Visit the ancient house of Van Duong Phu in Saigon

VietNamNet Bridge – Van Duong Phu is a masterpiece of architecture in HCM City, built by Mr. Vuong Hong Sen, a cultural researcher, an academic, and a famous collector of antiques. He also has a deep knowledge of southern Vietnam and has written many books about Saigon.

At the end of his life 20 years ago, he would have liked to dedicate his house as a museum in order to prevent the antiques from being stolen and introduce Saigon culture to visitors.

The house is located at 11 Nguyen Thien Thuat, Ward 14, Binh Thanh District. Twenty years after Vuong Hong Sen’s death, the ancient house has become a destination in HCM City.

The house was named Van Duong Phu by scholar Vuong Hong Sen because Van Duong is one of his pen-names. This is an ancient house with 5 rooms, 2 compartments, 15 m wide, 20 m deep, located on an area of 750 m2.

Mr. Vuong Hong Sen bought this ancient house from the suburbs of Phu Xuan – Nha Be area and rebuilt it near the Ba Chieu Market in 1952.

The scholar died in 1996. The house now has many photos of the late scholar.

Twenty years after his death, the house is still well maintained with big pillars and elaborately carved patterns.

Reporters from the Times, Newsweek and many prestigious newspapers have visited here to write about this house and its value.

Currently Mr. Vuong Hong Sen’s grandson is living in this old house.

Vuong Hong Sen (1902-1996) is a famous cultural researcher, scholar, and antique collector, who is highly respected among historians and archaeologists in Vietnam. He donated the house and his antique collection to the state, with 849 artifacts, and hoped to establish a museum bearing his name.

In August 2003, the HCM City People’s Committee recognized the house as an “architectural monument” of the city.