Dong Hoa Hiep ancient village, Cai Be Commune, Dong Thap Province, is renowned for dozens of ancient houses over 100 years old with unique architecture. Among these, the ancient house of Mr. Tran Tuan Kiet’s family in Phu Hoa hamlet is the most prominent in Vietnam.
Mr. Kiet’s ancient house is nestled in the middle of a green orchard. In front of the house is a large yard with stone tables, chairs, and swinging hammocks under the shade of trees.
The house was built around 1838, has 3 rooms; 2 connecting wings, nearly 1,000 square meters wide, with 108 pillars, all made from precious woods ironwood, and rosewood.
The carved and decorative patterns on the rafters, columns, skewers, and walls are very elaborate, typical of the style of ancient houses in the Mekong Delta region. The roof is covered with yin-and-yang tiles, one row facing up, one row facing up alternately. The column truss is designed in a typical overlapping beam style.
The beauty of the house’s tiled roofs
The interior and wall paintings are all gorgeously inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Connecting the main pillars of the house is a system of panels carved with harmoniously stylized plums, orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboos, soft motifs, and gilded, demonstrates the level of craftsmanship and art appreciation of the ancients.
An antique oil lamp inside the house
Descriptive motifs are engraved
The items in the house are also valuable antiques. Oil lamps, tea sets, chandeliers, cupboards, mahogany shelves… evoke old memories of the Mekong Delta region 200 years ago. The table and desk are also made of solid precious wood, glossy black with the color of time.
Furniture and interior decoration of the house
The chairs are also meticulously made, with sophisticated patterns and spacious, harmonious lines. The floor is lined with roughly fired square tiles, matching the wooden walls and tiled roof.
The homeowner also kept the gate from the ancient times, beautifying the garden more impressively.
In 2002, a Japanese association – JICA repaired the house, and sent a Japanese architect to this house to monitor the work for more than one year. Hence, the entire architecture and decorations of the traditional house were restored, similar to its original design, while receiving a Cultural Heritage certificate from UNESCO Asia. And after completing, the house became one of Tien Giang’s tourist destinations, attracting a large number of tourists.
Currently, Mr. Kiet’s Ancient House is also a homestay that allows visitors to rest and experience the daily life of one of the famous wealthy families in the South in the past.
Useful information about Mr. Kiet’s Ancient House
- Address: number 22, group 1, Phu Hoa hamlet, Cai Be Commune.
- Best for: solo travelers, families, students.
- Entrance: Free
- Tourist spots nearby: Cai Be floating market, Ba Duc Ancient House, Ancient house of Mr. Le Quang Xoat …
