Simple thatched roof

The Mekong Delta in general, and Ca Mau in particular, is a land crisscrossed with rivers and canals. From ancient times, Ca Mau was a wild and untamed land, and our ancestors worked hard to clear the land and build villages. They used nipa palm leaves as building materials, and thatched houses became the most common type of house in Ca Mau.

Báo Cà Mau•17/10/2024

Simple, traditional cakes
Simple yet endearing!

Simple and rustic, thatched houses not only reflect the distinctive lifestyle of the riverine region but also represent the cultural beauty of the people of Ca Mau , which is still preserved today amidst the flow of modern life.

They are called thatched houses because they are roofed with the leaves of the nipa palm. The leaves are cut, torn in half, and dried thoroughly before being used to roof the house. The roofing ropes are made from the same stems as the nipa palm. The house frame is usually made from mangrove wood, Avicennia, Melaleuca, bamboo, etc. Typical thatched houses in the Ca Mau countryside are usually built with 1-3 bays and 2 wings, quite simple in design. Generally, the thicker the thatch, the more beautiful, durable, and cooler the roof is compared to thinner thatch. After the roof is finished, the largest and longest nipa palm leaves are used to reinforce the roof ridge to prevent leaks.

After the leaves are cut down, they are torn in half and dried until the stems are completely dry before being used for roofing.

The process of roofing a thatched house is very simple.

Nowadays, with land being cleared for agriculture, nipa palm trees are becoming scarce. Along with the increasingly developed economy , new building materials like tiles and corrugated iron are very convenient and durable, so most people build houses with sturdy concrete. However, many people still retain thatched houses for storage or as shaded shelters. Particularly in the eco-tourism areas of the Ca Mau river region, most tourism operators still use nipa palm leaves to build houses, which are very effective at soundproofing, creating a cool, eco-friendly space for tourists to enjoy and relax.

The thatched house is peaceful at night.

These thatched-roof houses, typical of the riverside region, are located in the ECO Tourist Area, Tran Van Thoi district.

A simple thatched house has been erected in the grounds of the Ca Mau Museum to display and introduce products during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year).

A replica of an old thatched house from a forest village, recreated in Mui Ca Mau National Park, has attracted many visitors who come to take souvenir photos.