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| Mr. Nguyen Tien Hung meticulously cleans and preserves the artifacts in his collection of ancient coins and antiques. |
"Treasures" in the coffee shop
After several attempts to arrange a meeting, we arrived at the Antique Cafe on Duong Tu Minh Street, Quan Trieu Ward, to see firsthand the legendary coins. At first glance, the Antique Cafe looks like any other cafe, but few would guess that behind the doors of this two-story building lies a "treasure trove" of thousands of valuable artifacts. Many people liken the coin collection here to a "billion-dollar fortune," not only because of its large quantity but also because of the historical and cultural value each coin represents.
Among that collection, we were truly captivated by the meticulously arranged Vietnamese coins set against a backdrop of the S-shaped map of Vietnam and the map of the former Thai Nguyen province. Each coin was arranged chronologically, starting from the Dinh Dynasty (980 AD), spanning through the Ly, Tran, and Le dynasties, creating a vivid and visual historical timeline of Vietnamese currency.
For Mr. Nguyen Tien Hung, each coin is not simply a piece of metal, but a testament to the past. He can clearly remember and explain the age, origin, and even the historical context associated with each coin.
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| Mr. Hung carefully organizes and preserves a portion of his collection of banknotes from various periods. |
He said: "Each coin is a slice of history. By learning about the age, material, and symbols on the coins, I understand more about the economic and social life of each period. The more I learn, the more fascinated I become and the more I want to be involved in this hobby for the long term."
Besides nearly 40,000 coins, his banknote collection also impresses many. The banknote albums are neatly organized, with detailed annotations, and categorized by historical period. Currently, Mr. Hung owns more than 5,000 banknotes.
Notably, the collection includes Vietnamese banknotes from various periods, such as Indochinese currency from 1949-1951; Vietnamese-Cambodian-Lao currency (1953-1954); and currency from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam era… All are carefully preserved, like a “miniature museum” within the family home.
Acquiring such a rich collection of artifacts in the Antique Cafe was the result of a long journey of searching, collecting, and researching by Mr. Hung. Pointing to the artifacts, Mr. Hung recounted that some coins took many years to find, even requiring him to travel to many different locations and meet with like-minded enthusiasts to exchange them.
Many evenings, after finishing his work, he would meticulously clean, sort, and record information about each artifact, carefully placing them in storage. For him, it wasn't just about preservation, but also about "living" with history. Each time he added a new artifact, he felt immense joy, as if he had just completed another piece of the historical puzzle.
Old stories in modern life
Initially, we thought Mr. Hung's "treasure" was just coins, but sitting in the tranquil atmosphere of the Antique Cafe, we realized that besides ancient coins, Mr. Hung also devoted much effort to searching for traditional farming tools of ethnic groups such as the Muong, Thai, and Kinh.
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| The coins are arranged to form the shape of a map of Vietnam and the former Thai Nguyen province, reflecting the collector's dedication. |
These are sickles, scythes, earthenware pots, millstones, bowls, plates… carefully preserved over time. These simple objects evoke a space of ancient culture, preserving memories of the working life and daily activities of the Vietnamese people through different periods, and are a part of the national cultural memory.
Beyond his personal passion, Mr. Hung is willing to share his "treasures" with the community. Many artifacts have been donated to the Thai Nguyen Provincial Museum, contributing to enriching the source materials for exhibitions and research. For him, the value of each artifact lies not in ownership but in its ability to tell the story of history so that many people can know and understand it.
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| The antique display space inside Mr. Hung's house. |
According to Mr. Do Anh Thanh, a member of the UNESCO Viet Bac Antiquities Club, Mr. Hung is a person with a passion and deep understanding of antiquities. His collection is not only valuable in terms of artifacts but also has research and educational significance. Through it, many people, especially the younger generation, can better understand the nation's history from familiar and concrete things.
In Thai Nguyen, while the number of people pursuing their passion for collecting antiques is not large, they are quietly contributing to preserving historical and cultural values in today's life. Through small donations, history becomes more accessible – no longer just dry pages of books, but present in each cherished and preserved artifact. And this journey of "preserving the soul" of history continues, persistently through the years.
Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/van-hoa/202603/nghe-co-vat-ke-chuyen-xua-2a97a40/
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