Rammed earth houses - a symbol of solidarity, perseverance and creativity of the H'Mong people - Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television Station

Early morning in Chien Pho commune, Hoang Su Phi district, Ha Giang province, the mist still lightly covers the roofs, but the mountain roads are bustling with footsteps. Today is the day to build a new house for Mr. Vang Si Hung's family, a traditional rammed earth house. In the midst of the harsh rocky terrain, the rammed earth house is not only a place to live, but also a symbol of the solidarity, perseverance and creativity of the H'Mong people in this land.

All stages to complete the rammed earth house are done by hand.

For generations, the Hmong have built houses using the rammed earth technique, manually compressing soil in wooden molds to create walls up to 40-50cm thick. The rammed earth walls keep warm in winter, cool in summer, and withstand harsh climates well.

Building a rammed earth house begins with choosing the soil. The soil must be soft and firm, usually taken from a location chosen based on folk experience. After leveling the ground and digging the foundation, the whole village will contribute, some digging the soil, some carrying it, some sifting it, some setting up the mold...

Men in the village carry soil, women present soil in molds, each person has a job, working together to build a new house.

On the new ground, dozens of people worked in unison. The women stood on high ground, holding wooden pestles, pounding each layer of soil into the mold. Each pounding beat resounded firmly like a song of the mountains and forests.

Below, the men landed, pounded it, and mixed it well. Mr. Vang Si Hung carefully used a wooden board to pound it evenly on the wall to flatten it and at the same time reinforce the structure.

Mr. Hung meticulously hammered the wall, the secret to keeping the house wall beautiful and durable over time.

Building a rammed earth house is a community affair. Children gather to watch the adults work, while the elderly guide the young. Occasionally, women sit down to rest, drink water, and chat, a simple moment in the middle of a meaningful day of work.

A rustic, highland break.

Contribute to build a house, the whole village joins hands.

After finishing most of the house, Mr. Hung's family prepared a meal for everyone. Bowls of corn wine were passed around, and lively conversations around a hot meal seemed to dispel fatigue.

The bustling party, expressing gratitude to the hands that contributed to building the house, shows the close neighborly love of the H'Mong people.

Earthen houses are not only a place to live, but also a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved. No cement, no machinery, just experience passed down through many generations.

A day building a rammed earth house is a day living in a vibrant cultural space. It is not just about building a house, it is the way the Hmong people preserve their ancestors' culture, stay connected to the land, and continue writing their own story in the gray stone mountains and forests.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/nha-trinh-tuong-bieu-tuong-cua-su-gan-bo-ben-bi-va-sang-tao-cua-nguoi-h-mong-5044426.html