Located on the northern bank of Cau River, Van Village – ancient name Yen Vien – is a unique cultural space of the Kinh Bac region. Here, river landscapes, temple and pagoda systems, wine making, Water-ball Wrestling Festival and community lifestyle coexist like sedimentary layers connecting the past with the present.
An ancient village in space Kinh Bac
Van Village currently belongs to Yen Vien residential quarter, Van Ha Ward, Bac Ninh Province. In many documents, the village is also called Yen Vien or An Vien. The village is located on a strip of land along the North coast of Cau River, a location that both creates a landscape and shapes the livelihoods, traffic and cultural life of the resident community for many generations.
Cau River is not just a geographical boundary. The river once connected Van Village with villages on the southern bank, with wharves, rural markets and strong relationships. The village space therefore has the characteristics of a riverside agricultural community: valuing water sources, crops, neighborly love and rituals to pray for a peaceful and prosperous life.
Legacy classes still present
Van Village preserves a rich system of tangible and intangible heritage. In the religious architectural complex there are temples, communal houses, pagodas, documents, temples and vestiges of ancient houses. Van Temple is associated with the belief of worshiping Saint Tam Giang; Dien Phuc pagoda, Doc pagoda and other works reflect the village’s religious life, education, profession and community organization through many periods.
Besides the architectural works are living heritages: traditional wine making, Water-ball Wrestling Festival, marriage ceremony, Tam Quan market, forms of folk performances and community behavior. The value of Van Village lies not in an individual monument but in the connection between landscape, people, memories and cultural practices.
Two icons identifying Van Village
When mentioning Van Village, many people first remember Van Village Wine and Water-ball Wrestling Festival. Wine craft crystallizes experience in selecting raw materials, making yeast, fermenting, distilling and preserving. Each batch of wine is the result of labor, sensory experience and vocational transmission within the family and lineage.
Water-ball Wrestling Festival demonstrates community strength and martial spirit. On the mud yard in front of Van Temple, the shuttlecocks compete for wooden balls to the sound of drums. The festival is associated with the belief of praying for good harvests, the wish for favorable weather and the memory of honoring ancestors who have contributed to protecting the country and protecting the people. In 2022, the festival is registered in the national intangible cultural heritage Directory.
Van Village today
In the rhythm of modern life, Van Village develops production, services and infrastructure while also facing the need to preserve identity. Traditional occupations need to be standardized in terms of quality and safety; Monuments need to be restored according to principles; Festivals need to maintain the role of community subjects; Ancient documents need to be inventoried, digitized and their origin verified.
Conservation does not mean keeping everything in a motionless state. It is important to help good values continue to be present in life: young people understand the village’s history, artisans have successors, visitors have access to accurate information and local people benefit from promoting heritage.
An invitation to return
Coming to Van Village is coming to a village whose heritage is still being practiced. Visitors can learn about Van Temple and the festival space, stroll through the riverside alleys, hear stories about the wine industry, the custom of getting married and the year-end market. Each visit should be made with respect for the sacred space, residents’ lives, and the community’s right to own materials. Website Van Village was built as a digital space to connect those pieces. Each verified photo, story, document or narrative will help the image of Van Village become more complete – not just as a destination, but as a living and continuing creative heritage community.