VietNamNet Bridge – A crowdfunding campaign called Lang's House – The Dream of Rebirth aims to rebuild the ancient Lang House.

The Dream of Rebirth set a goal to raise VND500 million (US$23,800) for the restoration. A careless group of tourists accidentally burned the house at the end of 2013.

The stilt house, more than 100 years old, was owned by Ha Thi Loi – a daughter of Lang (King of Muong Cham) in Chien Village in the northern province of Hoa Binh.

Loi's son wanted to sell the house because it was too old and had been burned. Muong Cultural Museum Director Vu Duc Hieu bought it and rebuilt it in his museum in 2007.

Hieu plans to restore the house with original poles and wooden floors. He consulted restoration experts, such as historian Duong Trung Quoc and artist-antique collector Thanh Chuong.

The experts agreed with Hieu that they would restore the house based on its remains.

"If Hieu doesn't restore it, the younger generation won't be able to see and know about the ancient Lang House," Quoc said. "I think restoration is the best way, because the house's major structure can still be used."

The house and its belongings, used to showcase the culture of the highest stratum in the ancient Muong society, were burnt, Hieu said.

"Luckily, the timber frame and floor remain," he added. "The structure's major pillars are fixable because only their outer shells were affected by the flames. We can almost see the dream that we are dreaming. We can tell a story about the new journey of the Lang House – a story of a rebirth."

Hieu's artist friends are eagerly preparing fundraising art events in Ha Noi that will take place from May to August.

A fashion show will be held on Saturday kicking off the campaign at Module 7, 83 Xuan Dieu Street.

On the same day, a painting and installation exhibition will open and run until the end of the month.

"The ideas are given and then implemented by our beloved artists," Hieu said. "We hope up-coming art events will attract arts and heritage lovers. We want to receive support from local authorities, organisations and individuals".

All donations and support to the programme can be send via Vietcombank's e-banking system, 198 Tran Quang Khai, Ha Noi, Viet Nam, account name Vu Duc Hieu, account No 0011004237191 and swift code: BFTVVNVX.

Its crowdfunding activities can be tracked at http://betado.com/campaigns/nha-lang/ and the official web page of the Muong's Cultural Museum: http://muong.vn

Cash can sent to the Muong's Cultural Museum at 202 Tay Tien Street, Thai Binh Ward, Hoa Binh City, Hoa Binh Province.

Hieu's Muong Cultural Museum is the first of its kind.

VNS