Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The long communal house “Guol”, traditionalto the Co Tu ethnic group in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, wasinaugurated in Aka village, Thuong Quang commune, Nam Dong district on August22.
The construction was part of the “Restoringand Preserving the Traditional Communal House for the Co Tu Ethnic Group” projectcarried out by the Hue University of Science, the Vietnam National Institute ofCulture and Arts Studies in Hue, and Japan’s Kyoto University.
The project was built at the total cost of 316 million VND (13,588 USD), 125million VND of which was non-refundable aid from the Japanese university. Itaims to support locals in rebuilding Guol in traditional methods, frommaterials to construction, architecture, and decoration.
Vice Rector of the Hue University of Science Ha Van Hanh said that the Guol,where many traditional festivals are held, holds various culturalcharacteristics of the Co Tu people. As the Guol has become a thing of the pastin recent times, the restoration of the structure is significant to preserving andpopularising the special traditions of Co Tu culture.
Revival of the Guol in A Ka village relied much on local people, whocontributed their labour to the building over two years, he said, adding thathis university will continue its support for the locality in implementingactivities related to the ethnic group and assist with architectural andcultural preservation of other ethnic minority groups in the province. –VNA