Cool off in a 2,000-year-old well during a series of record-breaking hot days in the Central region

Trẻ em đến chơi, tắm mát ở các giếng cổ Gio An - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — Children come to play and bathe in the ancient wells of Gio An - Photo: HOANG TAO

On the afternoon of April 28, hundreds of people gathered at Ong well, Ba well, and Gai well (Hao Son village, Gio An commune, Gio Linh, Quang Tri ) to cool off.

Cool off at the hometown well

These ancient wells have a source of water that flows continuously from underground, surrounded by many ancient trees providing shade, so the water is cool, attracting many people from Gio Linh, Cam Lo districts and Dong Ha city to come and bathe.

Called a well, but this place is not dug into a round pillar like the wells of the Kinh people. These wells were originally built by the Cham people, taking water from underground for thousands of years. The well has large pebbles arranged around it, behind the water vein is a small pond, about 50cm deep. Water flows continuously from the vein to the pond and then follows the canals to the vegetable fields below.

Gai Well is sheltered under the shade of a large old tree. Dozens of young people and children come down to bathe and play happily.

Similarly, Ong well is also shaded by an ancient fig tree. The water flowing from the ground is cool in the middle of a hot summer day of 42 degrees Celsius.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh An said that he and his friends from the neighboring commune rode their motorbikes to Ong well to cool off at 2:00 p.m. The group also brought fruit to cool off.

"The well water is as cool as ice, I just want to soak in here forever," said Mr. An.

Giếng Gai được che bóng bởi một cây to lớn, tán lá sum suê - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — Gai Well is shaded by a large tree with lush foliage - Photo: HOANG TAO

Below the water source, people created canals to bring water to the vegetable fields. Many children followed the canals, happily playing, swimming and bathing in the canals.

Mr. Le Phuoc Hieu - Vice Chairman of Gio An Commune People's Committee - said that on hot days, hundreds of people in the commune and neighboring districts come to bathe to cool off. The whole commune has 14 ancient Cham wells. In addition to the above 3 wells, many other wells also attract people to bathe.

Preserving 2,000-year-old Cham ancient well

In March 2024, Quang Tri province approved 3.2 billion VND to plan the preservation, renovation, and restoration of the Gio An water exploitation and treatment system (14 ancient wells).

The ancient water exploitation system of the Cham people in Gio An commune consists of 30 wells, using stacked stone material, with unique architecture. The wells serve the daily life and production of the people.

In 2001, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized 14 typical wells as national monuments. Up to now, Quang Tri has restored a number of ancient wells for tourism purposes.

The well is about 2,000 years old and is believed to have been built by the Cham people.

Hàng trăm người về các giếng cổ tắm mát - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — Hundreds of people come to ancient wells to cool off - Photo: HOANG TAO

Giếng Ông dưới bóng cây thị cổ thụ - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — Ong's Well under the shade of an ancient banyan tree - Photo: HOANG TAO

Phía bên dưới các giếng cổ là hệ thống dẫn nước và ruộng rau đặc sản của người dân Gio An - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — Below the ancient wells are the water supply system and specialty vegetable fields of Gio An people - Photo: HOANG TAO

Giếng Chăm cổ: dân bảo tồn tốt hơn Nhà nước

Ancient Cham wells: people preserve them better than the State

TTO - In Quang Tri, ancient Cham wells recognized as relics are continuously being vandalized, while many ancient wells that have not been recognized as relics are being carefully preserved by the people.

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