Bac Hoa village – A rustic beauty in the Northern Highlands

Bac Hoa village has nearly 160 households with more than 700 residents, most of whom belong to the Nung ethnic group. Seventeen families still preserve their traditional rammed-earth houses topped with ancient yin–yang tiled roofs.

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Many of these houses are hundreds of years old, constructed entirely from earth without beams or supporting pillars. Though weathered by time, the yin–yang tiled roofs remain intact and sturdy amid the surrounding mountains and forests.

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A distinctive feature of Nung rammed-earth architecture in Bac Hoa is its use of entirely natural materials and its simple yet practical design.

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The house walls are made of tightly compacted clay mixed with molasses, measuring approximately 40–50cm thick and 2–3m high.

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The thick earthen walls contribute to the durability of the structure.

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The roofs are covered with traditional yin–yang tiles.

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Lang Quoc Ky, a local resident of Bac Hoa village, says that these rammed-earth houses are warm in winter and cool in summer, making them well-suited to the mountainous climate and the living habits of the Nung people. Building such houses requires three months to more than half a year, depending on their size and scale.

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While distilling corn liquor, Luong Thi Lan, another villager, explains that yin–yang tiles are both an architectural symbol and a distinctive cultural feature of the Nung community. The tiles are handmade from locally sourced clay and fired with wood in traditional kilns over several days and nights, resulting in durable roofing that keeps houses cool in summer and warm in winter.

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“Yin–yang tiles consist of two types, including the concave ‘yin’ tile placed face up and the convex ‘yang’ tile laid on top. Together they create grooves that allow for quick drainage and ventilation. This roofing style symbolises harmony between heaven and earth, and between yin and yang in our Nung philosophy of life,” Lan explains.

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The interior space of the compacted clay houses.

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Vi Van An, chairman of Tan Son Commune People’s Committee, shares that located along National Highway 279, the commune benefits from convenient trade connections and ample land resources for fruit cultivation and eco-tourism development.

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He notes that with its revolutionary traditions and patriotic spirit, the people of Tan Son continue to strengthen unity and nurture aspirations for development.

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Bold decisions by the local administration helps to drive inclusive growth and lay a solid foundation for long-term socio-economic development in the years ahead.