BACK TO THE PAST WITH A 100-YEAR-OLD SOUTHERN ANCIENT HOUSE AT MY KHANH ECO-TOURISM VILLAGE

The Southern Ancient House – A Journey Back to the Bygone Days of the Mekong Delta

The ancient house evokes a deep sense of nostalgia, allowing visitors to relive the traditional Southern Vietnamese lifestyle through its preserved architecture, decorations, and artifacts. Every detail — from the structure to the furnishings — has been carefully maintained or faithfully restored, giving visitors the feeling of stepping back in time.

At Mỹ Khánh Tourist Village, this ancient house is not only a cultural highlight for visitors but also a meaningful effort to preserve the beauty of Vietnam’s traditional architecture.

1. Origin of the Southern Ancient House at Mỹ Khánh

The ancient house was originally built in 1906 by Mr. Trần Hý Ngươn as a wedding gift for his second wife, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Phòng. Over its 114-year history, the house has been passed down through generations. Later, the family’s descendants allowed Mỹ Khánh Tourist Village to relocate the house from the Bình Thủy Ancient House Complex to its current location. About 90% of the structure was restored to its original form, with only the foundation and roof tiles replaced during reconstruction.

Today, the ancient house is located in Zone 1 of Mỹ Khánh Ecotourism Village, surrounded by lush greenery that perfectly reflects the peaceful countryside of Southern Vietnam.

2. Architectural Features of the Southern Ancient House

2.1 Overall Architecture

Built entirely from rare and precious wood, the house radiates the elegance and nobility of wealthy landowners from the feudal era. It is set amid a spacious courtyard harmoniously designed with ornamental trees, ponds, and fish — a tranquil Southern landscape.

(Photo: Southern Ancient House – Mỹ Khánh)

The structure follows the traditional Southern layout of “three compartments and two lean-tos” (ba gian, hai chái). The three compartments represent three main entrances, with the central door being the largest — considered the main entrance of the home.
In old Southern customs, women were only allowed to walk through this main door twice in their lifetime: once when entering the house as a bride, and once when their coffin was carried out after death — symbolizing the belief “one enters and exits through the same door.”

(Photo: Southern Ancient House – Mỹ Khánh)

The two lean-tos on either side had separate functions:

• The left wing was where the man of the house entertained guests, sharing tea or rice wine with friends.
• The right wing was where the lady of the house hosted her companions for an afternoon chat or card game.
  This layout follows the traditional concept of “men on the left, women on the right” (nam tả, nữ hữu).

Originally, the roof was made with yin-yang tiles (one concave and one convex tile overlapping), a signature of traditional Vietnamese architecture. Over time, weather damage required major restoration, which has since been carefully completed by Mỹ Khánh.

Underneath the tiled floor lies a layer of salt about 10 cm thick, an old technique used to absorb heat and keep the floor cool — a clever method used by wealthy landowners in the past to cope with the region’s tropical climate.

2.2 Interior Design

Stepping inside the ancient Southern house at Mỹ Khánh, visitors first notice the threshold beneath their feet. Unlike Northern ancient houses where the threshold is high, the Southern one is lower — reflecting the open and easygoing nature of Southern people. As guests slightly bow while stepping over it, the act also symbolizes respect to the ancestors and a polite greeting to the host.

(Photo: Interior of the Southern Ancient House – Mỹ Khánh)

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a magnificent Phước–Lộc–Thọ (Happiness–Prosperity–Longevity) screen, which serves both spiritual and functional purposes. It is believed to block bad luck from entering the home and also disperse wind evenly to cool the rooms.
Behind the screen stands a carved wooden reception bench (trường kỷ) — reserved for the male host to receive guests. Traditionally, women were only allowed to sit there if they were over 50 years old or already grandmothers. The lady of the house usually entertained her guests on a low wooden platform (phảng) beside it.

The house contains two tables and one wooden bed (used as a platform for sitting or resting). The level of intimacy with the host determined where a guest would be seated. The innermost table, called the “Tâm trà” (Tea of the Heart), was reserved for the closest friends and family. It is made from a tree struck by lightning — believed in folk tradition to ward off evil spirits and negative energy.

(Photo: Artifacts inside the Southern Ancient House – Mỹ Khánh)

3. Unique Stories Behind the Ancient House

One striking difference in this ancient house compared to others is the absence of the ridge beam — known as the “đòn dông” or roof beam, a vital structural element in traditional architecture.
This missing piece carries a fascinating story.

When Mr. Trần Hý Ngươn married his second wife, his first wife personally helped arrange the wedding and even brought the dowry herself. However, she set one condition: while the children of the second wife could carry the Trần family name, their names would not be recorded in the family genealogy. This meant that when Mr. Ngươn passed away, the entire inheritance — including 3,000 hectares of land — would go to the first wife’s children.

Because of this, when the new house for the second wife was completed, the first wife ordered the removal of the ridge beam, symbolizing that the house would forever remain “roofless.”
Her intention was deeply metaphorical — a subtle reminder of the saying:

“A child without a father is like a house without a roof.”

It was her way of asserting the difference in family status and lineage.

(Photo: Wooden furnishings made from Melaleuca wood)

A Cultural Treasure of Southern Vietnam

Today, the Southern Ancient House at Mỹ Khánh serves as an invaluable cultural and historical attraction, drawing both domestic and international visitors eager to explore the charm of traditional Vietnamese architecture.

Beyond sightseeing, visitors are encouraged to respect and help preserve the surrounding environment and historical artifacts — ensuring that these precious cultural values continue to be passed down for generations to come.