Ha Mo is an ancient village in Dan Phuong district, which is about 20 km from the center of Ha Noi. Lying near the Nhue, Hong, and Hat river, the village has been a fascinating destination with a rich history and time-honored culture despite rapid urbanization.
Ha Mo village on the outskirts of Ha Noi (Photo: VOVTV)
In the 6th century (more than 1,400 years ago) Ha Mo was the capital of Van Xuan (the ancient name of Vietnam) under the later Ly Nam De regime.
Ha Mo village still preserves many significant architectural works, including Van Xuan temple, Van Hien temple, and Hai Giac pagoda, which were recognized as national historical relics in the early 1990s. Van Xuan temple stands in the center of the village, facing west, between the Literature Hall and Martial Arts Hall.
Cultural researcher Nguyen Toa, a resident of Ha Mo commune, said: "Van Xuan temple was dedicated to Prince Ly Van Lang for his role in unifying the country in the 6th century to form the Van Xuan kingdom. The Prince is worshipped here along with some mandarins of the pre-Ly dynasty. This land has the shape of a turtle playing with a pearl".
Hai Giac pagoda is built on a flat area with all its components arranged on the east-west axis. Inside a three-entrance gate is a large brick-paved yard. On either side of the yard is a hall to worship the ancestral monks and a hall to worship the Mother Goddess. At the back of the pagoda is the main worship hall. The pagoda preserves more than 200 statues of various sizes.
Nun Thich Dam Chinh in charge of Hai Giac pagoda, said: "In the late 19th century, most venerable Thanh Trang performed many noble needs for the nation. People built a stupa dedicated to him within the pagoda.”
The Literature Hall, which has been recognized as a national historical relic, is built on a high plot of land at the front of the village. The temple holds many antique items, including parallel sentences, horizontal lacquered boards, incense tables, stone steles, porcelain and bronze objects, and wooden statues.
Inside the Temple of Literature (Photo: VOVTV)
During the village festival in the first lunar month, Ha Mo villagers organize many folk games - releasing pigeons, cockfighting, wrestling, swinging, human chess, and flying flute kites.
Local cuisine offers visitors dishes made from locally grown plants. Ha Mo is famous for pyramid rice dumpling, tofu, tapioca, and chao se, a porridge eaten with chopsticks.
"We choose good rice, soak it in water, and mill it to flour. We steam pig bones to make broth. We knead the wet flour until it is soft. We boil the flour in the broth at low heat. The porridge is cooked for holidays, festivals, and get-togethers with relatives and friends.”
“Chao se porridge is our village specialty. We make it for visiting tourists,” said a villager.
Selling chao se porridge provides a stable income for many villagers while also preserving the village’s culinary heritage.
Bui Hang