On Ancient Land of Yen Lac, Vinh Phuc
Yen Lac district is an ancient land of Vinh Phuc with traces of the ancient Vietnamese which have existed for thousands of years, creating thick and rich cultures. Yen Lac in particular and Vinh Phuc in general own clear markers of the period of the early nation building. It has footprints of the ancient Vietnamese. These markers are clearly seen in Dong Dau Archaeological Zone, Bac Cung Temple and Tranh Temple. These are important evidences reflecting the process of forming the first state of the nation on the Red River basin.
Dong Dau, formerly known as Go Dau is a floating mound located in Trung village, Yen Lac town, Yen Lac district. Dong Dau is 9 kilometres south of Vinh Yen. The mound has an area of about 8.5 hectares and is 13.6 metres above the sea level.
The Red River is 8 kilometres away from Dong Dau monument. At the foot of the mound are many ponds and canals. From Dong Dau, visitors can panoramically watch beautiful and romantic natural scenery. Far to the West is green Ba Vi Mountain, to the northeast is Tam Dao Mountain range rising imposingly. The terrain as a fertile land along with the traces show that the area, in ancient times, was located close to the country’s political and economic centre and was also one of the typical cultural centres in the period of Van Lang.
Go Dau has been preserved and protected so that this area remains intact today. Through excavations, thousands of artifacts have been discovered including important artifacts serving research such as the tombs of the ancient Vietnamese dated back to 2,000 – 3,000 years ago, hunting instrument made of bones, brass, molds and personal belongings, etc. The unearthed artifacts reflect the lifestyle of ancient residents. In Dong Dau, cultural layers consisting of many overlapping layers create the richness and diversity of artifacts. With those artifacts discovered, Dong Dau is the largest archaeological zone with bone relics found in the country. Currently, the artifacts are being displayed at the Museum of Vinh Phuc province for people to visit and learn. With many cultural and historical monuments, Dong Dau Archaeological Zone has been recognized as a national historical and cultural zone.
Yen Lac ancient land may become the typical tourist route of Vinh Phuc if further research and investment in remodeling and renovation of monuments and maintaining and enriching festival is made. In addition, tourism services, entertainment, relaxation and shopping centres can also be built to make this a typical tourist route for those who love to learn and explore.
Thanh Nga
Vietnamese
