Vu Mi Ho, a H’mong man from Can Chu Phin, Meo Vac, shared, “To lay stones, you must understand them. If your hand is unsteady, the wall will collapse. Without passion, you cannot do it.” For highlanders, stacking stones is not only labor but also an art form and a spiritual act of preserving their heritage.
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Stone fences are found throughout villages in Ha Giang. |
In the serene village setting, an elderly woman rests by a stone fence, children play in an earthen yard, and plum and peach trees bloom beside moss-covered walls, a scene both rustic and poetic. Here, people live in harmony with the mountains, forests, stones, and nature.
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Each stone is hand-stacked, forming sturdy walls against the rain and sun. |
Each stone is hand-stacked, forming sturdy walls that endure rain and sun. However, steel fences and brick walls are beginning to replace these traditional structures. With labor shortages and limited land, younger generations show less enthusiasm for stone stacking, putting this living heritage at risk of fading.
To address this, Ha Giang province has implemented measures to preserve this unique cultural identity, including promoting community-based tourism linked to stone fences, organizing festivals and competitions, and providing financial support for repairs under the new rural development program. Cultural villages like Pa Vi Ha in Meo Vac and Lo Lo Chai in Dong Van have maintained their traditional architecture, becoming popular destinations for domestic and international tourists.
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Vu Mi Ho (in white), from San Si Lung village, Can Chu Phin commune (Meo Vac, Ha Giang), talking about building stone fences of H’mong people |
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The community cultural house in San Si Lung surrounded by stone fences |
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When the spring comes, peach blossoms bloom beside moss-covered stone fences. |
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H’mong people in Ha Giang have preserved their traditional architecture - the stone fence. |
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A homestay in Meo Vac building stone fences around houses |
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A stone fence attracts tourists to check-in. |
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The beauty of H’mong people by the stone fence |
Amid the rapid pace of modern life, stone fences stand quiet, resilient, and proud, much like the highlanders themselves. Preserving these stones means preserving the land, the people, and the sacred soul of Vietnam’s northernmost region.
Translated by Quynh Oanh