Pho Bang Ancient Town

Pho Bang Ancient Town is a small historic settlement in Pho Bang Commune, Dong Van District, Tuyen Quang Province, northern Vietnam. Situated within the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, it is known for its well-preserved early 20th-century houses built in traditional Chinese-influenced style with yin-yang tiled roofs, earthen walls and wooden structures. Once a thriving trading center inhabited mainly by Hoa and Hmong people, it now offers a quiet, atmospheric glimpse into border highland heritage.

Visitors can expect a quiet, low-rise hamlet with a single main street lined with 1-2 storey earthen and wooden houses featuring yin-yang tile roofs, wooden doors and courtyards. The town is still inhabited, with small local shops, eateries and homestays. Surroundings include limestone karst mountains, valleys and agricultural fields. Visitors can walk through the short historic street, view traditional architecture, photograph the preserved facades, and observe daily life of Hoa and Hmong residents in a tranquil, non-commercialized setting.

Pho Bang developed in the early 20th century as a small trading center near the Vietnam-China border, primarily built and inhabited by Hoa merchants. Its row houses reflect Chinese architectural influence from that period and illustrate the historic cross-border trade and settlement patterns of the Dong Van highland region.

The town preserves the architectural and cultural heritage of the Hoa ethnic group alongside Hmong traditions, with yin-yang tiled roofs, earthen walls and wooden interiors. It represents the multicultural heritage of the Dong Van Karst Plateau and remains a living community where traditional building techniques and highland customs are still visible.