Amid the steadily shifting rhythm of life in Lo Village (Hoa Hiep Ward), young people - ranging from architects along with artists to students have chosen a quiet way to contribute: sitting down to sketch each rooftop, alleyways and boats, capturing familiar village scenes through every line as well as stroke, etc.

Preserving heritage through the language of sketches

Dating back more than four centuries, Lo Village emerged alongside formation of former Phu Yen territory, now eastern Dak Lak. Over time, the village has not only preserved its traditional character, marked by rows of closely built three-compartment houses with red-tiled roofs, but also retained a dense layers of maritime culture reflected in every home and daily activity. In the past three years, community-based tourism has injected new vitality, gradually positioning Lo Village as an increasingly attractive destination for visitors.

Architect Vu Duc Chien sketching a scene of boats anchored in a river inlet in Lo Village.

Recently, a group of architects, artists as well as students launched “Sketching Heritage”, aiming to preserve the coastal village’s architecture and way of life through sketch art.

Architect Le Ngoc Tung, homestay owner in Lo Village and one of the project’s initiators, shared that what impressed him most was the village’s rare architectural distinctiveness. “Across roughly 1,500 houses, a shared architectural "language" emerges, blending indigenous elements with southern influences. That is truly unique”, he noted.

The “Sketching Heritage” project gathers 17 architects, six artists alongside eight students from Mien Trung University of Civil Engineering. Over two days (April 18-19), the group produced 50 sketches depicting old houses, boat docks and narrow alleys throughout Lo village. Notably, the project goes beyond drawing, the artworks will be printed as postcards accompanied by real-life stories, then displayed within the very houses they portray.

Youth and community unite to safeguard the village

At present, Lo Village features two main product segments. Traditional houses are largely preserved in their original form, serving budget visitors or adapted into small-scale tourism services, while villas and homestays are more systematically developed for higher-end markets. Simultaneously, infrastructure has been steadily improved, from deploying waste collection vehicles into the village and installing bins along the coastline to upgrading roads as well as drainage networks. All efforts aim to keep the village clean and appealing while preserving its original structure.

Sketches created by architects, artists and others will be displayed along the road leading to Doc Lo Beach.

Architect Le Quang Hieu, a Phu Yen native currently working in Ho Chi Minh City, observed that many heritage sites across Vietnam are gradually disappearing. In Lo Village, despite urbanisation pressures, over 70% of houses still retain traditional features. However, this proportion alone cannot ensure long-term preservation without strong community engagement and a clear, sustainable direction.

“Sketches cannot stop physical deterioration, yet they preserve memory and inspire pride. More importantly, they highlight that a village’s greatest value lies not in age, but in its ability to retain identity”, he said.

Translated by HAI LOAN