, creating a unique community tourism form with the essence of the Southern Mekong Delta hospitality.
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