Na Reo is beautiful with its traditional houses

Built between the 1960s and the present day, these houses have been relatively well-preserved and blend harmoniously with the landscape. The Na Reo group consists of more than 30 households of the Dao Tien ethnic group living together. Life here is very slow and peaceful. Between the tranquil mountain scenery, the simple houses stand neatly arranged, with their distinctive yellow color.

Earthen houses are made from clay mixed with sand, sourced from fertile, smooth soil free of pebbles and stones. Mixing the soil and water thoroughly, put it into a wooden mold, and then “press” (compress) it layer by layer to create a wall 40-50 cm thick. These handcrafted techniques help keep the house warm in winter and cool in summer, ensuring its durability over time and protection from wind, rain and mountain mist. The gable ends of the house are often hammered into an attractive arch shape. According to the Dao Tien people's belief, the land is where people are born and nurtured, so they must live with the land, therefore, their houses are also built from the soil of their homeland, as sturdy and resilient as those of the highlanders.

The structure of a traditional rammed earth house is usually made of ironwood or chestnut wood, joined together with delicate wooden joints, almost without using iron nails. The roof of the house is covered with yin-yang tiles, creating a rustic look that harmonizes with nature. The interior of the house is usually divided into three sections, creating separate living spaces. The central room is usually used for the ancestral altar, while the other two rooms are for living, resting and storing the family’s farming tools. Inside the house, there is a passageway leading down to the kitchen, in the center of which a fire burns brightly all year round, the Dao Tien ethnic group considers this a symbol of life and reunion.

The Dao Tien ethnic group always considers the kitchen the soul of the family; newborn babies are kept warm for three days, drawing warmth from the earth. Every evening, Dao Tien families sit by the fireplace, sharing stories about the past and present, teaching their children to live honestly and love hard work. Although the house with earthen walls is simple, it always exudes a warm and cozy atmosphere. In that same house, the yellow walls combined with the warmth of the firelight, creating a cozy space where generations of Dao Tien people grew up.

The rammed earth houses are a living heritage; within each layer of soil lie stories of labor, beliefs and community relationships of the Dao ethnic group who lives here. The house is not just a place to express folk knowledge about how people behave naturally. They utilize readily available materials such as soil, stone, and wood to create an environmentally friendly, energy-efficient living space that perfectly adapts to the harsh climate of the high mountain region.

The traditional houses of the Dao Tien ethnic group in Cao Bang province are typically small and compact, with low roofs and thick earthen walls that keep them warm in winter. Compared to the rammed earth houses of the Hmong or Tay people, the architecture of the Dao Tien ethnic group’s houses is simpler, less decorated, but still durable and suitable for the rocky mountainous terrain.

The rammed earth houses, the warm, earthen homes of the Dao Tien ethnic group in Cao Bang province are a vivid testament to human creativity in adapting to nature. It is not just a place of shelter, but also a cultural symbol, a community memory and a source of national pride.

Between the hustle and bustle of modern life, these traditional earthen houses still stand there, silently telling stories of the bond between land and people, of the philosophy of yin and yang, regarding community spirit and neighborly relations. That is the uniqueness, the lasting value that we need to cherish.

With its charming traditional houses, Na Reo attracts many tourists as an impressive destination./.