Binh Thuy, a well-preserved 149-year-old house, is one of Can Tho City’s most popular attractions. 

The house at 144 Bui Huu Nghia Street was built by Duong Chan Ky, a wealthy merchant in 1870, and was renovated in the early 20th century.

Through the main gate visitors see an East Asian-style traditional gate with four columns. The main gate was a 20th century addition.

It has been a century and a half but the house’s interiors and architectural styles remain intact.

The interiors are characterized by traditional East Asian crafts, while the exteriors are in West European style and blend well with the landscape.

It is currently managed by Ngo Thi Ngoc Lien, 75 (left), the wife of a sixth-generation descendant of the owner, Duong Chan Ky.

Lien used to be an English teacher before retirement. Her main job now is to take care of the housework for the family and welcome and entertain visitors.

She said the interiors of the five front areas of the house are arranged in 19th century Vietnamese style. They are used for important ceremonies. Rooms used by the household like kitchens and bedrooms are at the back.

The floors are made of tiles imported from France. The plafond in the ceiling and other details are painted with eye-catching patterns.

Lien said there is a 10-cm thick salt layer under the tiles which keeps the floor cool in summer. The house remains a gathering place for Ky’s descendants on special occasions.

The house also boasts a selection of furniture including an 18th-century chandelier and 19th-century hanging lights. The sophisticated chandeliers were also obtained from France.

Antique items like this intricate vase have been preserved by generations of the family. Their collection includes two sets of tables and chairs originating from Yunnan (China), marble countertops and a Louis XV French lounge suite with blue marble countertops.

A flower-patterned sink with a wooden base.

The house was recognized as a National Monument in 2009.

The ancient house of Binh Thuy is also a popular location for film shoots, and was the setting for Lovers, a 1992 erotic drama film based on the semi-autobiographical novel by Marguerite Duras.

A large garden with flowers blooming all year round offers shade to the many visitors who come to see the house.