With a desire to preserve a piece of his community’s cultural and historical identity, Ha Van Sy, a resident of Co Lung commune in Thanh Hoa province, traded his family’s stilt house for a century-old bronze pot.

Located in Am Hieu village, Co Lung commune, Sy’s home has become a well-known stop for visitors traveling to the nearby Hieu Waterfall tourism site. Inside, they’ll find a rare, giant bronze pot considered a local treasure - both for its physical size and cultural significance.

According to Sy, the pot once belonged to a local landlord. Over the years, it was used communally, loaned out for weddings, funerals, and other important village events.

“In our mountain communities, large bronze pots like this weren’t just kitchen tools. They symbolized wealth, respect, and the standing of a family within the community,” Sy explained.

In 2015, when the village needed funds to build a community hall, the pot was auctioned. Recognizing its historical value, Sy offered to trade one of his family’s stilt houses - worth approximately USD 2,800 - for the artifact, a proposal that received widespread community support.

Elders in the village cannot pinpoint exactly when the pot was cast, but its rim still bears inscriptions - some in Latin script, others in Chinese characters - now faded with time. Among them are references to the year 1921 and “Co Lung Tong,” suggesting its origin and initial ownership.

The pot is about one meter in diameter and weighs nearly 100 kilograms. It now sits beneath Sy’s stilt house floor, secured by a cable to one of the support columns.

Over the years, many have tried to purchase the pot from Sy. At one point, it was valued at more than USD 16,000. Yet Sy has consistently declined all offers.

“I’ve turned down many buyers,” he said. “To me, this isn’t just an antique - it’s a family heirloom and a cultural symbol that I want to preserve for my children and grandchildren.”

According to officials from the Co Lung commune, Sy’s effort to preserve the pot is part of a broader movement to protect the area’s cultural heritage. Local leaders are encouraging residents to cherish and safeguard historic artifacts as a shared legacy and a means of educating younger generations about their roots.

Le Duong