Promoting the value of ancient houses in tourism exploitation in Hong Ngu district

Updated date: 03/18/2025 04:28:41

DTO - Amidst the modern pace of life, ancient houses that are hundreds of years old are like witnesses of time, preserving many memories and cultural values. In Hong Ngu district, many ancient houses are still preserved intact, becoming attractive destinations for tourists from near and far. Among them, the ancient house over 130 years old in Long Khanh A commune, taken over and preserved by Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet, is not only the pride of his family but also contributes to creating a highlight in the journey of developing rural tourism in the locality.

The ancient house of Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet's family is over 100 years old, in Long Khanh A commune, Hong Ngu district.

Turn family heritage into tourism assets

According to the Department of Culture, Science and Information of Hong Ngu district, the locality currently has 18 ancient houses that are over 100 years old, of which Long Khanh A island commune accounts for the largest number with 14 houses. These houses are not only the residence of many generations but also historical markers, reflecting the lifestyle, activities and typical architecture of the southwestern region. In order to exploit the tourism potential of these heritages, in recent years, some owners of ancient houses have proactively opened their doors to welcome visitors to visit and take photos for free. This not only helps preserve cultural values ​​but also creates more attraction for community tourism, attracting many visitors, especially young people, to experience and learn about local history.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet (right cover) receives guests in his family's 130-year-old house (located in Long Khanh A commune, Hong Ngu district).

The 130-year-old house of Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet's family (located in Long Khanh A commune, Hong Ngu district) is one of the ancient houses that has attracted a large number of domestic and international tourists to visit and check-in recently. The house began construction in 1890 and was completed after 2 years with the help of skilled workers from Hue. The house is built entirely from precious woods such as: cam xe, ca cach, thao lao, huong wood... with bold traditional architecture with a 3-room style, 32 large wooden pillars, and a yin-yang tiled roof. In particular, all the details of the rafters, columns, wall panels, and louvers... are all meticulously carved by hand, without the use of screws or modern machinery.

Notably, inside the house, there are still many valuable relics that Mr. Viet’s grandparents passed down through the generations, from the mother-of-pearl inlaid altar, bronze incense burners, mother-of-pearl inlaid parallel sentences, to the elaborately carved wooden tables and chairs. The most valuable is the ancestral altar, a sacred place connecting generations in the family. All of these artifacts not only have artistic value but are also historical marks, reflecting the traditional cultural lifestyle of the ancient Southern people.

Exquisite mother of pearl inlaid altar

With the desire to preserve and promote the value of the ancient house, in 2024, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet proactively cooperated with the local government to open the house to visitors for free. When visiting the ancient house, visitors not only get to see a unique ancient architectural work with their own eyes, but also have the opportunity to learn about the history, culture, beliefs and lifestyle of the people of the Southwest region in the past. In addition to sightseeing, visitors can also experience the rustic, relaxing living space in the middle of a green island, breathe fresh air and listen to interesting stories from Mr. Viet himself, the son of the family, who is also the main narrator at the house.

In 2024 alone, Mr. Viet's ancient house welcomed hundreds of visitors, becoming one of the attractive stops for many tourist groups when coming to Long Khanh A commune, Hong Ngu district.

Young people's passion for their homeland's heritage

As the fifth generation in the family to take over the house, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet not only sees it as a material asset but also as a part of the family's soul. Mr. Viet shared: “After inheriting the house from my parents, I think I have the responsibility to preserve and further promote the good traditional values ​​of the family, because this is not only a keepsake of my grandparents but also a place that contains a part of the culture of my homeland. Therefore, as soon as the local government proposed to put the house into tourism exploitation, I was very happy to have the opportunity to promote the traditional values ​​of my family, and at the same time introduce to more people the cultural beliefs and ancient lifestyle of the people of Dong Thap. I am very happy to see more and more domestic and foreign tourists coming to visit. The attention of everyone not only gives me more motivation to continue preserving the house but also contributes to spreading the love of heritage to the younger generation”.

The wooden panels are meticulously and delicately hand-carved.

Not only opening the house to welcome visitors to visit and experience, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet is also planning to develop accommodation services at the ancient house. Mr. Viet hopes that visitors will not only visit but also stay overnight to truly immerse themselves in the old space, fully experiencing the old Southern countryside lifestyle.

In addition, in order to help young people better understand the culture and customs of the past, Mr. Viet takes advantage of social networks to promote the image of ancient houses as well as the unique cultural features of his hometown. Videos and articles introducing ancient house architecture, ancestor worship, or the simple life on Long Khanh A island by Mr. Viet are receiving the attention of many netizens, thereby contributing to bringing the image of tourism in Hong Ngu district closer to the community.

Promoting the family's cultural heritage in tourism development by Mr. Nguyen Hoang Viet is not only a story about the journey of preserving the ancient house, but also a testament to the sense of responsibility of the young generation towards the cultural heritage of their homeland, contributing to the sustainable development of local tourism.

My Ly

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/du-lich/phat-huy-gia-tri-nha-co-trong-khai-thac-du-lich-o-huyen-hong-ngu-129968.aspx