The village of Phuong La, often referred to as Lang Meo, is situated in the Thai Phuong commune of Hung Ha district, Thai Binh province. This quaint village has earned the nickname of “the richest village in the rice-growing region” and is renowned for its traditional weaving industry.
Spanning an area of approximately 2 square kilometers, Lang Meo is nestled amidst vast rice fields and boasts dozens of lavish European-style villas. The map depicts the location of this unique village.
With a population of around 3,500 people, Lang Meo is home to an impressive number of 100 billionaires who own businesses worth billions of Vietnamese dong. Each year, several individuals from the village join the ranks of newly minted billionaires.
These tycoons often hail from the weaving industry and have diversified their business ventures into fields such as alcohol, construction, hydropower, and transportation, further solidifying their wealth.
A notable figure from Lang Meo is Tran Van Sen, the owner of the Huong Sen Group and Bia Dai Viet brewery. Starting from the weaving industry, Tran Van Sen has built Huong Sen Group into one of the leading beverage producers and traders in the country. The image showcases the state-of-the-art production line at the Dai Viet brewery.
Another prominent figure from the village is Vu Quang Hoi, the owner of the Bitexco Group. The group is renowned for its investment in landmark projects such as the Bitexco Office Building, Bitexco Financial Tower, and residential areas like The Manor I and II in Ho Chi Minh City. The photograph captures the impressive architecture of one of their developments.
As the village’s industries flourished, magnificent buildings and grand mausoleums were erected. The most impressive mausoleum in Lang Meo belongs to the family of tycoon Tran Van Sen.
This mausoleum, situated on a prime 5-hectare plot at the entrance of the village, boasts 3 stories, 6 roofs, and stands at a towering height of 41 meters. To acquire the land for this grand structure, Tran Van Sen purchased half of the surrounding rice fields at a price comparable to that of land in Hanoi.
Additionally, the 300-year-old Linh Ung Pagoda (also known as Chua Meo) has undergone significant expansion thanks to the efforts of Le Minh Hieu, a Lang Meo native and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bitexco Nam Long, along with his wife, Vu Thi Suot, and other Buddhist patrons. The temple’s area has doubled from its original 3,000 square meters.
Beyond Lang Meo, the northern region boasts other notable billionaire villages, such as Dong Ky in Tu Son, Bac Ninh province. Dong Ky has thrived primarily through its fine woodworking industry, with hundreds of large-scale traders amassing wealth in the tens of billions of dong and beyond.
Dong Ky ward is home to over 400 woodworking companies, and it is estimated that for every 10 households, there is one director. The photograph showcases the impressive house of worship dedicated to the woodworking profession, built by one of the leading entrepreneurial couples in Dong Ky.
