Cai Cuong ancient house is one of the famous tourist destinations of Vinh Long province, Vietnam. With its unique architecture and long history, this work is considered a valuable local cultural asset. And it has become one of the must-see tourist destinations when visiting Vinh Long.
Overview of Cai Cuong ancient house
The ancient house was built in the early 20th century by Mr. Pham Van Bon, nicknamed Cai Cuong, a wealthy businessman from Vinh Long. This house has gone through many stages of construction and history, from when Cai Cuong built it to live in, to its inclusion on the list of national cultural relics. Cai Cuong ancient house has endured many events but still retains its beauty and historical value.
Located on An Binh island in An Binh commune, next to the shore of Cai Muoi canal, which never stops boats, the house is considered one of the most unique and impressive works. The harmonious combination of East-West architectural styles has brought this place a beauty that is both modern and very majestic and ancient. Having undergone many restorations, Cai Cuong Ancient House still retains its internal layout and decoration while demonstrating its enduring aesthetic value over the years.
The unique architecture of the ancient house
The ancient house has a perfect design with “internal and external harmony”, meaning the interior is associated with traditional aesthetic beauty – Eastern culture, while the exterior is the interior that corresponds to modern, luxurious Western architecture.
With a width of 15m, the house uses ironwood to make 6m high columns to support the yin and yang roof, combined with ancient fish-scale tiles of each house. At the front, the building has a corridor connecting to both sides of an elegant bow-shaped staircase, creating a spacious open space. The columns and walls here are all decorated with Renaissance reliefs, thus both minimizing weathering and enhancing aesthetics.
Coming to the porch, you can see Western architecture clearly expressed in two symmetrical, bow-shaped stairs leading up to the house. This is exactly the type of French mansion with an open-air altar like a small temple placed in the middle. When stepping out of the entrance, you will see this part, exactly like a screen, blocking the middle of the facade.
The materials used to decorate the exterior are also impressive; covered with encaustic tiles to create a gentle, floating pattern; the porch is covered with a wooden ceiling covering the tiled roof, completely different from traditional houses in the Mekong Delta. The zig-zag patterned border in terracotta brown mixed with earthy yellow, decorated on the facade wall, also creates a particularly attractive highlight.
Stepping inside the ancient house, you see that the entire main structure is made of precious wood, adorned with bold, ancient Asian decoration. Cai Cuong Ancient House consists of 3 parts: the front house, the middle house, and the back house. Separating them are large wooden walls that are especially elaborately and intricately carved.
In general, the front house and the middle house are very large spaces with tables and chairs for welcoming guests, family altars, etc., while the back house is divided into 3 smaller rooms: 1 room is empty, with a door leading to the garden; two symmetrical bedrooms are completely covered with ironwood.
The highlight of an ancient house is certainly not to miss the large and small windows that are often opened wide to let light in, and the items made of ironwood or rare items such as wardrobes and sofa sets, tables, chairs, and divans date back to the late 19th century.
Carved images on wooden panels and walls also contribute to the house’s artistic beauty. The team of artisans skillfully decorated this place with animals very familiar to the early Southern land, such as monkeys, birds, horses, deer, tigers… while transforming them without following any classic standards, creating an extremely unique highlight.
Cai Cuong Ancient House and Mr. Cao Van Nam’s boat house are places you must visit if you love exploring unique architectural beauty.
Useful information about Cai Cuong ancient house
- Best for: solo, family, student.
- Entrance: Free
- Tourist spots nearby: Vinh Trang Pagoda, Thoi Son Islet, Vinh Long Museum, Hai Van Farm, Vinh Long Ceramic Brick Village, Trà Ôn floating market, …
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