Villagers preserve old homes in Quang Tri

February 22, 2015 | 12:04

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A small village in central Quang Tri Province has finished work on preserving some 50 houses featuring meticulously sculpted beams and pillars, despite many of them being damaged during the American War.

The houses, standing up to five metres in height, were restored by residents of Hoi Ky Village, which was first settled in the 15th century and is now in Hai Chanh Commune in Hai Lang District.

Nearly 20 of the wooden houses feature meticulously sculpted pillars and beams, and are prized by villages for their special cultural and architectural value.

Carefully trimmed trees serve as fence

Houses have sculpted pillars and beams, and stand from 4.5m to 5m high

The old houses feature three rooms, one for the family altar, one serving as a living room, and the third as a bed room, with two lean-tos to increase habitable space

Meticulous sculpting

Những nét chạm khắc công phu phía hai bên vách nhà
Houses often made from jackfruit wood, peck wood, and some precious wood. Pillars often has a diameter of from 20 to 30cm each. The walls were built using wooden bricks and the roof was made with traditional tiles.

The front doors
Duong Van Ngoc’s house was built nearly 200 years ago. His father bought the house from a local man.
The house preserves traditional patterns

There is often a screen in front of each old house
Some houses display simple and traditional pottery products
Duong Van Manh’s house was built in 1889, the time of the Thanh Thai King. Manh is the fourth generation to live in the house, which is 12.3m long and 9.5m wide. It has three rooms and two lean-tos, along with 18 doors and 48 pillars made from forest jack-fruit wood. Trong nhà trưng bày rất nhiều đồ cổ thời xưa
Several ancient exhibits displayed inside the house
Dagon beams

Hoi Ky Village is by the O Lau River’s bank