Quang Tri (VNA)🍒 - Ancient houses in Hoi Ky village, Hai Chanh commune in Hai Lang district of the central province of Quang Tri still preserve many unique values and characteristics of Vietnamese villages, and show the architectural talent of people in the old time.

Lying beside the O Lau River, Hoi Ky village still preserves 100-year-old houses with unique architecture, which stir up visitors' interest for their unique architectural and cultural values. The village was established 400 years ago. Local people are always proud of Hoi Ky village, which is protected by bamboo groves and surrounded by the legendary O Lau River. Hoi Ky village is now home to 16 houses which are over 100 years old, with some built even more than 200 years ago. The old houses are made of thick solid wood. They usually have two main rooms and three wing rooms, or one main room and two wing rooms. The roofs of ancient houses in Hoi Ky are covered with yin and yang tiles. The columns and doors are engraved with dragons, phoenixes and other delicate patterns. Depending on the size of the house, each roof has between 10,000 and 20,000 tiles. The tiles are rectangular, thin, flat and can produce a bell sound when you knock on them. This way of tiling makes the house cool in summer and warm in winter. Walls of the house are made of lime and wood hammered bricks. The roof of houses are low helping to protect them from strong winds The interior of the houses is also decorated by their owners with paintings and lacquered boards. Several families still preserve many old items, making their houses more attractive, nostalgic and rustic. Altars for Buddha and ancestors, and lacquered boards with parallel sentences teaching people to do good, are usually arranged in the middle room of the houses. Of the two wing rooms, the one on the left is for boys and the one in the right is for girls. The outside space of ancients houses is also in harmony with the nature. Every house is surrounded by trimmed green tree fences and fruit-laden orchards. The landscape in the village is beautiful with a river zigzagging around the village, small lanes, wharves, and a communal yard. These are typical characteristics of rural Vietnam. Hoi Ky village is also famous for its communal house, temples and ancestral houses of families with unique ancient architecture. Visiting Hoi Ky village, tourists will have an opportunity to see the tomb of Duong Thi Ngot - the wife of King Thanh Thai, and a 300-year-old mango tree - the oldest tree in the village. Although it is said to have the most ancient houses in Quang Tri province so far, the number of remaining ancient houses in Hoi Ky is quite modest due to war and climate devastation. Before 1975, the village had more than 100 ancient houses, but because of difficult restoration conditions, some were damaged, and others were sold by their owners. In recent years, local people have tried to preserve remaining ancient houses in the village. One of the measures being considered is turning ancient houses into tourist destinations for holiday-makers. Bui Van Sinh, Chairman of Hai Chanh Commune People's Committee, said that the commune authority is coordinating with Hai Lang district’s Department of Culture and Information to build a project for developing eco-tours to Thac Chon - Hoi Ky. The project is expected to contribute to preserving unique culture and architecture values of ancient houses in the village, he said./.