VietNamNet Bridge – Through time and war, Gio An Commune in Gio Linh District of the central province of Quang Tri still preserves a relic system created in the late 12th century by Cham people. Sixteen ancient stone wells were recognized as national relics in 2001.

Dao well has the most complete structure

Unlike a normal well created by digging, boring or drilling to access underground water, these wells were created by putting stones together on the hillside to store underground water and then let it flow as needed.

From Dong Ha City, we went along Provincial Road 75 for five kilometers before reaching Tan Van Village on the left side. There, we visited Pheo well. It is the only well among the 16 that people dug into the ground to get water. This unique well has a one-meter-high monolith shaped like a tube and buried into the ground by half.

When needing water, people simply take water out of the tube. On the days when no one comes to get water, the well may overflow through a hole on the stone tube to a ditch before reaching the paddy or vegetable fields down the hill.

A man touches water flowing from Pheo well

Gio An Commune has eight villages and only two of them have no stone wells of Cham people.

Continuing our journey on Provincial Road 75 for around one kilometer, we reached Long Son Village on the right side where we found Mang well, and Hao Son Village on the left where the three wells of Ong, Ba, and Gai are located.

The three wells have simple structures with a layer of stones which is narrow and deep for water deposit and another layer which is wider for storing water. When the well is full, it flows into a ditch to water the paddy and wild watercress, a typical type of vegetable in this area.

Next to Hao Son is Gia Binh village with Dia well. Near the well is a fish pond which uses water from the well.

When reaching Gio An Commune’s center, we hit An Nha village and Dao well. Although it is no longer in use, the well has the most complete structure which could provide water for many people at a time.

The ancient well system is not only rare but unique. The water flows out of the well from the natural source of water on the hillsides and therefore, it is always clear.

Gai well, one of the 16 ancient stone wells in Gio An Commune, Gio Linh District in Quang Tri Province. Stones are put together to store water and direct the fl ow of water to paddy and wild watercress fields

SGT