Rich neighborhood - where time stands still

The ancient house cluster was recognized as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument in 2007 (Photo courtesy)

In the cultural and historical picture of Tay Ninh land, there are places that carry within them both prosperous and quiet stories, including the "rich neighborhood" Thanh Phu Long. Nestled among the green dragon fruit gardens of Thuan My commune, Tay Ninh province (formerly Thanh Phu Long, Chau Thanh district, Long An province), this cluster of architectural and artistic relics is not only a "witness" of a golden age but also a place to preserve the unique cultural and architectural values of the once-famous Nguyen Huu family.

Based on the remaining artifacts, this cluster of ancient houses was built by the Nguyen Huu family from 1898 to 1908. This place is known to many people as the "rich neighborhood" to show the wealth and luxury of the owners.

The interior of Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoanh's house is preserved by his descendants (Photo courtesy)

The cluster of ancient houses is spread over a large area of about ^15,000m2 . Each house is about ^500m2 , built in an area of more than ^5,000m2 . The owners of the cluster of ancient houses are 3 brothers of the Nguyen Huu family: Nguyen Huu Hiep (Cai Tong Hiep), Nguyen Huu Hoanh (Hoi Dong Hoanh) and Nguyen Huu Hung (Doc Phu Su). All 3 are people of high social status and own "straight-winged" land.

The ancient houses all have a structure of 3 main rooms and 2 side rooms, built in the style of a house with brick walls, tiled roofs, and tiled floors. The house is shaped like the letter Khau, including the front and back houses, connected by 2 bridges, with a separate space in the middle called the "thien tinh" yard or skylight.

Having gone through many ups and downs of history and covered with traces of time, the Thanh Phu Long ancient house cluster still stands there as a proud historical “witness”. Ranked as a National Architectural and Artistic Monument by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) in 2007, these houses are not only architectural works but also precious heritage.

An interesting thing that few people know is that this relic complex once became the main setting for the horror film Ut Lan - Oan Linh Giu Cu, which was released in June 2025. The combination of the quiet beauty of the house and the mysterious, ghostly elements of the story created a special attraction for the film. The architectural features of the house with sophisticated carvings, large courtyards and skylights in the middle have been thoroughly exploited to create beautiful and ghostly frames.

Using Thanh Phu Long ancient house as a setting for the film not only brought artistic success to the film but also contributed to promoting and honoring the value of this relic. Many audiences, after watching the film, went to Thanh Phu Long ancient house to see it with their own eyes and learn about the history of this place.

Until now, the houses are still inhabited by descendants of the Nguyen Huu family, who are contributing to the preservation and maintenance of the cultural values of their ancestors. The existence of the "rich neighborhood" Thanh Phu Long is not only the pride of the people of Tay Ninh but also an attractive destination to admire, listen and touch the golden past./.

Kim Oanh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/xom-nha-giau-noi-thoi-gian-ngung-dong-a202618.html