Loc Yen old village, a country retreat

 Located at the foot of a mountain in Quang Nam Province, Loc Yen, labeled one of the four most beautiful ancient villages in Vietnam, offers visitors a “time travel” experience.

The village, located in Tien Canh Commune, the central province's Tien Phuoc District, was established between the 15th and 16th century with a total seven generations living in harmony. The sparsely populated area of 279 hectares is mostly covered with greenery of the paddy fields, mountain ranges, fruit trees and dotted with well-preserved old houses. During special occasions like national holidays, Loc Yen typically welcomes thousands of visitors who yearn for peace and fresh air offered by this village. In September 2019, the village was recognized by the culture ministry as a national relic and one of the four most beautiful ancient villages in Vietnam. Around the old house complex are fruit trees that not only produce a variety of fruits but provide ample shade for the dwellings There are eight old houses left in Loc Yen, built 80 to 150 years ago. Their structures are typical of a house called "nha ruong", made of solid jackfruit wood pillars and beams. Their cultural value is critically acclaimed and deemed worthy of preservation. The well-preserved interior of 82-year-old Dong Viet Mao’s home. According to the owner, the house is currently over 150 years old. Its roof used to be made of dried grass and was replaced with tiles in 1981. "Interior furniture like an altar closet inlaid with mother of pearl, wooden and bronze decorative items, and vermilion painted cards were bought in Chau O, Quang Ngai Province," Mao said. A pumpkin-shaped rafter carving in the middle of Mao’s house signifies prosperity. All carvings and reliefs were skillfully produced by craftsmen from Van Ha carpentry village, Tam Thanh Commune of neighboring Phu Ninh District. A mysterious "auto rotating" table made by Van Ha Village carpenters. It is said visitors can experience its magical rotation by putting the back of their hands onto the 80 centimeter-in-diameter surface, then think about a trajectory for the table, causing it to move. The table would even stop if instructed. Not all "experiments" show the same results, however. Stone stairs leading to an old house appear wet and slippery in the rain but create a nostalgic feel and smell induced by a green moss layer. Elevated stone walls act as a border between garden houses and an embankment to help prevent soil erosion during rainy and flood season, considered a necessity in this half-mountain, half-plain area. Large stone-paved steps with tea fences and fruit tree gardens on both sides. Stone footpaths skirting lush green paddy fields are ideal for a pleasure walk. In 2017, Quang Nam People’s Committee approved Tien Phuoc‘s ecotourism development, with plain concrete roads now decorated with stone fences and colorful petite flowers. Bon bon fruit trees, which are native to Southeast Asia can be seen in almost every garden here. The fruit turns ripe in the eighth lunar month with a translucent sweet flesh under its skin. In Quang Nam Province, the fruit has its own tale of being the savior of Nguyen Anh and his retainers who ran from the enemy. Nguyen Anh later became the first emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty, Vietnam's last royal family (1802-1945). This fruit had helped them get through the day while hiding. According to historic records, bon bon used to be a royal offering when in season. This type of fruit belongs to the same family as bon bon fruit, except that it turns red when ripe. The tree reaches 10 to 20 meters in height. Its flesh contains polyphenols and anthocyanins, packed with health benefits and antioxidants.