“Stone Fence” Unique Culture of Hmong Dong Van Stone Plateau

Nga Do
Who once to Ha Giang really were impressed with life in the Plateau, Plateau in Ha Giang has long been attached to the rugged mountains horns, H’mong people here live with the ice and rock regarded as a close friend so … .. Four sides are stone, causing the rocks to become loving, attached to so many people’s lives. And through the hands of human ingenuity, stone here becomes the artwork. Which of her works of art, not to mention the image of the stone fence of H’Mong in Meo Vac Dong Van district.

Ha Giang is beautiful and charming with not only rocks and wild nature, but also special cultures of ethnic people, especially the H’Mong people, whose traditional houses are remarkable.

Coming to the upland in the districts of Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh …, visitors will easily see the beautiful stone fences protecting the house of the Hmong . Rough, rugged, angular stones are hand-picked and skillfully rearranged to form adjacent solid and stone fences. The most unique thing here is that these stones are kept almost as intact as what is available. Therefore, Hmong men have to spent a great deal of time selecting and arranging the stones really fit together to create a solid stone barrier.

Folklore researchers have observed that the H’mong stone fence in the Dong Van Plateau had “broken” all the usual rules of construction. Normally, people always need adhesives to build and form blocks but their stone fence is made up of small rough stones with different shapes and angles by the natural bonding. Absolutely no need for cement or sand, they are stacked according to a law of their own and “cling” together firmly to overcome thunderstorms and harsh weather on the plateau.

The height and width of the stone fence are depend on the specific location. Most of the stone fences in Dong Van Plateau are all over 1 meter in width and  about 2 meters in height. Therefore, these stone fences cannot be finished in a couple of days. It takes long to finish them, even up to to a year. Under the skillful hands of the Mong people, the stones are self-aligned, stick themselves together to form a stronghold. There were curious visitors trying to push the stone barrier and then even be more amazing, admirable because of its solid. The stones are so cleverly arranged that they hold each other firmly.

In addition, the stone fence has become a unique architectural feature of Dong Van plateau. Especially in the spring, the stone fence is decorated with the white of plum blossom, pink of peach blossom. Colorful dresses of Hmong women hang on the stone fence like fresh flowers that stand out from the forest.

The stone fence has become an indispensable part in the life of the Hmong, who were born and raised in rocky mountains.  It’s still cherished and preserved as a traditional culture of Ha Giang.

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