Located in the mountainous commune of Bat Xat District in Lao Cai province, Y Ty is known for its misty beauty.
Known for its stunning mountainous scenery, Y Ty attracts visitors eager to explore the rich cultures of the ethnic minority groups who live in its mighty mountains. In the early spring, Y Ty looks especially beautiful. I was eager to explore the unique clay Trinh Tuong houses built by ethnic Ha Nhi people.
Trinh Tuong houses resemble giant mushrooms overshadowed by mountains. Faced with a harsh climate, this region's ancient people were highly creative. Living closely to nature, they used local materials to build ingenious dwellings. The architecture of Trinh Tuong houses reveals their creators' harmony with nature. Their construction adds a distinct charm to the rural landscape. Thick clay walls hold warmth in the winter and are cool in the summer. The earthen walls are 40 to 45 cm thick and measure four to five meters high. Originally, the roofs of Trinh Tuong houses were made of straw, which shone brightly in the sunshine.
To build a Trinh Tuong house takes several months. Ha Nhi builders must carefully choose and mine the best type of clay. The correct rituals must be performed on blessed days and religious sacrifices made to pray for good fortune. A Trinh Tuong house is built on a flat plot of around 40 to 50 square meters. The foundation is not deep, but is reinforced with mountain stones overlaid with wooden boards. After the foundation is made, clay is pounded to make the walls. The clay is sticky mountainous soil that is put into molds and pounded until it is glue-like and malleable. After being removed from the molds, this clay will retain its shape. One layer of the mold measures about 40 cm. This first layer is followed by a second one. The clay in the second layer is pounded until it is seamlessly attached. It takes a month and five or six layers of molds to make the walls.
Trinh Tuong houses lack corbels, but have indoor frames and supporting wooden pillars. The roof is made of thatched straw reinforced with cement sheets. The main door is at the center and side doors lie on the far left or right. The doors are small and resemble ventilation holes when seen from afar. The houses are square, unlike the rectangular homes of the Hmong people. The outer and inner clay walls are pounded and smoothed. There is a supporting wall inside the house opposite the entry door. This serves as a partition between the bedrooms and the kitchen.
Ha Nhi people take great pride in their homes. Every year in the early spring or after the harvest, they set out to build new houses to replace their old, worn ones. Although modern touches are inevitable, the basic Trinh Tuong architecture remains unchanged. The landscape in the commune remains tranquil. It is a beautiful sight to see mist swirling over a cluster of Trinh Tuong houses on a far-off mountain.
Trinh Tuong Houses In Lao Cai Vietnam.
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