The traditonal house of ethnic minorities in Hoang Su Phi

We know that 12 ethnic groups live together in Hoang Su Phi, but it is not always easy to distinguish them at first glance. Beyond visible signs such as traditional costumes, the most fascinating way to understand their differences is to visit their houses, where you will discover unique living spaces shaped by culture, beliefs, and the mountainous environment.

The Nung People’s House

The Nung do not follow a single architectural style. Instead, their houses are inspired by different ethnic groups, resulting in several types of dwellings such as stilt houses, rammed-earth houses, and semi-stilt houses combined with rammed-earth walls, usually topped with yin-yang tiled roofs. In Hoang Su Phi, stilt houses are the most common among the Nung.

The house is divided into two main parts.

The upper floor is used for daily living, including the ancestral altar, a space to welcome guests and friends, and sometimes a sleeping area for men.

The lower space beneath the floor is reserved for livestock, poultry, and agricultural tools.

At the back of the house is the kitchen area and a resting space for the family.

The Nung house usually has two doors. The main door is connected to the staircase, while the second door leads to a bedroom or the kitchen. According to Nung philosophy, the number of steps on the staircase must be an odd number—commonly 3, 5, 7, or 9—symbolizing the spiritual balance between men and women in the family.

Nung houses are often built on the hillside, near rows of young trees, to prevent unexpected landslides and ensure stability.

The Dao People’s House

The Dao ethnic group consists of many local subgroups, such as Red Dao, Dao with Coin Decorations, Dao with Tight Trousers, Dao with White Trousers, Dao in Long Tunics, Dao Lo Giang, Dao Lan Tien, and Dao Thanh Y. Originating from China, the Dao migrated and settled in the mountainous areas of northern and northwestern Vietnam.

Although the Dao mainly live in high mountainous regions, many groups have gradually moved down to valleys over time. They usually choose flat or gently sloping land to avoid heavy earthwork. In Hoang Su Phi, you can mainly find houses of the Red Dao and the Dao in Long Tunics.

Red Dao Houses

A typical Red Dao house is divided into three sections:

The area near the entrance is reserved for welcoming visitors and includes sleeping spaces for men and boys.
The central section is where the ancestral altar is placed.
At the back is the kitchen and bathroom area. Above the kitchen, a small attic is built to store agricultural products.

These houses are entirely made of wood. One special feature is that they are designed to be easily dismantled and reassembled. If a family decides to move to another hillside, they can take apart the wooden beams and rebuild the house elsewhere. The roof is traditionally covered with yin-yang tiles, though cement tiles are sometimes used today. The house usually has a square layout.

Dao in Long Tunics Houses

Houses of the Dao in Long Tunics are composed of two levels: a living floor and a space underneath. The house has a rectangular shape.

The living floor is divided into two sections: one for receiving guests and placing the ancestral altar, and the other for the kitchen.

These two spaces are separated by a wooden wall and a door.

The kitchen is often located near an underground water source for convenience. Small windows are carefully arranged to provide ventilation and light.

These houses are typically built against the mountain, with a small courtyard and a pond in front, offering stunning views over terraced rice fields. A plum tree is often planted near the entrance gate, adding both beauty and symbolism.

The Hmong People’s House

In Hmong villages, you will commonly find rammed-earth houses surrounded by stone fences. Even without cement or sand, these stone fences are remarkably solid and serve as protective walls for the house. As a result, stone fences have become a distinctive architectural symbol of the Hmong people.

When the Hmong first arrived in Vietnam, most lowland areas were already inhabited by other ethnic groups. Therefore, they moved higher into the mountains, where they built their villages. Over time, the Hmong adapted to the harsh living conditions and maintained their strong sense of independence in remote highlands.

In Ha Giang, most Hmong people live in the northern districts such as Dong Van, Meo Vac, Quan Ba, Yen Minh, as well as in Xin Man and Hoang Su Phi.

Traditional Hmong houses are built directly on the ground, using local materials. They were commonly made of earth, sometimes with a wooden front façade. Typically, these houses have no windows, relying on the main door for light. The floor is often made of compacted earth, and there is usually no upper floor, only a small attic for storing food supplies.

However, in Ho Pien town of Hoang Su Phi, some Hmong families have built stilt houses with two levels, adapting their architecture to the terrain.

The La Chi People’s House

The La Chi live in villages, and each family’s dwelling is a unique architectural complex consisting of a stilt house, a ground-level structure, and a granary, all arranged within a narrow space. This combination of stilt house and ground-level house has become a distinct cultural identity of the La Chi people.

Each house features two overlapping roofs.

The stilt house is used as the main living area.

The ground-level structure is reserved for the kitchen.

Inside the stilt house, the space is divided into three sections, with a staircase located at the end of the gable next to the kitchen area. A large area is dedicated to the ancestral altar. The granary is used to store agricultural products such as rice, cotton, and farming tools.

A Living Heritage Of Mountain Architecture

All these houses are built from natural materials such as wood and bamboo, yet each ethnic group has its own architectural philosophy, creating remarkable diversity. The traditional houses of ethnic minorities in Vietnam’s highlands demonstrate a high level of architectural skill and aesthetic value. They are not only living spaces but also a vital cultural heritage that attracts travelers from around the world to explore the beauty of Hoang Su Phi and northern Vietnam.