The watercolor and ink sketch depicts a scene of stilt houses along the banks of the Mekong River in Vietnam. The original picture used for that drawing was taken when doing a boat cruise to a bustling floating market, seen during our trip to Vietnam in February 2020, just before the COVID pandemic.
Stilt houses above water are a common type of housing in Vietnam, particularly in rural areas near rivers, deltas, and other bodies of water. These houses are typically built on tall wooden or bamboo stilts, sometimes reaching heights of several meters above the water’s surface. The stilts provide stability and protection from flooding during the rainy season, which can cause water levels to rise significantly.
Like the four houses on the sketch (three in the foreground, one in the back), each stilt house is unique, reflecting the personality and preferences of its residents
Overall, the sketch is a charming representation of the cultural heritage of Vietnam, capturing the simplicity and elegance of the stilt houses that have been an integral part of the country’s history for centuries.
