Xã Mai Lâm

What whispers echo across the currents of the Ngũ Huyện Khê River as it flows through Xã Mai Lâm? They speak of change, of communities merging like streams into a river. Xã Mai Lâm, nestled in Hanoi’s Đông Anh district, isn’t just a place on a map. It’s a testament to time, a village woven from the threads of history. Xã Mai Lâm sits on the northern bank of the Đuống River, bordered by Gia Lâm district to the east, Đông Hội commune to the west, Long Biên district to the west, and Dục Tú and Cổ Loa communes to the north. In the early 19th century, the area we know as Xã Mai Lâm was actually a collection of separate villages. Du Lâm, Hoa Lâm, Lộc Hà, and Mai Hiên each had their own identity within the Hội Phú township. They were part of Đông Ngàn district, under the administration of Bắc Thành province, later known as Bắc Ninh. Imagine these distinct communities, each with its own customs and stories, living side-by-side. By 1948, these separate entities—Mai Lộc, Danh Lâm, and Du Lâm—were brought together to form Xã Mai Lâm. They then fell under the governance of Từ Sơn district in Bắc Ninh province. A significant shift occurred in 1961. On April 20th, the National Assembly decreed Xã Mai Lâm’s incorporation into Hanoi. This marked a new chapter in the village’s story, transferring it from Bắc Ninh to the bustling capital. Just a month later, on May 31st, the government finalized the move, officially placing Xã Mai Lâm within Đông Anh district, where it remains today. Xã Mai Lâm covers an area of 6.18 square kilometers. As of 2022, its population has grown to 15,202 people. From disparate villages to a unified commune, Xã Mai Lâm carries a rich history, shaped by the passage of time and the ebb and flow of governance. Its story is a quiet reminder that even amidst the constant change of a growing city, the whispers of the past continue to resonate.