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Ngoc Son Ancient House - a masterpiece of sculpture in an ancient village along the Lam River

Huy Thu • June 18, 2025 21:14

Having existed for a long time, the hundred-year-old ancient houses in Ngoc Son commune, Thanh Chuong are being preserved quite intact by the people. What is special is that the wooden frames of these houses are carved and carved quite uniquely.

In the ancient village of Ngoc Son, there is a house that has stood for 106 years. Five generations of a family have grown up and lived under this roof. In recent times, although many people have offered a high price, the owner has still firmly refused to sell. Photo: Huy Thu

It is not just a house, but a living "treasure", preserving the soul and sculptural masterpieces of a once famous carpentry village. The story of the "treasure" that has not been sold for a hundred years is the house of Mr. Le Dinh Vi's family in Thach Son hamlet. Mr. Vi said that the house was built by his grandfather, Mr. Tuynh, 106 years ago. "This is a memory of our ancestors, of the whole family, no matter how much money we have, we will not sell it," Mr. Vi affirmed. Photo: Huy Thu

What makes the house priceless is not only its 5-generation history, but also its unique architectural details, where each piece of wood seems to "tell a story". Right on both sides of the porch, stylized dragons and flowers have been carved softly and gracefully. The strong, channel-shaped carvings bear the typical mark of Nguyen Dynasty sculpture. Photo: Huy Thu

Visiting the house, visitors will be overwhelmed by a space of sophisticated sculptures: from the door frames to the rafters, everywhere you will see traditional themes such as coiled dragons, bamboo dragons, tiger faces, phoenixes... Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Vi shared: The density of sculptures on the wooden frame is quite thick, conveying many humanistic messages about life. Born and raised in an ancient house, until now he still does not fully understand the meaning and symbolism of all the sculpture themes expressed by the ancients. Photo: Huy Thu

The houses in Ngoc Son, including Mr. Vi's house, are designed in the style of four pillars: 3 compartments, 4 rafters, 16 columns, and roofed with yin-yang tiles. A unique feature is that the middle compartment has two "hidden columns" (columns that do not touch the ground but are supported by a wooden pedestal) to create an airy space. Photo: Huy Thu

Chính phần bệ đỡ của hai cột trốn này cũng được chạm trổ, trang trí vô cùng cầu kỳ, cho thấy tài hoa của những người thợ làng Ngọc Sơn xưa... Ảnh; Huy Thư — The pedestal of these two pillars is also carved and decorated very elaborately, showing the talent of the craftsmen of Ngoc Son village in the past. Photo: Huy Thu

It is known that in the past, Ngoc Son village had a prosperous life, many people passed their studies. Women and girls worked hard on rice and corn, and diligently raised silkworms and weaved silk. Men and boys were good at plowing and harrowing, and skillful at carpentry. The village's carpentry was not only famous in the region and district, but also spread to the whole province: "Nghi Loc sawyer, Ngoc Son carpenter". Photo: Huy Thu

Not only Mr. Vi's house, Ngoc Son village also has other ancient houses with profound historical value. Like the house where Mr. Nguyen Van Huy (94 years old) is living, built in 1876 under the reign of King Tu Duc. On the roof, there is still a clear inscription in Chinese characters: "Binh Ti nien tao tac, quy xuan nguyet lac thanh". Photo: Huy Thu

Over the past century, to adapt to modern life, people have raised the floor and re-tiled the roof, but the wooden frame - the "soul" of the house - is still preserved almost intact. The middle room is still the most solemn place, used to place the family altar and receive guests. The inner room is used as a sleeping place. The wooden doors in the style of "upper double lower panel" stained with time still open and close every day. Photo: Huy Thu

bna_11(2).jpg — Compared to many other places, Ngoc Son ancient house has a very unique feature. It is the blend of folk house architecture and sophisticated royal sculpture, demonstrating the master craftsmanship of a famous carpentry village on the banks of Lam River. It is the stories about the family and the craft village that make the houses no longer inanimate objects, but have become lively, attractive, and proud heritages. Photo: Huy Thu

The front of the old house of Mr. Le Dinh Vi's family. Video: Huy Thu

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