The hyangyak (Korean: 향약) was a contractual arrangement that allowed for a degree of local government in the history of Korea and Vietnam.
The implementation of the hyangyak opened the way for schools and shrines and tied the yangban to the community as instrumental in strengthening the government at all levels.
[2] During the colonial period both the government-general of French Indochina and the government of the Nguyễn dynasty attempted reform these rules and regulations in their favour.
[2] During the 1980s in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during the Đổi Mới reforms the Hương ước were re-recognised and re-evaluated in an attempt to restore the village customs.
[2] Today the Hương ước is no longer as culturally relevant as it was before, but heavily procedural under the supervision of the district-level People's Committee.