Vietnamese stilt house in France

(Baonghean) -Since 1993, Nghe An and Côte D'Amor province (France) have established friendly relations, and have achieved remarkable results. The highlight of the cooperation between the two provinces is the construction in Côte D'Amor of a traditional stilt house of the Thai ethnic group in Western Nghe An, transported from Ham village, Nam Son commune, Quy Hop district. This is the first and only model of a stilt house of the Thai ethnic group in Nghe An in Vietnam in Europe.

The stilt house was built at the Trégomeur Zoo Center - the largest park in the Côte D'Amor province in Northwest France. The inauguration ceremony was held on June 27, 2010 with the support of the French - Vietnamese Cultural Center in Paris. Leaders of Côte D'Amor province, the Vietnamese Ambassador to France, the People's Committee of Nghe An province, the Côte D'Amor - Vietnam Friendship Association, a large number of overseas Vietnamese and French people attended the ceremony to welcome the presence of a traditional Vietnamese cultural feature in France. On the inauguration day, the stilt house of the Thai ethnic group in Nghe An attracted a large number of visitors to visit and learn about it. On this occasion, the authorities of Côte D'Amor province and the Côte D'Amor - Vietnam Association also organized cultural exchange activities, lion dances, and introduced Vietnamese cuisine...

The stilt house at the Trésgomeur Zoo Center (province)Côte D'Amor,France). Photo: PV

The stilt house consists of 3 rooms: the outside is the living room, the middle room is the family's living area, the last room is the place to put the loom with a model of a Thai woman in traditional costumes. In addition, there is a two-story kitchen, arranged with Thai ethnic kitchen utensils, and a pair of free-range pigs in the yard. The surrounding landscape is very Vietnamese with bamboo hedges, bamboo fences... The architecture and landscape of the house have restored and preserved almost intact the basic features in the lifestyle and spiritual life of the Thai people in Nghe An.

The construction of the Thai stilt house in France contributes to promoting the traditional culture of the Thai people in Western Nghe An to the French people as well as friends around the world, is a cultural exchange between Vietnam and France, helping international friends understand more about the culture and customs of our country. This is the only Vietnamese stilt house in Europe, representing the beauty of the Thai people in Nghe An in a foreign land; thereby, proving that the culture of the Thai people in Western Nghe An is highly appreciated by the French people. This is also a vivid demonstration of the friendly and cooperative relationship between Nghe An and Côte D'Amor; a bridge connecting the two cultures of Vietnam and France./.

Kim Lien

(Nghe An Department of Foreign Affairs)