THE DZAO, THE SWALLOW
& THE EARTH VILLAGE
Nâm Dam is a village inhabited by the Dzao Chàm (Indigo Dzao), one of Vietnam's 54 recognized ethnic groups. The documentary explores the village's dedication to constructing buildings from raw earth, a practice aimed at preserving the traditional rammed earth houses that the Dzao have known all their lives.
The Dzao, the Swallow, and the Earth Village captures the voices of those who sustain the village, featuring not only the residents but also local officials, NGOs, architects, tourists, and the documentary's author, Lê Hoàng Anh.
This documentary, structured as a triptych, narrates the history of the village, the significance of its rammed earth houses, and the community's ongoing efforts to balance tradition with the challenges of urbanization and tourism.
