Images of the 10 distinctive yellow, bronze drum-shaped houses in Lo Lo Chai Village, Lung Cu Commune, Tuyen Quang Province, have attracted widespread attention on social media in recent days, prompting mixed reactions.
The buildings stand out from the traditional rammed-earth houses with yin-yang tiled roofs that characterise the village of the Lo Lo ethnic community at the foot of the Lung Cu Flag Tower.
The accommodation complex includes 10 bronze drum-shaped houses. Photo by Danh House
Some people have welcomed the unusual shapes and bright colours, saying they offer a fresh attraction that could draw more visitors. Others have questioned whether the development fits in with the village's traditional architectural landscape, one of its main tourist attractions.
Accommodation prices at the site range from VND 800,000 to VND 2.3 million per night (approximately USD 31-90), including breakfast and an in-room foot soak using a wooden basin.
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews Newspaper, Hoang My Khanh, owner of Danh House, the accommodation complex comprising the 10 bronze drum-inspired houses, said her family was aware of the differing opinions surrounding the project.
She stressed that the design was not a spontaneous idea but stemmed from the family's desire to preserve and promote the Lo Lo people's bronze drum culture, which has been passed down through generations of her husband's family.
The complex was built on nearly 2,000 square metres of land. Photo by Danh House
Five pairs of houses represent five traditional clans
Khanh's husband, Vuong Duc Thang, belongs to the Vang (Vuong) clan, one of the oldest family lineages in the area.
The accommodation complex was built on a plot of nearly 2,000 square metres that has been passed down through the family for generations.
"Lo Lo bronze drums have distinctive characteristics in the way they are used. They traditionally come in pairs, consisting of a male drum and a female drum, reflecting the concept of yin and yang. They are not merely musical instruments but sacred objects used in important religious ceremonies," Khanh said.
Drawing on this tradition, the family decided to build 10 houses representing five pairs of bronze drums, comprising five larger and five smaller structures.
Khanh said the number five was also symbolic, representing the five long-established clans in Lo Lo Chai Village: Vang (Vuong), Mung, Sinh, Diu and Lu.
She added that the accommodation business welcomed around 700 visitors in October 2026, generating revenue of nearly VND 500 million (approximately USD 19,513).
Inside the bronze drum-inspired houses. Photo by Danh House
Bronze drums hold special significance for the Lo Lo community
Speaking to Dantri/Dtinews, Sinh Gi Gai, head of Lo Lo Chai Village, confirmed that the bronze drum-shaped accommodation complex had been built on land owned by a local family with a longstanding tradition of preserving ancient bronze drums.
He said the local Lo Lo community had maintained the custom of using bronze drums in important ceremonies, particularly ancestor worship rituals and funerals.
Gai confirmed that the complex's design was inspired by the bronze drums of the Lo Lo people. According to him, the buildings were constructed using local materials, with local craftsmen from the village involved in the work.
The family's aim was to combine accommodation services with the promotion of the community's distinctive cultural heritage.
Responding to criticism that the drum-shaped houses did not harmonise with the village's overall landscape, Gai encouraged visitors to see the site for themselves and learn about its actual setting and the cultural stories behind each pair of drums.
He said a firsthand visit would help people gain a fuller understanding of the development and its cultural significance.
