Explore the Abandoned Village For Leprosy Patients

Hello everyone, how are you today?
It's Wednesday again, where will you take us today? It's been 2 weeks since I posted to the Wednesday Walk community because of my busy schedule. However, I still follow the interesting walks of people in the community. And I was so happy to see that my beloved friend, @sjarvie5, has also posted to this community. After finishing my work, I went back to my writing routine and I chose to share a walk of mine on this loving community. Today I will take you to an abandoned village for leprosy patients.

Where is it located?

This is a village located in a hidden place at the foot of Hai Van mountain, about 25km from Da Nang city center. In the past, leprosy was a dreaded disease to the people and leprosy patients were shunned by those around them. So this village for the less fortunate is located very far from the city and the road to it is also very difficult. But now, there are no more leprosy patients there, and the way is much easier. From Da Nang city, you can take a car or motorbike to Hai Van pass, then park your vehicle at a cafe called Hoa Sua Cafe and walk down to the village at the foot of the mountain. The walk down is quite tough and it takes about 25 minutes.

History of the village

In the 1960s, people with leprosy were shunned by everyone, so together they found a peaceful refuge away from the city, in what is now known as Van Village. In 1968, Mr. Gordon Smith, the President of the Christian Mission Society, built a treatment center for leprosy patients to help less fortunate patients here. And he named this place Hy Lac Vien with the desire to create a place to bring faith to life for the patients here.

At that time, there were only about 40 leprosy patients there. They lived together and together made a living by growing rice and fishing. And since then, they have gradually formed a peaceful village at the foot of the majestic Hai Van Pass. However, people still know this place as Leprosy village. Later, with the city's efforts to help leprosy patients reintegrate into the community, this place was renamed Van village, the village of clouds, a much nicer name. Currently, the leprosy patients here have been transferred to medical facilities for better care conditions and reintegration into society. The village was abandoned for a long time and now it becomes a border post and the residence of some fishermen who come here to fish.

I was welcomed into the village by two friendly dogs.

What's there?

The former leprosy patients' escape from everyone accidentally discovered a beautiful place. It is a small village with mountains and fields in the background and the sea in front. I feel envious of these patients for living in such a beautiful place 😁.

I spent an afternoon exploring around this village. Currently the houses are severely degraded, some even without roofs possibly due to previous storms. However, there are still some houses still in use thanks to the reinforcement of fishermen. They used this place as a temporary place to fish in these waters.

At the back of the village, the former rice fields have been replaced by vast grasslands because no one grows rice here anymore. This place becomes the paradise of buffaloes and cows. In front, there is a bay with quite calm water. It has become a great refuge for many marine creatures, so it is also a favorite fishing spot for fishermen here. In the summer, we also often come here to camp and go swimming because the sea water here is very clean and calm.

I really thank the previous leprosy patients for discovering this place and helping to turn this place into a beautiful village that to this day generations still enjoy it in different ways. . After a long time, I had a very satisfied walk here. Hope you guys like this place as much as I do. I also look forward to your walking tours from all over the world.

Okay, now let's explore this beautiful village through photos:

There is also a beautiful small river flowing into the sea from Hai Van mountain.

This long and fine sand is our paradise in the summer.

The cactus is also a feature of this place.

And also a lot of coconut trees here.

Fishing is the main occupation of the people there.

The vast grassland at the back of the village is a paradise for buffaloes and cows.

Hope that's not too many photos for you. You know, I love photography so I just wanted to bring as many perspectives as possible to you.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and have a nice day!