Tucked along the quiet banks of the Mekong River in Sa Dec, Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House stands as a graceful testament to history, culture, and a love story that transcends time. Now more than a century old, the house remains one of the most evocative heritage sites in southern Vietnam, drawing visitors with both its architectural beauty and its romantic legacy.
The house was rebuilt in 1917 by Mr. Huynh Cam Thuan (father of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le), a famous and wealthy Chinese merchant from Fujian, Sa Dec, in the bustling commercial area along the Sa Dec River. Photo: VNA
Originally built in 1895 by the Huynh family, the residence reflects the prosperity of a prominent merchant household. In 1917, Huynh Cam Thuan, father of Huynh Thuy Le, undertook a major renovation, transforming the wooden structure into a refined villa that harmoniously blends Eastern and Western design principles. From the outside, the house bears the symmetry and elegance of French colonial architecture; inside, intricate wooden carvings, lacquered panels, and traditional altars reveal deep-rooted Vietnamese and Chinese influences. This seamless fusion of styles gives the house its distinctive character—both cosmopolitan and deeply local.
Photographs of Marguerite Duras - the well-known Frenchwriter who penned the famous novel L'Amant (The Lover) - with the family of Huynh Thuy Le. Photo: VNA
A portrait of Mr. Huynh Thuy Le. Photo: VNA
The ceiling and lighting fixtures are designed in the French architectural style. Photo: VNA
Yet beyond its architectural significance, the house is perhaps best known for its connection to a poignant cross-cultural romance. It was here that Marguerite Duras, the celebrated French author, met and fell in love with Huynh Thuy Le, the young heir of the house. Their relationship, shaped by social boundaries and cultural differences, later inspired Duras’s renowned novel The Lover. Through her writing, the house was immortalized not just as a physical space, but as a symbol of longing, memory, and forbidden love.
The interior architecture is also decorated according to the principles of Feng Shui, specifically the four mythical creatures: Dragon,Kirin , Bat, and Phoenix, rather than the traditional Dragon, Kirin, Turtle, and Phoenix. Photo: VNA
After many ups and downs throughout history, the house remains relatively well-preserved to this day and has become a symbol of a unique architectural style from hundreds of years ago. Photo: VNA
A worship area in the heart of the house, representing strength and prosperity in the homeowner's life. Photo: VNA
Over the decades, despite the wear of time and changing seasons, the house has remained remarkably well preserved. Sunlight still filters through its wooden shutters, casting gentle patterns on tiled floors, while the quiet rooms seem to echo with stories of the past. Today, Huynh Thuy Le’s ancient house is more than a historical landmark—it is a living narrative, where architecture, memory, and emotion converge, inviting visitors to step into a world where history lingers and love endures.