Success carved in limestone: Tourists flock to Ninh Van village
Dinh Thi Long has lived in her house in Ninh Van village for over 50 years, and is still getting used to the idea that it has become a major tourist attraction in the famous stone carving village in northern Ninh Binh province’s Hoa Lu district.
 |
The 100 year-old house, almost entirely built of natural blue stone, has attracted lots of tourists from Vietnam and abroad who are interested in the art of stone carving of this ancient capital.
Besides the red tiled-roof, almost all other parts of the house and its furniture were built in stone: from its walls and pillars, to its gate and fences.
The house was built by her husband’s grandfather who was a talented stone carver.
“He was invited to build the stone Phat Diem cathedral in Kim Son district of Ninh Binh province. After he finished building the cathedral, he invited the group of stone carvers (who built the cathedral with him) to his village to help him build his house,” recalls the 77 year-old woman.
It took them two years to build the house.
Nguyen Quang Dieu, who is head of the managing board of the stone carving village, says the house is unique in the region. “Many researchers and stone carvers have come here to study how the house was built,” he said.
The art of stone carving first appeared in Ninh Van commune four centuries ago, a natural development given that Ninh Binh is surrounded by spectacular limestone mountains.
In the past, stone carving was only practiced in a few households in the commune, and they mainly produced items made of blue stone, which were sold locally.
But gradually many people began to benefit from this industry.
