(TITC) - In early autumn of September, Khuoi Ky village (Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district, Cao Bang province) is covered by a fragile and pure beauty. A small stream bending through the village, each bush of blooming wildflowers under the sun and stone stilt houses have become attractive features to the visitors.
"Stone village" and the custom of worshiping stone god
Under the guidance of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang, we paid a visit to Khuoi Ky village which located between two famous tourist destinations of Cao Bang that are Ban Gioc Waterfall (about 2km away from this site) and Nguom Ngao Cave. The name "Stone Village" and the custom of worshiping the stone god of the local people have become a special attraction to the visitors to explore and experience.
Strolling on the bridge over Khuoi Ky stream, "stone village" appears with stilt houses that are made of stone and have been existed over hundreds of years. It is known that 100% of the population of Khuoi Ky now are Tay people.
According to the locals, the custom of using stone of the Tay people dated back more than 600 years ago. Back to the years from 1594 to1677, when the Mac dynasty came to Cao Bang and built a defensive citadel, the stilt houses began to be built solidly as "fortresses". Experiencing many ups and downs in the history and throughout the time, the stilt houses still retain their pristine beauty with the ancient and serene appearance in the immense space of the boundary mountain and forest.
The stilt houses in Khuoi Ky village are quite special, the walls and steps are made of stone, the roofs are made of yin and yang tile, the pillars are made of iron-wood blocks, hewn and rounded. Inside the house is wooden frame dividing into typical living spaces of the Tay people including ancestor worshipping area, kitchen (common room) and bedrooms for each member of the family. Normally, it takes 2 to 3 years from the preparation of raw materials to the completion of a stone stilt house. Therefore, each fold of the stilt house is created by skilful hands, by the hard-working, creativity and aesthetics of the ethnic minorities.
To the Tay in Trung Khanh, stone is like a god helping to protect people from the harshness of nature, bring about prosperous life and good crops. Therefore, every year, the Tay people have certain days to make sacrifices to thank the stone gods and forest gods…The custom of worshipping stone god also expresses the awareness of the community’s responsibility beyond the mother of the nature.
With this in mind, the people of Khuoi Ky village have the habit of using stone as an indispensable material in their daily life. Tourists will be surprised when coming to Khuoi Ky as stone is everywhere, from the smooth paved roads, fences, tables and chairs, to the fire cookers, mill, mortar ... and indispensable houses on stilts which are the most outstanding point here.
Attractive community-based tourism village
Khuoi Ky village has 15 stone stilt houses. Besides the one that are under reconstruction, many are still reserved originally as they were hundreds years ago. Currently, Khuoi Ky has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a typical traditional cultural village of the ethnic minorities.
Taking advantage of the natural beauty and ethnic culture, Khuoi Ky’s households started to develop community-based tourism with their first homestay operated in September 2017.
Realizing that the development of homestays contributes to the development of the households’ economy, the improvement of the life’s quality as well as the introduction and promotion of the unique culture of the Tay people to numerous tourists, Dam Thuy commune has cooperated with the Rural Development Center of Trung Khanh District to support households to borrow money to repair houses for tourism. In the period of 2017-2018, Khuoi Ky village has 3 households entitled to this policy.
"Stone village" and the custom of worshiping stone god
Under the guidance of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Cao Bang, we paid a visit to Khuoi Ky village which located between two famous tourist destinations of Cao Bang that are Ban Gioc Waterfall (about 2km away from this site) and Nguom Ngao Cave. The name "Stone Village" and the custom of worshiping the stone god of the local people have become a special attraction to the visitors to explore and experience.
Strolling on the bridge over Khuoi Ky stream, "stone village" appears with stilt houses that are made of stone and have been existed over hundreds of years. It is known that 100% of the population of Khuoi Ky now are Tay people.
According to the locals, the custom of using stone of the Tay people dated back more than 600 years ago. Back to the years from 1594 to1677, when the Mac dynasty came to Cao Bang and built a defensive citadel, the stilt houses began to be built solidly as "fortresses". Experiencing many ups and downs in the history and throughout the time, the stilt houses still retain their pristine beauty with the ancient and serene appearance in the immense space of the boundary mountain and forest.
The stilt houses in Khuoi Ky village are quite special, the walls and steps are made of stone, the roofs are made of yin and yang tile, the pillars are made of iron-wood blocks, hewn and rounded. Inside the house is wooden frame dividing into typical living spaces of the Tay people including ancestor worshipping area, kitchen (common room) and bedrooms for each member of the family. Normally, it takes 2 to 3 years from the preparation of raw materials to the completion of a stone stilt house. Therefore, each fold of the stilt house is created by skilful hands, by the hard-working, creativity and aesthetics of the ethnic minorities.
To the Tay in Trung Khanh, stone is like a god helping to protect people from the harshness of nature, bring about prosperous life and good crops. Therefore, every year, the Tay people have certain days to make sacrifices to thank the stone gods and forest gods…The custom of worshipping stone god also expresses the awareness of the community’s responsibility beyond the mother of the nature.
With this in mind, the people of Khuoi Ky village have the habit of using stone as an indispensable material in their daily life. Tourists will be surprised when coming to Khuoi Ky as stone is everywhere, from the smooth paved roads, fences, tables and chairs, to the fire cookers, mill, mortar ... and indispensable houses on stilts which are the most outstanding point here.
Attractive community-based tourism village
Khuoi Ky village has 15 stone stilt houses. Besides the one that are under reconstruction, many are still reserved originally as they were hundreds years ago. Currently, Khuoi Ky has been recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a typical traditional cultural village of the ethnic minorities.
Taking advantage of the natural beauty and ethnic culture, Khuoi Ky’s households started to develop community-based tourism with their first homestay operated in September 2017.
Realizing that the development of homestays contributes to the development of the households’ economy, the improvement of the life’s quality as well as the introduction and promotion of the unique culture of the Tay people to numerous tourists, Dam Thuy commune has cooperated with the Rural Development Center of Trung Khanh District to support households to borrow money to repair houses for tourism. In the period of 2017-2018, Khuoi Ky village has 3 households entitled to this policy.
While quickly preparing the dishes to serve tourists, Mr. Nong Van Tho, Quang Thuan homestay owner shared that his stone stilt house has been built more than 50 years now. In early 2019, he and his wife renovated their house, upgraded the rooms and purchased additional items to run the accommodation business. According to Mr. Tho, visitors, especially international ones, find it interesting and exciting to experience the traditional culture of the Tay people in Khuoi Ky.
In addition to Quang Thuan homestay, Khuoi Ky village now has 7 households supplying homestay service as well as beverage, bedding and resting services at the price of 100,000 to 200,000 Vietnamese dongs per day. At Khuoi Ky, visitors not only do sight-seeing at the "unique" stilt houses but also experience the cultural and artistic activities, go fishing with the locals, pick up bamboo shoots, or explore local culinary through attractive dishes such as smoked pork or "pork hung up in kitchen", glutinous rice cake, grilled stream fish ...
In addition to the houses serviced as tourist accommodations, the large community stilt house located in the middle of the village has also become biggest space for tourists. Here, the households will cooperate with each other to serve the guests with food, accommodation, organize and guide them to participate in cultural activities such as Then singing, gourd lute (a stringed musical instrument), “Sli” singing...
In the chilly weather of the autumn, Khuoi Ky village, leans against the base of a majestic limestone mountain and stands behind a clear stream which flits about. The natural picture of this peaceful and beautiful mountainous area is just the same as the simple life of the people here.
Tourism Information Technology Center