Dien Bien (VNA) - Muong Lay township in northwestern Dien Bien province has officially set a record as the locality with the highest density of traditional stilt houses built by the White Thai ethnic minority group.
Speaking at the record announcement ceremony on May 8, Acting Chairman of the Muong Lay People's Committee Nguyen Dat Long said the township is a land rich in history and cultural traditions, home to a diverse population of ethnic groups, among which the White Thai make up a significant portion. The local community has jointly built thousands of traditional stilt houses, forming a distinctive architectural complex that harmoniously blends contemporary life with the traditional cultural space of the Northwestern mountains.
These stilt houses are primarily constructed from high-quality wood. Roofs are made with a variety of local materials such as thatch, black stone tiles, clay tiles, corrugated iron, and other materials. Thanks to traditional craftsmanship, precise calculation skills, and strong community solidarity, local people have built sturdy stilt houses that typically cluster at the foot of mountains, along valleys, or near vast rice fields. These form cohesive village communities that share a common cultural foundation, helping to preserve and develop the ethnic identity.
Currently, Muong Lay has 1,192 households living in traditional stilt houses out of a total of 3,198 families, with a stilt house density of approximately 10.58 houses per square kilometre, significantly higher than in other areas with White Thai populations. This confirms Muong Lay as the area with the greatest concentration of traditional stilt houses of the White Thai people.
Vice Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People's Committee Pham Duc Toan highlighted that the establishment of this national record underscores the profound cultural value of White Thai stilt houses in Muong Lay. These structures are not merely dwellings, but sacred cultural symbols deeply intertwined with the spiritual life of the community. The recognition elevates the stilt house to the status of a "living museum," preserving an invaluable trove of folk knowledge, traditional architecture, and indigenous cultural values, he noted.
Looking ahead, local authorities are encouraged to capitalise on this recognition to promote tourism development, thereby improving both material and spiritual living standards for residents. It is also essential to nurture and maintain the unique customs and rituals of the White Thai people, such as the Then Kin Pang Festival, Xoe dance, and folk singing, to preserve the cultural soul of the nation and enhance the heritage value of the White Thai stilt houses in Muong Lay./
