From Da River da to tiled roof
From large stone blocks along the Da River to the cliffs, through the skillful hands of craftsmen, beautiful and extremely durable stone tiles have been produced, creating a unique architectural feature of the stilt houses in Muong Lay. To learn about this special profession, we went to the stone gathering and production area in Song Da ward, Muong Lay town, Dien Bien province.
Amid the sound of a stone cutting machine, Mr. Lo Van Truong (47 years old, owner of a stone making facility) said: "This is a type of stone taken from stone paths on mountains or from the Da River, with a structure of many layers, when the stone is first exploited, it is quite soft and flexible, so it is easy to cut it into thin layers and cut into the desired shape".
With more than 30 years in the profession, Mr. Truong - said that the stone tile production process seems simple but requires meticulousness and experience. The large blocks of stone were initially put into the cutting machine. The craftsman will cut the stone into panels according to the prescribed size.
The process of cracking and separating the stone into thick layers suitable for the common size of 20x20cm or 30x30cm requires technique and strength, completely done by hand. Then, the two opposite ends of the square are cut into strips to create joints when roofing.
At Mr. Truong's facility, there are 7-8 types of finished stone, the selling price of rooftop stone ranges from 100,000 VND/m2. "The facility to buy back local people's stones is most convenient in the dry season, the peak season is the receding season, when the riverbed is dry, revealing a lot of stones" - Mr. Truong said.
The craft of making stone to cover the roof not only creates unique products but also brings jobs to people.
Mr. Sung A Chinh (19 years old, Sa Tong commune, Muong Cha district) working here said: "The cutting and cracking of stone requires a lot of health. On average, workers receive 200,000 VND per day, with a monthly income of 6 million VND, accompanied by accommodation".
Unique architecture by the lake
To roof a 5-room wooden stilt house, about 4,000 stones are needed. These stones are cleverly arranged, with one knee layer on another in the shape of a fish scale. This roofing method not only ensures good drainage but also has a spiritual meaning, symbolizing the fish god of protection and bringing fullness and warmth.
Stone-roofed houses not only bring stability and durability over time but also have outstanding advantages in terms of insulation. "The house is covered with natural stone and is cooler in the summer, not as hot as the roof is covered with corrugated iron, the roof is covered with fibro cement" - Mr. Truong affirmed from his decades of experience in the profession.
In addition, using stone to roof also shows the quintessence of the architectural art of the white Thai community here.
Today, when coming to Muong Lay, visitors can't help but be impressed by the stilt houses planned to be kept divided and airy along both sides of the lake. The black, dark brown stone roofs reflect the water, creating a painting of love, both ancient and unique.
