Huynh Thuy Le House
by Carolyn Derstine
Title
Huynh Thuy Le House
Artist
Carolyn Derstine
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Huynh Thuy Le House was built in 1895 by Huynh Cam Thuan, a wealthy Chinese businessman, on the banks of the Sa Dec River in Dong Thap province, Vietnam. When Thuan passed away, his youngest son, Huynh Thuy Le, inherited the house, and it was named after him. Besides its architectural features and artifacts that reflect the luxurious lifestyle of a very wealthy person many years ago, the house acquired added interest with Le’s love story. By chance, Le met Marguerite Duras, a French writer, on a ferry in 1929. Le's father did not approve of their relationship and his will prevailed. After Duras returned to France, she turned their relationship into an autobiographical novel, The Lover (L'Amant) which was also turned into a movie. As a result, the house is a popular tourist attraction but it is also one of the largest and most intact old houses in the Mekong Delta. The house is a harmonious blend between the French, Vietnamese and Chinese architectural styles.
The ancient house was certified as a provincial monument in 2008 and a national monument in 2009.
Uploaded
July 11th, 2023
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