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Responding to the anger and resentment, a dialogue
was opened in May between the local authority and the
Duong Lam villagers.
Giang Tu Oanh, a woman in Mong Phu commune,
Duong Lam village, expressed her anger: “My family
comprises six people of three generations, including my
10-month old grandson. 90 per cent of our villagers are
farmers and we need space for our farming products
such as corn, rice and peanuts. However, land is limited.
It has been 10 years since Duong Lam became a national
heritage site. People grow up, get married and have chil-
dren. More people means more living space is needed.
What’s more, I built a heat resistant roofing sheet. Duong
Lam Ancient Village’s management board requested us
to remove the sheet, and lower the height. I was con-
fused about the regulations. They cut off our electricity
and water. That was 2.5 months ago - how can we live in
the summer’s heat in these conditions?”
56 year old Ha Thi Khanh whose left hand was para-
lysed while building her two storey house, said: “I sent
my request for a house constructing licence. I waited
for months without getting any response. So, I could
not wait any longer. Before, we lived in a low roofed, di-
lapidated house. When a storm made my house collapse,
nobody in the authority took any notice. But when I bor-
rowed money from all the relatives to build a solid house,
they forced me to demolish the second floor where I
had intended my grandson to live and learn because the
ground floor does not have enough light or space.”
Khanh spoke bitterly of the fact that the house repre-
sents her whole life savings: “Building a traditional house