Unique architecture of Thuy Trieu pillar house
Thuy Trieu commune was once famous for traditional carpentry, the main products were bamboo boats and wooden stilt houses. To date, bamboo boat products seem to have faded away, leaving only households following the traditional craft of making ancient wooden houses. Mr. Tran Van Trong's family (residence group No. 6) has up to 6 generations following the traditional craft. "I am the 5th generation, below are 2 sons who are also following their ancestors' profession" - Mr. Trong excitedly said. The house where 3 generations of Mr. Trong's family lived is typical of wooden stilt house architecture, all furniture is made of wood, made by Mr. Trong and his son's own hands. Each detail exudes sophistication, luxury but still soft and warm.
Mr. Trong shared that Thuy Trieu column houses are mainly made from ta ironwood, previously from the local natural wood source because Thuy Nguyen is famous for its vast ironwood forests. In addition, his workshop also imports wood from all over the country, including imported wood from South Africa, depending on customer requirements. On average, Mr. Trong's family receives 10 - 20 wooden house projects each year, but some years only receive 1-2 projects.
The Thuy Trieu column house brand is known to customers everywhere, loved for its wooden house shape but still soft, lively and delicate patterns... Not only in Hai Phong, Mr. Trong also receives many projects in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, even in distant provinces such as Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, wherever customers have needs, Mr. Trong is ready to go. The most valuable project is up to 10 billion VND, averaging 2-3 billion VND/unit.
Mr. Do Van Quy - Secretary of the Party Cell of Residential Group No. 6 - said that in residential group No. 6, there are 7 - 8 households maintaining the pillar house making profession. Thanks to maintaining the pillar house brand as well as wooden furniture products, the traditional craft brings stable income to people.
Each workshop currently has 30 - 70 workers, producing year-round. If the owners of the facilities have years with billions of VND in income, the team of main and auxiliary workers is paid 500,000 - 700,000 VND/day of work, and income is also tens of millions of VND/month" - Mr. Quy said.
In the last days of the year, workshops are busy from early morning to late at night, the working atmosphere is urgent, bringing ancient houses to all regions.
Improving the value of traditional products
According to artisans of Thuy Trieu carpentry village, traditional crafts are passed down from generation to generation by families. Even more joyful is that many young people today still love and are passionate about their ancestors' crafts. According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Thoi - Head of Dong Residential Group, Hoa Binh Ward, many young people in Hoa Binh Ward keep traditional crafts because it is the pride and responsibility of each child for the traditional values of their ancestors for generations.
Young workers also boldly apply machinery and technical equipment to serve production. However, they do not lose the unique features only found in Thuy Trieu pole houses but are creative to suit the current market needs.
Having worked in the field of culture for many years, and having worked for a long time in Thuy Trieu commune (old), Mr. Nguyen Tat Thang - Head of the Party Building Committee of Hoa Binh ward pays attention to the traditional carpentry profession of the locality. "Thuy Trieu carpentry village has a history of nearly 300 years, the most famous product is the pillar house. The unique point of Thuy Trieu pillar house is that the house columns are made from a whole tree trunk shaved into pillars instead of one tree trunk being cut into many columns (wooden houses). In terms of shape, Thuy Trieu's house columns are also straight from top to bottom, not tied in a straight shape like some places" - Mr. Thang said.
Also according to Mr. Thang, the entire Hoa Binh ward currently has nearly 100 households still maintaining traditional crafts, but mainly small, retail production households, establishments combined with houses, only about 30 households operate on a larger scale. The locality also once had a plan to establish a carpentry profession association to gather and unite production households, both maintaining and developing craft villages, and serving product promotion, and avoiding price and market competition.
It is known that the Party Committee and People's Committee of Hoa Binh ward pay attention to the development of traditional craft villages, including Thuy Trieu carpentry. The proof is that the Resolution of the 1st Hoa Binh Ward Congress, term 2025 - 2030 also sets out tasks and solutions for socio-economic development in the new period in the direction of promoting and effectively exploiting all potentials and social resources. In which, encouraging investment in developing small and medium-sized industries, small-scale handicraft establishments associated with traditional occupations; in-depth investment, applying new technologies, and improving product value. At the same time, researching and proposing the development of concentrated production points for Thuy Trieu carpentry.
This is one of the important targets and tasks that the Ward Party Committee is focusing on leading and directing with high determination, towards the goal of sustainable development of craft villages, creating stable jobs for local workers, contributing to the socio-economic development of Hoa Binh ward" - Mr. Nguyen Tat Thang - Head of the Party Building Committee of Hoa Binh ward emphasized.
