Chicken Village in Dalat

Famous for its giant concrete chicken caught mid-strut in the village centre, Chicken Village has become very popular with travelers because it is conveniently situated on the highway, 17km from thecenter of Dalat City. The village is home to about 600 people of the Koho minority, who were enticed down from the hills and have, to a certain extent, been Vietnamized. Most of the locals no longer live in stilt houses and they wear Vietnamese-style clothing. 

The chicken was an elaborate decorative device for a long-dysfunctional watersystem, which used to crow as the water was pumped. The symbolism of the chicken probably relates to yet another local legend involving its doomedromance ending in a dead heroine. Though the residents of Chicken village are extremely poor, we'd suggest that you don't give sweets or money to the children. If you want to help the villagers, there are a couple of shops where you can buy simple things like drinks and biscuits. There are also beautiful weavings for sale near the highway. A tour visiting Chicken village has become very popular among travelers wishing to observe the daily life of ethnic minorities in Vietnam.

Joseph Nguyễn

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