The ancient Muong Luan tower is an architectural work that embodies the culture and religion of the Lao ethnic group in Dien Bien province. This is not only a historical relic but also associated with stories of solidarity. It is also a symbol of the brotherly relationship between the peoples of Vietnam and Laos.
According to Mr. Lo Van Hanh - Secretary of Muong Luan 1 village, Muong Luan commune, since the 16th century, the ancestors chose Muong Luan as the place to build this sacred tower because of its unique terrain.
"The terrain is like a person facing Vietnam, leaning against Laos. The image of the tower has been likened to a graceful, gentle girl standing quietly beside Hua Ta mountain (the source mountain) reflecting on the clear Ma river," Mr. Hanh said.
According to Mr. Hanh, the folk saying "Hua táng keo, co táng Lao" (roughly translated: Head facing Vietnam, back leaning on Laos) has become a familiar saying, clearly expressing the deep affection that people have for the tower and the relationship between Vietnam and Laos. Therefore, the tower was built with the hope of praying for peace and prosperity for both peoples.
The Muong Luan tower is built in the shape of a square-bodied pen tower. The base is wide, gradually narrowing upwards. The tower has a total height of 15 meters, divided into three main parts: the base, the body, and the top. The tower is built from materials such as bricks, lime, mortar, sand, and molasses. All the materials used to build the tower were sourced locally.
The entire architecture of the tower, as well as the most prominent decorative patterns, are displayed on the body of the tower. The most notable feature is the stylized dragon pattern embossed to form a double figure-eight running around the tower, with each of the four sides of the tower displaying five pairs of dragons.
All decorative patterns on the Muong Luan tower are made of red terracotta, covered with the mossy color of time, giving the tower an ancient beauty that stands out against the green backdrop of the Northwestern mountains and forests.
According to the elders in Muong Luan 1 village, in 1939, a strong earthquake occurred in the Muong Luan area, causing the tower to tilt. In 2009, the Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee invested more than 5 billion VND to restore, renovate, and "anti-tilt" this structure.
Speaking about the ancient Muong Luan tower, Mr. Lo Van Khanh - Vice Chairman of Muong Luan Commune People's Committee said: "Through the shape of the tower and the decorative patterns, it is unlike any other tower currently in Vietnam. This is a relatively special architecture, so many scientists and archaeologists have chosen to study it within the system of ancient towers in Vietnam."
According to Mr. Khanh, every year during the early spring days, young men and women in love, as well as people from other surrounding areas, gather here to organize the “Hot Nam” festival (water splashing festival).
In addition to its historical, cultural, and architectural artistic value, the Muong Luan tower also holds great value in the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos. In 1991, the Muong Luan tower was recognized by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism) as a National Cultural and Historical Relic.
