Located in Thanh Binh Commune, Loc Yen Village dates back to the 15th-16th centuries and is known for its wooden houses, mossy stone alleys, tea-hedge fences and lush fruit gardens. The village spans about 279 hectares, with homes set against hillsides overlooking terraced rice fields.
A defining feature of Loc Yen is its eight century-old wooden houses built from jackfruit wood in the traditional three-compartment, two-wing style. Each forms a small architectural complex of high artistic value.
One of Loc Yen’s eight distinctive jackfruit-wood ancient houses. (Photo: Nam Ha)
Visitors strolling through the village are drawn to its quiet stone lanes, shaped over generations, and its unspoilt rural charm, which has made Loc Yen a rare “healing” destination for those seeking peace and authenticity.
In September 2019, Loc Yen was recognised as a national heritage site and named one of Vietnam’s four most beautiful ancient villages.
Stone-paved alleys and stone walls in Loc Yen (Photo: Ngo Linh)
In recent years, local authorities have worked with residents to preserve the site and promote sustainable tourism, focusing on infrastructure, orchard restoration and the revival of intangible cultural heritage.
Community-based tourism has gradually taken shape, with many households converting their homes and gardens into homestays, generating hundreds of millions of dong in annual income.
Nguyen Dinh Suu, owner of one of the eight ancient houses, said tourism had helped raise incomes while creating local jobs and preserving the village’s distinctive rural character.
Tourists visit Loc Yen (Photo: Ngo Linh)
Visitors can also buy handicrafts made from areca palm sheaths, produced by local women under a cooperative model promoting environmentally friendly products, said Vo Thi Thu Thoi, director of the Quang Nam Green Areca Cooperative.
Loc Yen has attracted more than 10,000 visitors a year in recent years. Local authorities say they will continue investing in transport links, orchards and training to strengthen community tourism and promote the village as a green destination.
