ThuaThien-Hue (VNA) – Thecentral province of Thua Thien-Hue has invested over 2 billion VND (85,700 USD)on a master plan to preserve and promote the historic and architectural valuesof the Phuoc Tich ancient village in tandem with sustainable tourismdevelopment.

The master plan will identify relics of theancient village that need protection and preservation, provide guidance on the reconstructionof the architectural space and landscape surrounding the relics, and developtourism services for the benefit of the local community.

Earlierthis year, the province spent more than 3.6 billion VND (nearly 155,180 USD) torestore five “nha ruong” (old gardenhouses built with wooden beams and pillars) in Phuoc Tich. The move forms partof the province’s project to safeguard and promote the values of Hue’s iconicgarden houses.

Once the restoration was completed, themanagement board of Phuoc Tich discussed with historic house owners on how to tidythem up and improve their landscape design before they are opened to thepublic, said Doan Quyet Thang, the management board’s Deputy Director.

The wooden houses are also expected to servecommunity-based tourism and be used for homestay services, he added.

Phuoc Tich, 50km from Hue city, is one of onlytwo ancient villages in Vietnam recognised as national cultural-historicalrelics by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, together with Duong Lamin Hanoi.

Located at Phong Hoa commune in Phong Diendistrict, the village was formed under the reign of King Le Thanh Tong(1460-1497) where it was initially called Dong Quyet, only to be subsequentlyrenamed Phuoc Tich during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945).

It has maintained its traditional craft of potterythroughout the centuries.

Families in the village have earned a livingfrom making ceramics for the past 500 years. Phuoc Tich ceramics used to bevery famous, once used by the Nguyen kings. 

Phuoc Tinh also boasts 26 century-old housescarved with sophisticated patterns, which have invaluable architectural andcultural values. 

These ancient wooden houses were built withthree compartments and two lean-tos,surrounded by a garden with rows of green tea bushes serving as a fence for thebrick-covered courtyard. Many of them are now in very poor condition, requiringurgent restoration.

There are seven garden houses in Phuoc Tichcurrently engaged in tourism, four of which provide homestay services. Visitorsto the village can also enjoy sightseeing tours around the garden houses andexperience traditional cake making, ceramic making, lantern floating, and a boatride along the O Lau River.

By 2020, the province aims to restore a total of25 “nha ruong” in the village . Last year, the village welcomed nearly 2,700visitors. –VNA