Ancient houses belonging to families on Ly Son island in the centralprovince of Quang Ngai preserve valuable evidence and documents onthe national sovereignty of Hoang Sa archipelago. Hundreds of years havegone by and now the houses are in need of restoration.
The house of Duong Quang Dinh’s family in Tay village, An Hai commune is 150 years old.
Dinh’sfamily is living in the house and worshiping their ancestors, many ofwhom served in the fleet that patrolled Hoang Sa-Bac Hai ( North Sea ).
Dinh said he spends about 20 million VND each year on repairs and parts of the house have been damaged by time.
VoHien Dat is the only artisan on Ly Son island who can make boatsmodeled after those used by the Hoang Sa Fleet. After 80 years in theancient house, Dat is tormented by its continual degradation. His houseis also more than 150 years old.
He confided thathis family will continue to restore the house because it bears thenation’s cultural identity and expressed hopes that the State willprovide financial assistance to preserve the old house.
Ly Son has 24 ancient houses. Each is a miniature museum of evidenceand documents that affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Saarchipelago. These documents have been preserved by Ly Son islandfamilies for hundreds of years.
Pham Thi Huong,Vice Chairwoman of the Ly Son district People’s Committee, said topreserve these ancient houses, the Ly Son district People’s Committeehas proposed measures to the provincial Department of Culture, Sportsand Tourism to restore them and encourage the owners to keep theirarchitecture in tact.
The ancient houses on Ly Sonisland have been degraded by time. The local families need assistancefrom relevant agencies so that the houses and valuable Hoang Sa Fleetdocuments can be preserved.-VNA
The house of Duong Quang Dinh’s family in Tay village, An Hai commune is 150 years old.
Dinh’sfamily is living in the house and worshiping their ancestors, many ofwhom served in the fleet that patrolled Hoang Sa-Bac Hai ( North Sea ).
Dinh said he spends about 20 million VND each year on repairs and parts of the house have been damaged by time.
VoHien Dat is the only artisan on Ly Son island who can make boatsmodeled after those used by the Hoang Sa Fleet. After 80 years in theancient house, Dat is tormented by its continual degradation. His houseis also more than 150 years old.
He confided thathis family will continue to restore the house because it bears thenation’s cultural identity and expressed hopes that the State willprovide financial assistance to preserve the old house.
Ly Son has 24 ancient houses. Each is a miniature museum of evidenceand documents that affirm Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Saarchipelago. These documents have been preserved by Ly Son islandfamilies for hundreds of years.
Pham Thi Huong,Vice Chairwoman of the Ly Son district People’s Committee, said topreserve these ancient houses, the Ly Son district People’s Committeehas proposed measures to the provincial Department of Culture, Sportsand Tourism to restore them and encourage the owners to keep theirarchitecture in tact.
The ancient houses on Ly Sonisland have been degraded by time. The local families need assistancefrom relevant agencies so that the houses and valuable Hoang Sa Fleetdocuments can be preserved.-VNA
