Research on preserving 100-year-old Governor's mansion

Chairman of Dong Nai Provincial People's Council Thai Bao has just sent an official dispatch to the Party Committee of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee and the Standing Committee of Bien Hoa City Party Committee regarding the study of the issue of preserving and promoting the cultural value of the architectural work "Mr. Phu's mansion" belonging to the Dong Nai riverside road project.

Front of the villa of Governor Vo Ha Thanh

The document stated that in recent days, central and local press agencies have continuously reported on the fact that the 100-year-old architectural work "Mr. Phu's mansion" (also known as the villa of Governor Vo Ha Thanh - PV) in Bien Hoa City, part of the Dong Nai riverside road project (from Hoa An bridge to the border of Vinh Cuu district), is at risk of being demolished. At the same time, it reflected many concerns of domestic and foreign experts, architects, historical researchers and people of Bien Hoa city, suggesting that the government consider a plan to preserve this architectural work of historical and cultural value.

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Dong Nai Provincial People's Council requested the Party Committee of Dong Nai Provincial People's Committee and the Standing Committee of Bien Hoa City Party Committee, and leaders of specialized agencies to study the above issue to calculate appropriate plans and solutions, while ensuring the implementation of the project.

Many cultural history researchers recommend that the government should consider a plan to preserve this structure.

At the same time, in conjunction with preserving, conserving and promoting architectural values in the spirit of Resolution No. 12 of the Executive Committee of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee, term XI, on building and promoting cultural values, Dong Nai people become an important resource and driving force for comprehensive and sustainable development; determining the preservation and promotion of cultural values (tangible and intangible) and other cultural values; recreating and creating many cultural products, high-quality, characteristic tourism products, imbued with Dong Nai identity, in line with the trend of the times.

As Thanh Nien Newspaper reported, the 100-year-old villa of Governor Vo Ha Thanh, located along the Dong Nai River, has unique architecture, but because it is not considered a relic, Dong Nai Province authorities have planned to demolish it to make way for road construction.

Many experts in cultural and historical research and public opinion have spoken out, expressing regret that the villa of Governor Vo Ha Thanh is at risk of "remaining only in memory", and at the same time hoping that the government will keep this villa for preservation.

The leader of Bien Hoa City People's Committee said that the city has listened and is coordinating with relevant departments to survey, research, and come up with the best solution to handle the 100-year-old villa along the Dong Nai River.

According to documents, Mr. Vo Ha Thanh was born in 1876, from a poor family in Quang Ngai, followed his father to Bien Hoa when he was young. In Bien Hoa, he initially worked as a hired hand, then became a boss, opened a stone quarry, established a rubber plantation... and gradually became rich, became the owner of a large plantation in Bien Hoa, and became a governor...

The villa was built by him in 1922 and completed in 1924 with French architecture and many materials imported from France. The villa faces the Dong Nai River, its back leans against Binh Dien Mountain, in Buu Long Ward (Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai). In 1996, this house was chosen as the main setting for filming the movie The Beauty of the Western Capital .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dong-nai-nghien-cuu-bao-ton-biet-thu-doc-phu-su-100-nam-tuoi-185240924212008142.htm