Guol house - Spiritual and cultural symbol of Cotu ethnic minority in Quang Nam

PSNews - Built with the efforts of everyone in the village, Guol communal house is a spiritual and cultural symbol of the Cotu ethnic minority community in the central coastal province of Quang Nam. Cotu ethnic minority community considers Guol house a sacred place, where the gods and the ancestors reside.

Guol house - Spiritual and cultural symbol of Cotu ethnic minority in Quang Nam. -0
Guol communal house of Cotu ethnic minority community. 

For the Cotu people, a village without a Guol house is considered out of touch with their cultural traditions. The Guol houses contribute to the restoration of traditional cultural values of the Cotu ethnic group, helping future generations of Cotu to understand and inherit the cultural and spiritual values of their nation.

Village elder Briu Po (Aroh village, Lang commune, Tay Giang district, Quang Nam province) shared that, the construction of a Guol house is very important and requires the involvement of the entire Cotu ethnic people in a village as it would take months to complete.

Guol house - Spiritual and cultural symbol of Cotu ethnic minority in Quang Nam. -0
Guol house - Spiritual and cultural symbol of Cotu ethnic minority in Quang Nam. -1
Guol house - Spiritual and cultural symbol of Cotu ethnic minority in Quang Nam. -2

Traditionally, a Guol house has a principal pillar in the middle and 8 surrounding smaller pillars. The roof is made of a special kind of leave called corypha saribus and has the shape of a mango.

The wattles are embossed with carvings of buffaloes, buffalo heads, and geckoes and scenes of the daily activities of the community such as men beating drums and women holding children. The Guol house is also a place for displaying musical instruments and skeletons of animals. The house is a symbolic structure for all villagers, demonstrating the power of the village.

Guol communal house is a spiritual and cultural symbol of the Cotu ethnic minority community in Quang Nam. Cotu ethnic minority community considers Guol house a sacred place, where the gods and the ancestors reside.

“In the Cotu ethnic language, Guol means communal or community, and a Guol house is a place for administrative works, cultural activities and cultural preservation. A Guol house exists in every Cotu village, whether the villagers are rich or poor. A Guol house is considered a sacred place inhabited by the gods and the ancestors”, said village elder Briu Po.

Guol house - Spiritual and cultural symbol of Cotu ethnic minority in Quang Nam. -0
Cotu traditional village in Tay Giang.

As a result of wars and time, many Guol houses are deteriorating. Over the past years, the Quang Nam provincial authorities have made efforts to restore traditional Cotu culture, including old houses, contributing to preserving village culture, we preserve the traditional essence of the Cotu.

To date, almost every hamlet has a Guol hous with Tay Giang district taking the lead in this effort. Situated on top of a hill is the district center, which consists of one central Guol house and 10 others, representing 10 communes of the district. The architecture and decoration differs among Guol houses.

By Kim Khanh

Other News

Vietnam secure berth at FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for first time

Vietnam secure berth at FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for first time

Vietnam national U17 football team secured a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup 2026 for the first time after defeating United Arab Emirates national U17 football team 3-2 on in the final Group C match of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 in Saudi Arabia on early May 14 (Vietnam time).

Vietnam’s most beautiful railway station twins with French counterpart

Vietnam’s most beautiful railway station twins with French counterpart

A twinning agreement between Da Lat Railway Station in Vietnam and Trouville-Deauville Railway Station in France was signed at the French Embassy in Vietnam on May 7, creating new opportunities for cooperation in station management and operations, as well as cultural and tourism promotion between the two sides.

Hanoi gains two more craft villages in World Crafts Cities network

Hanoi gains two more craft villages in World Crafts Cities network

The recognition of Chuyen My and Son Dong craft villages as members of the World Crafts Cities network represents international acknowledgement of the cultural value, artisanal techniques, creativity and sustainable vitality of Vietnam’s traditional craft villages, he said.

Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2026 to return in September

Thang Long - Hanoi Festival 2026 to return in September

Co-hosted by the municipal People’s Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports, and domestic and foreign agencies, the whole spectacle is meant to honour the city’s millennia-old heritage while reafffirming its strategy of establishing culture as a development engine.

Spreading Vietnamese cultural identity in digital space

Spreading Vietnamese cultural identity in digital space

In the context of deep international integration, cultural identity serves as both a “shield” against assimilation and a defining marker of a nation’s image. Protecting and promoting uniquely Vietnamese cultural values has therefore become a pressing task, particularly in an increasingly complex digital environment.

ITE HCMC 2026 to promote Vietnam’s tourism on global map

ITE HCMC 2026 to promote Vietnam’s tourism on global map

With its large scale, the ITE HCMC 2026 aims to promote tourism cooperation between Vietnam and priority markets such as Northeast Asia, Western Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania while also boosting visitor arrivals from the Indian market

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

Although widely regarded as a cultural “speciality” attracting tourists, Vietnamese puppetry is facing multiple challenges in preservation and development, requiring renewed efforts to both safeguard its identity and adapt to contemporary cultural currents.

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

Project on digital transformation in cultural sector approved

By 2030, the project targets the establishment of shared digital platforms across 100% of cultural sectors. All digitised cultural heritage will be standardised under the national data framework and shared in accordance with regulations, while 80% of public digital heritage assets are expected to receive digital identifiers to clarify ownership and management, encouraging organisations and individuals to do the same and support market development.

Vietnam eyes becoming region’s leading tourism destination

Vietnam eyes becoming region’s leading tourism destination

Vietnam has in recent years undergone a notable transformation in its tourism development strategy, placing a strong emphasis on nature-based and eco-tourism. This shift is not merely aligned with global trends, but represents a necessary step towards safeguarding valuable natural resources, while appealing to a growing segment of environmentally conscious travellers.