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Khuối Ky Stone Village (Đàm Thủy, Trùng Khánh) is an ethereal Tày ethnic village, where the ritual of stone worship harmonizes with houses crafted entirely from stone, creating a space that exudes both ancient charm and unparalleled uniqueness in the border region.
Khuối Ky Stone Village – a 400-year-old stone-crafted hamlet on the borderlands of Cao Bằng
Khuối Ky Stone Village is located on Provincial Road 206 leading to Ngườm Ngao Cave, just 2km from Ban Gioc Waterfall. This ancient village emerged between 1594 and 1677 when the Mạc family fled from Thang Long to Cao Bằng, constructing stone houses as defensive fortresses. Presently, Khuối Ky is home to 16 Tày families residing in 14 stone houses built in the 16th century, with architecture still preserved from its inception.
In the Tày language, Khuối Ky translates to a small stream, symbolizing the stream flowing directly in front of the village, with stone mountains in the background. The pathway leading into the village is paved with flat stones, and intricate stone fences separate the houses. In an area of approximately 10,000m2, the houses in Khuối Ky Stone Village cluster together, surrounded by cultivated land.
The tradition of building houses with stone stems from the Tày people's reverence for the stone deity, a guardian of their peaceful life. It takes about 2 – 3 years to construct a stone house. Each house is typically 5 – 7m tall, consisting of 2 floors. The lower floor has sturdy wooden columns erected securely on stone foundations. The roof is tiled with both yin and yang, ensuring the stone houses stay cool in summer and warm in winter.
The architecture of homes in Khuối Ky Stone Village comprises three main sections, each separated by wooden frames for convenience in daily activities. The house's foundation is crafted from flat stones, and the base supporting the columns is meticulously processed stone. For the Tày people in Trung Khanh, the elevated house is a sacred space, preserving distinctive characteristics passed down through many generations.
Stone in Khuối Ky is present everywhere, serving not only for constructing houses but also for daily utensils within families, such as grinding mortars, kitchen stoves, or building fences and water mills. Therefore, the Tày community in Cao Bằng dedicates specific days for rituals, expressing gratitude to the stone deity. They perceive stone as the origin of life and the center of the universe; humans are born from stone and transform into stone after death.
In 2008, Khuối Ky Stone Village was officially recognized as the 'Exemplary Traditional Cultural Village of the Minority Community.' Since 2016, thanks to increased attention and investment, the residents have eagerly learned about community tourism. Currently, 14 families from Khuối Ky actively participate in tourism activities. Despite the changes, the community consistently reminds each other to preserve the ethnic identity, which remains the core attraction of this stone village on the borderlands.
According to Mytour
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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour
MytourDecember 12, 2023
