About 10 years ago, during a trip to explore Bao Lam district in the former Lam Dong province, Le Tuan Kiet, born in 1996 and originally from HCMC, now living in Bao Lam 1 Commune in Lam Dong, came across a lush plot of land beside a lake.

Sitting beneath the trees, he gazed out at a sea of drifting clouds and the emerald-green lake in the early morning light. The scene made Kiet imagine a small house nestled in nature, beneath black acacia trees that had been planted many years earlier.

With a deep love for living close to nature, Kiet and his wife decided to leave the city for the forest, starting by building the home they had long cherished.

Kiet recounted: "On April 26, 2019, my wife, relatives, and friends began laying the house foundation. This is a special home holding deep significance for me.

“The house is constructed primarily from old wood and clay - inexpensive, easily accessible materials that are environmentally friendly and aligned with the natural building practices we pursue.

“I applied the technique of plastering straw-mixed clay onto bamboo frames, while refining mixing formulas, structural framing, and construction processes to accommodate modern living needs, enhancing the building's durability and aesthetic appeal."

After a year of construction, Kiet and his wife completed the structural framework of the old-wood house with clay walls. Over the subsequent three years, the couple decorated and hand-built interior furnishings.

The residence resembles two traditional three-compartment houses stacked atop one another. The lower level serves as a shared living area comprising a kitchen, bar counter, and living room. The upper level houses bedrooms, a movie viewing room, a workspace, and a reading nook. A balcony on this level opens toward the lake.

Each floor features dedicated bathrooms and restrooms. At the top, Kiet constructed two additional rooms within the attic space. Situated at a high elevation, opening the windows every morning brings the lush green scenery right into the couple's view.

A place to return to

The house was not built by a professional construction crew, but primarily handcrafted by Kiet, his wife, family, and friends. Consequently, every clay wall and wooden frame retains traces of the hands that helped erect the structure.

Currently, the home houses a massive dining table. Its surface features hundreds of drawings left by numerous visitors to the house.

Kiet views this as a special element of the home, as it proves the residence was built not merely with soil and timber, but through the collective effort and affection of many individuals.

The house is five years old and has evolved through unexpected turns in Kiet's family life. Initially, the couple intended to build the clay house for tourism services, designing rooms geared toward short-term rentals.

However, several months after breaking ground, Kiet learned his wife was pregnant. He subsequently adjusted several items, adding play areas and redesigning railings to ensure safety for young children.

Even so, upon completion, the couple and their firstborn child occupied only a single room on the lower floor. The remaining space continued serving tourists.

Only when learning they were expecting their second child did Kiet decide to alter the home's spatial use, transforming it into a genuine family sanctuary.

The couple ceased renting the home, reserving the entire interior space for family use. He reorganized each zone according to family needs.

Kiet divided the attic level into two rooms, with one serving as the family's night bedroom. The remaining room functions as a relaxation space where the family chats, reads books, and plays together before bedtime.

On the floor below, he designed a workspace, movie room, reading nook, play area for their two young children, and a small sofa facing the lake. He also renovated the balcony so family members could sunbathe and take in the view.

The ground floor houses the kitchen and dining table, which the couple refers to as the heart and soul of the home. He said the clay-built kitchen serves not only for cooking, but also warms the entire house.

“Since dedicating the entire house to our family, this place has become deeply meaningful to us.”

Ha Nguyen