Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House
Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House
3.5
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
110 reviews
Excellent
16
Very good
43
Average
35
Poor
11
Terrible
5
Lexibelle
Phoenix, AZ1,708 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
The house is old and deteriorating. The history is it belong to a wealthy Chinese family and the son had an affair with a poor French girl. The girl, Margaret Duras wrote a novel about the affair, titled The Lover. The facilities in the back are decent.
Written January 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PtLomafoodie
San Diego, CA1,208 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
This lovely mansion is in ruins today.
it was once the home of a wealthy Chinese family on the waterfront. The adult son Huynh Thuy Le had an illicit romantic relationship with a poor French teenage girl. The girl became the author of a famous book based on her love affair, titled “L’Amant” (The Lover, in English, by Marguerite Duras). It is also a movie of the same title.
it was once the home of a wealthy Chinese family on the waterfront. The adult son Huynh Thuy Le had an illicit romantic relationship with a poor French teenage girl. The girl became the author of a famous book based on her love affair, titled “L’Amant” (The Lover, in English, by Marguerite Duras). It is also a movie of the same title.
Written December 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShowMeVegas
SGF, MO7,809 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
Built in 1885 by Le's father, this house is a key setting for Marguerite Duras' acclaimed autobiograhpical novel, "L'amant" ("The Lover") which was later made into a film of the same name. The "Lover's House" has a unique blend of French and Chinese architecture.
Basically, the story is of a 15 yr old Vietnamese girl who has an lingering tryst with a 27 yr old Huynh Thuy Le, son of a Chinese business magnate in 1929. However, Le's father disapproved of the relationship due to their social class differences. Le succumbs to his father's pressure and ends the relationship and the girl moves to France at 18. Le marries another, more "suitable" woman and has a family. Le maintained his love for the girl and learns much later that the girl loved him deeply as well.
Le and his family used the house until 1972 when Le died and his family moved abroad. An accomplished writer, "The Lover" was one of Duras' later works published twelve years after Le's death. Duras died in Paris in 1996 after a long literary career.
More and more visitors, Asian and increasingly Western, visit this site in a tour called, "Following the footsteps of 'The Lover'", which includesTrung Vuong Sa Dec Primary School - where Duras' mother taught school from 1924 to 1930 - and the Ong Quach Pagoda.
Our private tour started with tea and dried, sugared ginger slices served in the house's ornate interior which features many photos of Ms. Duras, Mr Le and his families, both immediate and extended, and other memorabilia including that of the film in which, I believe, the house was used as a set.
Tours are offered by the Dong Thap Tourist Company who also manage the property.
Basically, the story is of a 15 yr old Vietnamese girl who has an lingering tryst with a 27 yr old Huynh Thuy Le, son of a Chinese business magnate in 1929. However, Le's father disapproved of the relationship due to their social class differences. Le succumbs to his father's pressure and ends the relationship and the girl moves to France at 18. Le marries another, more "suitable" woman and has a family. Le maintained his love for the girl and learns much later that the girl loved him deeply as well.
Le and his family used the house until 1972 when Le died and his family moved abroad. An accomplished writer, "The Lover" was one of Duras' later works published twelve years after Le's death. Duras died in Paris in 1996 after a long literary career.
More and more visitors, Asian and increasingly Western, visit this site in a tour called, "Following the footsteps of 'The Lover'", which includesTrung Vuong Sa Dec Primary School - where Duras' mother taught school from 1924 to 1930 - and the Ong Quach Pagoda.
Our private tour started with tea and dried, sugared ginger slices served in the house's ornate interior which features many photos of Ms. Duras, Mr Le and his families, both immediate and extended, and other memorabilia including that of the film in which, I believe, the house was used as a set.
Tours are offered by the Dong Thap Tourist Company who also manage the property.
Written October 19, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clare I
Douglas, UK187 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
Having read the book and seen the film I was keen to go to this attraction. The building is very ornate and is a blend of French and Chinese architecture. Upon arrival you are invited to have jasmine tea accompanied by slices of preserved ginger, which is very nice and you are given a brief talk on the writer, Marguerite Duras and her autobiographical novel, The Lover. The tour is not a lengthy one but is very interesting. It gives a brief insight into both the French presence in Vietnam and also the position of the wealthy Chinese in society in the 1920's. There are both pictures of the Duras and the Le family as well as pictures of the actors in the film. This appears to be a venue where young locals come to have pictures taken prior to their weddings. All in all very interesting.
Written January 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gordon S
Guelph, Canada668 contributions
Mar 2020
The house was average but the story of the residence was amazing as it was a love story. The flowers in front of the house was amazing.
Worth a visit.
Worth a visit.
Written April 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob A
Sydney, Australia238 contributions
Nov 2019
Worth a visit for those who like a love story & recall the novel L'AMANT by Marguerite Duras.The house is interesting & the pictures & interior decor are quite beautiful.History
is being preserved here & that has to be worth something in this day & age.The whole story was recounted to us by a local guide as well as photos being explained.
is being preserved here & that has to be worth something in this day & age.The whole story was recounted to us by a local guide as well as photos being explained.
Written December 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue P
Perth, Australia469 contributions
Sep 2019
Beautiful house was once the home of Huynh Thuy Le who was the lover of French writer Marguerite Duras. Her bestselling novel led to the making of the movie The Lover. The house has a lovely garden and the entrance is decorated in Gold. Photos of Marguerite and Huynh are displayed in the main entrance.
Written September 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JulieDownman
Gosford, Australia41 contributions
Sep 2014
It is very small and can be seen in less than 10 mins. From the book and movie the lover, the carving is beautiful. But all they really push is the souvenirs their is not many and they are quite tacky. The pot of lotus tea is good and the ginger snacks very strong but even that is to try to get you to buy some.
Written September 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hai Phan (Francis)
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam84 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
Beautiful accient house. Great to visit in Sa Dec. You can also find some nice spots around to visit
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suzie G
15 contributions
Jan 2020
Love story, family honor, and a movie made of the details. The home's decor is extraordinary. Don't miss it!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eszter P
London, United Kingdom
Hi,
We're travelling to Sa Dec for a day, basically to see the set of The Lover and flower market. Would you be able to recommend a tour guy for the day?
Thank you,
Eszter &Florian
Written April 27, 2016
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