VietNamNet Bridge –For centuries, communal wells have held a special meaning for the Vietnamese people.

Gathering place: A square-mouth well in Ba Hien Commune of Binh Xuyen District, within the northern midland province of Vinh Phuc. — File Photo

The 600-year-old wells in Ba Hien Commune of Binh Xuyen District, within the northern midland province of Vinh Phuc, differ from all other wells in Viet Nam's countryside because of their appearance and the stories told about them by locals.

Other wells in the country are built from stone and bricks and have a round mouth, but Ba Hien wells have square mouths formed by four rectangular pieces of rock. Traces of grinding knives, swords, and bucket ropes left hundreds of years ago are still visible on the stone.

These wells are typically four to seven metres deep and always full of water. The well bottoms were lined with iron and wood to keep the water pure.

Only four of 20 square wells are still intact, located in Thich Chung, Vinh Quang, Thien Chi and Ba Huong hamlets in Ba Hien.

When asked how old the wells are, the locals just shake their heads. Even the oldest among them said that the wells existed before they were born.

Recently the local authorities invited experts to examine the wells, and the researchers concluded that they had been built by local people 500 – 600 years ago, said Nguyen Van Chinh, the culture executive.

"During the wars, many documents about the region were lost," Chinh said. "Until now, we were only able to learn about this area's history by interpreting folk tales passed down from generation to generation."

According to some documents, the wells were built under the Le dynasty (1428-1788). The region was once dry for so many years that the King appointed a diviner to find sources of water and help the people dig wells. No document explains why the wells have square mouths.

Time works great changes, and many ancient wells were filled up, often because villagers believed them to be remnants of the feudal regime.

Some were restored later on because they proved superior to the newly built wells, always full of water even in the dry season.

Duong Thi Hong's family in Vinh Quang Hamlet owns one of these small old wells. They tried several times to fill it in and make way for a bigger one, but the new wells were either dry or contained dirty water. They reverted to using the old well, and often supply other villagers' during the dry season.

Hong said many strangers come to her village asking to buy pieces of old scripts carved on the well's walls, but she refuses.

"They have become the soul of the village that we're determined to protect," she said.

However, not all villagers feel the same sense of responsibility for these structures, and many of the wells have been damaged or destroyed in recent years.

Chairwoman of the Ba Hien Communal People's Committee Duong Thi Lan said, "Older generations believed that the well water was a powerful source of vitality for people, animals and plants."

"These wells are unique for their shape and the building techniques used, which inspire many historical questions," she added.

"The value of these wells is undeniable. I expect that the provincial authorities will adopt a comprehensive plan to preserve the wells."

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News