The villa was built in 1926 by Truong Trong Vong, a merchant who had hundreds of rickshaws for rent. It was designed by a French architect.
Today, it is looked after by Vong’s granddaughter, Le Thanh Thuy, 71. Its gate was built in the traditional Vietnamese “to vo” (wasp) style.
The villa was designed in the shape of the Chinese character for "Khẩu" (mouth), consisting of enclosed blocks that surround a central courtyard. This design ensures security while creating a skylight that allows all rooms to receive natural light.
According to HANOIDB (Hanoi Architectural Database under Kyoto University, Japan), the rows of cast-iron columns along the corridor around the courtyard and the wrought-iron staircase handrails on the upper floor are signature architectural features of the villa.
One of the villa’s architectural highlights is a set of four solid stone pillars, intricately carved with the traditional "Four Seasons" (peach - chrysanthemum - bamboo - apricot) motifs. The four plants symbolize the turning of the four seasons, carrying wishes for a year of harmony, favorable weather, peace, and good fortune.
Thuy's family mainly live on the second floor.
The staircase leading from the first floor to the second is made of ironwood. The balustrade has rounded wooden balusters, and the top of the newel posts are in the shaped of a sphere.
Above the stairs, decorative panels with traditional East Asian architectural patterns serve as ventilation grills or partitions that let in light while also following the feng shui principle of expressing wishes for lasting prosperity and peace for the household.
Despite being built 100 years ago, the villa has a remarkably modern design, including self-contained bedrooms for each family member, guest rooms, a dining room, and rooms for domestic workers.
“All the rooms are designed to connect with one another and form a united whole. The elders said that the design was meant to keep the family close, so that everyone would love and support each other,” Thuy says.
Much of the interior furniture, such as tables and chairs, wooden daybeds, cabinets, and beds, was imported from Europe or Hong Kong in the early 20th century and has been preserved to this day.
A century ago, the value of an imported set of tables, chairs, vanity table, and bed was equivalent to the cost of a small house, according to Thuy.
The brass bed was purchased by Vong in 1926.
"With all antique furniture, I only dust the surface and not polish it, as I want to preserve its vintage character," Thuy says.
The villa served as a filming location for many films, such as “Mui Pho” (Scent of Pho), “Ha Noi Mua Dong Nam 46” (Hanoi: Winter of '46).
In 1960, Thuy's family donated a portion of the villa to the government to be converted into classrooms.
The outer section was assigned for residential housing, while the building on the left of the entrance gate became Bac Son Primary School. In 2018, the school relocated, but the old classroom space and some learning equipment still remain.
Currently, her family manages an area of just over 200 square meters.
The old villa is now also a sightseeing destination for many foreign tourists.
"I am happy that my home is known to many people. I have never thought about selling or renovating the villa, in the hope that future generations will live here and preserve the values left behind by our ancestors," Thuy adds.
