Given the value and tourism development potential of Thach Khuyen stone village, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and encourage the people to preserve and maintain traditional lifestyles.
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Thach Khuyen stone village in Xut Le commune, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province. (Source: Realtimes)
Thach Khuyen Stone Village, located in Xuat Le commune, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province, has long been famous for its stone structures that have stood for centuries. Over time, the Party committee, government, and people of Xuat Le commune have implemented various measures to preserve and maintain the unique and ancient beauty of this stone village.
Thach Khuyen village currently has 115 households with 532 inhabitants, mainly of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. Upon arriving at the stone village, we saw firsthand stone walls with foundations 3 meters wide, and stones of various sizes stacked on top of each other without any binding material. The stones here are used for paving roads, building fences, reinforcing pond banks, and securing rice field embankments…
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The ancient stone village possesses a beauty that is both wild and ancient, yet also fascinating and unique.
There are large stones, weighing several hundred kilograms, many covered in moss, showcasing the ancient charm and serving as proof of the village's enduring existence for over 300 years. It is known that the total length of the stone wall surrounding Thach Khuyen village is over 1,000 meters.
In the village, there are still five houses with rammed earth walls, a typical architectural style of traditional houses of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. These houses are made of thick, sturdy earthen walls, roofed with yin-yang tiles, and are 1-2 stories high. Inside, the houses are equipped with a system of secure door latches and bolts; the attic floor has loopholes for defense.
Pointing to the rows of stones in front of his house, 65-year-old Tang Van Hao shared: "Since I was born, I've heard stories from my ancestors about these stone walls. 'Thach' means stone, 'khuyen' means circle, a circular stone wall around the village, to protect the lives and property of the villagers. The elders recounted that the stone village was built by the villagers in the early 19th century to protect them from robbers and bandits. Previously, the stone walls surrounding the village were about 4-5 meters high, built in two sturdy layers. The village, with its stone structures, has become a source of pride for us whenever someone asks about the unique features of our homeland."
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Mr. Hao stands beside the stone fence of his house. (Source: Lang Son Newspaper)
Like Mr. Hao, more than 500 residents of Thach Khuyen village are proud of their stone village. These stones have witnessed the transformation of the village from the past to the present. Because of these significant events, the Thach Khuyen site within the Ba Son Guerrilla Zone has been classified as a provincial-level historical site according to Decision No. 41/2002/QD-UBND dated October 2, 2002, of the Provincial People's Committee. The Thach Khuyen village site has also been included in the historical site inventory within the Ba Son Guerrilla Zone historical site according to Decision No. 73/QD-UBND dated October 10, 2019, of the Provincial People's Committee on approving and publishing the list of historical sites in the province.
However, over time, the stone village is no longer as intact as it once was due to the increasing pace of urbanization. The stone roads have been replaced by long stretches of concrete roads, and the walls that were once 4-5 meters high are now only about 1-2 meters high. Nevertheless, the Party Committee, the government of Cao Loc district, Xut Le commune, and the people here are always aware of the important role the stone village plays in the spiritual life of the people, and therefore, in recent times, they have implemented solutions to preserve the stone village.
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The stones were stacked to create a sturdy fence. (Source: Realtimes)
Mr. To Van Tuan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Xut Le commune, said: "In recent years, we have proactively propagated to the people the preservation and restoration of the stone fences before they are eroded, and encouraged people to actively maintain environmental hygiene, regularly weeding and picking up trash in the stone village... Thereby, contributing to preserving the beauty of the stone structures that our ancestors built."
In addition, to make the stone carving village more widely known, the district authorities are also paying attention to the preservation and promotion of its value. Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong Hue, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Cao Loc district, said: "With the desire to preserve and spread the beauty of Thach Khuyen stone carving village to the general public, at the beginning of 2023, we coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to survey and research the exploitation of tourism potential here. At the same time, we coordinated with the People's Committee of the commune to call on organizations and individuals to invest in building a community tourism model here. In the future, a community tourism village will be formed to preserve the value of the stone carving village as well as promote the economic development of the people."
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This village still has many traditional rammed-earth houses of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups. (Source: New Rural Magazine)
Given the value and tourism development potential of Thach Khuyen stone village, in the coming time, the district and commune authorities need to continue to pay attention to and encourage social investment in preserving the pristine beauty of the relic. At the same time, they should strengthen propaganda and mobilize the people to preserve and maintain the traditions of Thach Khuyen stone village. This will help the stone village truly become a cultural tourism destination attracting a large number of tourists from inside and outside the province to visit and experience it.
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