Lang House in Hoa Binh province (Cinet)- A fund-raising campaign titled “Lang House-Dream of Rebirth” from the Muong’s Cultural Space Museum and Betado.com, a public fundraising website aims to rebuild an ancient Lang house.The Lang House is a 100 year old stilt house of Mrs. Ha Thi Loi- a daughter of Lang (King of Muong Cham) in Chien group- Nam Son ward- Tan Lac district- Hoa Binh province. The lady passing in 2009 at the age of 110 has 156 descendants (5 generations). To rebuild her house at the museum, we hired a group of twelve workers led by the foreman Ding Cong Tan. These excellent employees, also humorously called bacchants, have been drinking down 140 liters of liquor during their work-116 days.The thatched roof house, the last of its kind of the Muong ethnic people in the northern Hoa Binh province, had been preserved for generations by a local family in Tan Lac district before it was moved to the museum. However, the century-old structure was destroyed … [Read more...] about Project to fund-raise for “Lang” house restoration
Roofing house
Crazy house opens for visitors
Architect Dang Viet Nga’s ownership of her crazy house in Da Lat has been officially recognised by the Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee. The crazy house is known not only among Vietnamese but also foreigners because of its odd shape which breaks old architecture standards. For that reason the house has been under the threat of being dismantled for the past 18 years. The Lam Dong provincial People’s Committee has now agreed that the crazy house is an art work and extraordinary experiment. Earlier, the famous 100-roof-house of architect Lu Truc Phuong on Dinh Tien Hoang street in the flower city of Da Lat had to be pulled down because it failed to meet fire prevention safety regulations. The crazy house was built in 1990. It looks like stumps or grottos in an old forest. Its interior, however, is very modern. Da Lat citizens and visitors call it Moon Villa, Stump House or Cobweb Castle. The house has 10 rooms for accommodations and a café. A lot of … [Read more...] about Crazy house opens for visitors
Fundraising for “Lang” house restoration launched
The thatched roof house, the last of its kind of the Muong ethnicpeople in the northern Hoa Binh province, had been preserved forgenerations by a local family in Tan Lac district before it was moved tothe museum. However, the century-old structure was destroyed in 2013 bya flame after a group of tourists built a fire inside the house to cookcorn without permission. The Lang house has significantmeaning in the culture and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic minoritypeople, said Director of the museum Vu Duc Hieu, adding that the museumis calling for support to restore this ancient architecture.Thepublic can subscribe to the charitable campaign through Betado.com.There they can find information about the aims and activities of thecampaign as well as the role of the Lang house in the Muong’s culture.Nguyen Khanh Duong, a representative from Betado.comsaid they expect to raise about 600 million VND (27,900 USD) through thethree-month event.A fashion performance inspired from the … [Read more...] about Fundraising for “Lang” house restoration launched
Hanoi’s old coffee house
Looking back to the old days at a caféSince that was the first time I had come to a café in Hanoi, my curiosity grew when I was led to an extremely small and low-roofed house. The 100-hundred-year-old-plus house looks like an old and cranky chair which had not been used for a long time and had been left alone in a corner of an antique store.There is neither a signboard nor a visible sign showing that this is a coffee house. Surprisingly, it is one of the four most famous cafés in the capital.We climbed the stairs to the second floor, which was filled with cigarette smoke and incense. There, you might feel time does not exist.The stained yellow walls, old milk cans, stainless steel funnels and black and white pictures brought us back to the old days when people did not have a coffee in the same way as modern consumers do. There, guests have to wait for every drop of liquid coffee to fall into a cup from an ill-shaped filter and they slowly enjoy each and every sip.There … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s old coffee house
Official argues for low-income housing fund
Low-income people who want to buy their own house need support in saving and the establishment of a fund would be vital, an official has said. Nguyen Manh Ha, Director of the Ministry of Construction’s Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management Nguyen Manh Ha, Director of the Ministry of Construction (MoC)’s Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management, told DTiNews that the ministry has proposed establishing a house saving fund in order to support low-income people wishing to buy a house. Current housing prices are too high compared to most people’s financial abilities, how can we resolve this? It’s not really true that low-income people can’t afford housing. These people should opt to buy a small house or live in a rented house and then upgrade it gradually when appropriate to their incomes. Previously, state officials had to live in thatched-roof houses, but thanks to economic development, we’ve tried our … [Read more...] about Official argues for low-income housing fund
