The people who are living in Saigon and getting acquainted with the incredibly speedy growth of modern buildings. Hoever, there were times they felt affected when the old architecture objects were destroyed and disappeared forever. Bitterly, that kind of feeling (though they ddidn't hope to get it) now does not exist, for finding an ancient pure Vietnamese house in this city is not an easy work.
Nevertheless, it's very lucky for somebody who hope to learn and contemplate a beauty of the past, for a more than 200 years old house which is in good condition regardless of historical changes still exists in the center of Saigon. The house located within the precincts of the Vicarage.
The house was primitively built close to Thi Nghe ditch by Emperor Nguyen Anh in 1788, it was Vicar Ba Da Loc (Pigneau de Behaine)'s house where Prince Canh ( the son of Nguyen Anh King) frequented to study with him. There were 5 wooden rooms with a titled roof. Being carved beautifully, the width and the depth of the house are equivalent; therefore if you have a top side view, you will see a square. Firstly, the house was called Tan Xa Palace. During the time that most houses were constructed by such simple materials like bamboo, this structure doubtlessly made a big impression on others for its elegance.
After Vica Ba Da Loc passed away, on September 11th 1788, the house was handed over to Vicar Liot before being closed for a long period from 1811 to 1864.
In 1864, after Vietnamese ambassadors came back from the negotiation about redeeming 3 provinces of Southern Vietnam in French, Emperor Tu Duc gave the house to a french vicar named Lefbvre (also know that Father Ngai). It was then moved to Saigon Zoo and Botanic Garden (Thao Cam Vien in Vietnamese) when this zoo was being built.
In 1900, the vicarage was built on Richaud Street (known as Nguyen DInh Chieu street now) and the house was also moved there to be used as a chapel. Since then, it has been restored twice time. The first time was around the middle of the last century when all the timber partitions were so terribly damaged that the workmen had to replace them by brick walls. The next repair was in 1980. The workmen spilled concrete into wooden colums to prevent termites. Thanks to the outside of colums which were still fine as well as skilfull restoring techniques, when seeing these ebony colums, we can see clearly the ancient traits of the structure.
At present, sometimes there are discussions about upgrading the chapel in the vicarage. Fortunately, finally the most ancient house in Saigon is still kept the ancient state.
The house is an attractive tourist spot for visitors so that they can learn more about the most antique Vietnamese architechture in the cityand sense the beauty of the house which hasn't been changed regardless of time.
Western tourists will be absolutely surprised to see their cultureal traits appearing on a Vietnamese house through delicate carving.
But, last but not least, who designed this house and who conducted the building process, etc...these are still mysterious thing that many people have questioned. !!!
That what I know about the ancient - oldest house of Saigon .
