Articles Discovery on the cycling road Lifestyle Mr Old Man The Third Return to the Lost Village By Mr Old Man Posted on 2 days ago 4 min read 0 0 18 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+ Share on Reddit Share on Pinterest Share on Linkedin Share on Tumblr The gate of Vân Village. A place of memories beneath Hải Vân Pass I still call Hòa Vân leprosy village – or simply Vân Village – nestled at the foot of Hải Vân Pass, “the lost village.” Today, it’s little more than a ruin: crumbling houses, moss-covered walls, and weeds reclaiming the ground. Nearly a decade ago, with support from local authorities, 138 households (362 residents) made a historic move inland. This marked the end of over 50 years of isolation and discrimination, when the village served as a leprosy settlement, cut off from society. Choosing a different way in This was my third time returning to the lost village. My companion and I opted for an easier route: cycling over Hải Vân Pass, then turning right onto a forest trail near Đôi Bridge that led us to the North–South railway line. From there, two options appeared: – One: descend to the beach and walk 1 km along the shore to reach the village. This path is popular with young adventurers, who often camp overnight, swim, and grill fresh seafood bought from nearby fish farms or local fishermen. – Two: turn left and follow the railway for another 150 meters, then take a small trail on the right through the forest directly into the village. I chose the second route – my purpose was to revisit the village, not to picnic. Twelve hours and familiar faces Although the round-trip covered just 47 km, I spent a full 12 hours at the village. This third return brought back familiar smiles: – Chinh, still guarding his boss’s abalone farm from Sơn Trà. – Aunt Him, fishing with nets and selling odds and ends to visiting trekkers. – A border guard from Quảng Trị, cheerful and welcoming as ever. Lê Đình Chinh, an old acquaintance, still wears his innocent and enthusiastic smile. Even in this remote place, news spreads fast – everyone already knew that Đà Nẵng had reported new Covid cases that morning, and their worry was palpable. One last impression Earlier this year, I climbed across rocky cliffs to visit the village and wrote the piece Return to the Lost Village. This time, I didn’t plan to write a new article – I just wanted to share a few more photos taken along the way, and perhaps quietly preserve a few fading traces of a once-forgotten place. Mr. Old Man June 2021