Tourists’ fire destroys precious Muong house
In ruins: Tourist negligence has led to the destruction of Lang House - a century-old building on stilts. — Photo thethaovanhoa.vn HA NOI (VNS) — Tourist negligence has led to the fire and destruction of a century-old house on stilts, the last of its kind of the Muong ethnic people in the northern Hoa Binh Province. Local media reported that the house had caught fire and became engulfed in flames on Thursday evening after a group of tourists built a fire inside the house to cook corn without asking for permission. Following the incident they sped away hitting the three guards who tried to stop their car. No injuries were caused by the fire. The aftermath of the fire and the tourists' careless, irresponsible behaviour has sparked public concern and outrage. Investigation into the incident is underway. Lang House is a 100 year old timber frame and thatched roof house rooted in the culture of the Muong ethnic minority people. The house had been preserved for … [Read more...] about Tourists’ fire destroys precious Muong house
Plush wooden houses showcase VN talents
Happy home: Nguyen Van Binh (R) welcomes visitors to his wooden house, which he believes that has brought him many good luck. — File Photos by Bui HuongArriving at Thuy Trieu Village in the northern province of Hai Phong, visitors will be astonished by nearly a hundred sophisticated wooden houses, as modern as any tube house."I like wooden houses", says villager Tran Van Vien. "They resemble villages in northern Viet Nam. It is also respectful to worship ancestors in wooden houses."Vien's house has 14 pillars, three apartments and three main doors. Although humble in size compared with other wooden houses in the village, it took 14 months of meticulous craftsmanship to build."Only recently was I able to achieve my dream. Every year, my family has saved, little by little, for me to purchase wood imported from Laos. After five years, I finally had enough wood to build an 80sq.m house worth VND one billion (US$50,000)."The trend of choosing to build wooden houses is … [Read more...] about Plush wooden houses showcase VN talents
Work begins on housing for workers
HA NOI – Work starts today on housing for workers at the Tien Son industrial zone in the northern province of Bac Ninh. With total investment capital of VND168 billion (US$8 million), the project is invested in by the Viglacera Corporation involved in the field of building materials such as granite and ceramic tiles, terracotta bricks and roofing tiles. The housing project will cover an area of 1.05ha and will accommodate 2,500 workers. — VNS … [Read more...] about Work begins on housing for workers
Hue residents sell traditional houses
For sale: This nha ruong house with wooden beams and fixtures in Hue is being offered for sale on several real estate websites. — VNS File Photo THUA THIEN-HUE — While many nha ruong owners in the city of Hue are becoming tired of preserving their traditional houses without financial support, collectors are snapping up the wooden houses for billions of dong. A typical garden house in Hue has two main parts: the nha ruong (a house built from wooden beams and pillars) and the surrounding garden, designed according to fengshui stipulations and their owners' spiritual orientation. The beams and pillars of nha ruong are made of precious, solid wood such as lim (iron wood), gu (sindora) or thong xanh (teranthera pine). The entire house stands on large pillars bedded on a round or square stone base. A traditional house in the historic town is a combination of nha ruong and a large garden, and in 2006 the … [Read more...] about Hue residents sell traditional houses
Restored historic houses to be journey back in time for tourists
Le Van Vinh used pieces of shells from 3 million coconuts to make roofs for three houses in central Quang Nam Province's Dien Ban District. History in a nutshell: A house with a roof made from millions of coconut shells is a unique part of an exhibition in Quang Nam Province's Dien Ban District. The houses are in a 11,000sq m open museum called "Vinahouse Space" (of which Vinh is the owner), located about 7km from the ancient town of Hoi An. They are among dozens of centuries-old houses from the northern, southern and central regions, creating new tourist attractions. Visitors can bike from Hoi An to the village in 15 minutes. Vinh, 33, said: "I want to restore ancient houses in the country before they are all replaced with concrete and steel. "More and more ancient houses in rural areas are disappearing from rapid urbanisation. The restoration of ancient houses will preserve relics of the farming lifestyles and architecture for future generations. "Old … [Read more...] about Restored historic houses to be journey back in time for tourists