Discover the unique charm of an ancient village nestled at the foot of the mountains in Bac Ninh.

Ancient houses with earthen walls and yin-yang tiled roofs stand close together, creating a striking highlight for the old village nestled at the foot of the mountains in Tan Son, Bac Ninh.

Bac Hoa village, Tan Son commune, Bac Ninh province has nearly 160 households with over 700 inhabitants, mainly Nung ethnic people.

Here, 17 households still preserve the traditional style of houses with rammed earth walls and ancient yin-yang tiled roofs.

These houses, some hundreds of years old, are built from earth and have no rafters or supporting pillars. The yin-yang tiled roofs have been weathered by time but remain intact and sturdy amidst the natural environment of the mountains and forests.

According to Mr. Lang Quoc Ky (from Bac Hoa village, Tan Son commune), these rammed earth houses are warm in winter and cool in summer, making them suitable for the climate and customs of the ethnic minorities in the mountainous region.

"To build these rammed earth houses, the Nung people in Bac Hoa need from 3 months to more than half a year to prepare and construct them, depending on the scale and area," Mr. Ky added.

The unique feature of the rammed earth houses of the Nung people in Bac Hoa is that they are made entirely from natural materials and have a simple design.

The house walls are made entirely of tightly packed clay mixed with molasses; about 40-50cm thick and 2-3m high.

The roof is covered with yin-yang tiles.

Ms. Luong Thi Lan (a resident of Bac Hoa village, Tan Son commune) shared that yin-yang roof tiles are a symbol of the unique architecture and culture of the Nung people. The tiles are entirely handcrafted from local clay and fired with firewood in traditional kilns for many days and nights. The tiles are highly durable, helping to keep houses cool in summer and warm in winter.

“The roof tiles consist of two types: concave tiles (facing upwards) and convex tiles (facing downwards), creating grooves that allow for quick water drainage and good ventilation. This roofing method symbolizes the harmony between heaven and earth, yin and yang, in the philosophy of life of our Nung people,” Ms. Lan shared.

Upon arriving in Bắc Hoa, visitors will be impressed by the houses with mud walls, yin-yang tiled roofs, and spacious courtyards in front of the porches.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/kham-pha-net-doc-dao-cua-ngoi-lang-co-nep-minh-duoi-chan-nui-o-bac-ninh-5074967.html