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Silent witness to change 21st July 2008                

Hidden behind the noisy chaos of the main market in Thu Dau Mot Town in the southeast province of Binh Duong stands a historic wooden house. Just 30 km from Ho Chi Minh City, the 323 sq.m. Tran Cong Vang House was built in 1889.

Decorated with wood-engravings and mother-of-pearl inlay, the family house is an icon of the late 19th century golden age of the art of wood-carving in southern Vietnam. The wooden house’s front door faces southeast while it backs onto a low hill (the location of the provincial People’s Committee) – a highly favorable position in feng shui terms.

Tran Anh Tuyet, daughter of the late Dr. Tran Cong Vang, said that wood for building the house was collected by her great-grandfather, a wood merchant and owner of a woodwork business. In 1993 it was recognized as a national relic by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The whole building, including the main pillars and beams, is held together by wooden pegs. This traditional joinery ensures lasting stability. It has beautiful interior decor and antique furniture.

From the pillars to the roof, from the altar and door frames to the horizontal lacquered boards and parallel vertical panels, everything is carved and painted with consummate skill. The variety of designs makes it seem both solemn and magnificent. The main building has two wings and five living compartments (gian), which are not walled off from the rest of the building.

Beside the family altar in the center of the house is a beautiful panel carved with images of pine trees, deer and horses, as well as two sentences in Chinese calligraphy which express the owner’s wish for a happy, peaceful world and a virtuous life.

Binh Duong Department of Culture and Information restored and repaired the house in 2006. The project cost about VND1 billion (US$62,500 then) and took 195 days. From Binh Duong Avenue turn into Yersin Street until you get to Thu Dau Mot Market on the right. Go past the market and turn right into Ngo Tung Chau Street. The house is number 21.

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