<strong>Dong Ngac: </strong>A local man relaxes in Dong Ngac village, located on the outskirts of Hanoi. Unlike much of the city, this 1,000-year-old historic settlement has barely changed in centuries.
Dong Ngac: A local man relaxes in Dong Ngac village, located on the outskirts of Hanoi. Unlike much of the city, this 1,000-year-old historic settlement has barely changed in centuries.
Ronan O'Connell/CNN
<strong>A disappearing slice of Hanoi: </strong>Pretty stone gates mark Dong Ngac's borders, while timeworn French-Vietnamese buildings line its narrow lanes.
A disappearing slice of Hanoi: Pretty stone gates mark Dong Ngac's borders, while timeworn French-Vietnamese buildings line its narrow lanes.
Ronan O'Connell/CNN
<strong>Thu Khanh: </strong>Dong Ngac's Thu Khanh temple is more than 350 years old and filled with ornate pagodas and stately pavilions.
Thu Khanh: Dong Ngac's Thu Khanh temple is more than 350 years old and filled with ornate pagodas and stately pavilions.
Ronan O'Connell/CNN
<strong>Daily street market: </strong>Dong Ngac visitors can visit the street market, which operates daily.
Daily street market: Dong Ngac visitors can visit the street market, which operates daily.
Ronan O'Connell/CNN
<strong>Village of scholars: </strong>The village is less than one square meter and home to 1,000 or so people. In spite of its size, Dong Ngac has birthed an unusually large number of academic high achievers, including dozens of doctors of literature.
Village of scholars: The village is less than one square meter and home to 1,000 or so people. In spite of its size, Dong Ngac has birthed an unusually large number of academic high achievers, including dozens of doctors of literature.
Ronan O'Connell/CNN
<strong>Easy city escape:</strong> Dong Ngac is located in the northern suburbs of Hanoi -- about 30 minutes by taxi from the city's Old Quarter.
Easy city escape: Dong Ngac is located in the northern suburbs of Hanoi -- about 30 minutes by taxi from the city's Old Quarter.
Ronan O'Connell/CNN
<strong>Scholastic excellence: </strong>Ancient steles (tall, stone slabs) celebrate some of Dong Ngac's finest scholars. Village luminaries include Pham Gia Khiem, Vietnam's deputy prime minister from 1997 to 2011, and Hoang Tang Bi, a revered writer and social activist in the early 1900s.
Scholastic excellence: Ancient steles (tall, stone slabs) celebrate some of Dong Ngac's finest scholars. Village luminaries include Pham Gia Khiem, Vietnam's deputy prime minister from 1997 to 2011, and Hoang Tang Bi, a revered writer and social activist in the early 1900s.
Ronan O'Connell/CNN