Hue culture and heritage is immense and mysterious. Getting to understand about Hue is not just sightseeing around the touristic monuments but should engage immersion into the local life. Take a cycling tour in Hue to Kim Long village and discover an ancient garden house of a Nguyen Dynasty Minister. The house has a special name “Xuân Viên Tiểu Cung” which literally means The Small Residence in The Spring Garden. You will have an insight into our Hue culture obviously.
Why the Small Residence in the Spring Garden?
Taking a cycling tour in Hue to Kim Long village, you can see the house at 3/22 Phú Mộng hamlet still maintains its original architecture. This ancient house is the residence of Phạm Hữu Điển – a Minister of Rite under Nguyễn Dynasty. His residence was built from 1894 to 1909, consists of the main house and its annex. The main house faces a stand-pond and windscreen which serves as feng-shui elements according to Oriental philosophy. The house locates at the heart of the lush garden especially hundred-year-old mangosteen trees. In this fresh and verdant atmosphere, we can feel the fragrance from blooming flowers such as golden apricot flowers (the symbol of spring in Southern Vietnam) and water-lily blossom. Properly this is the reason the owner came up with the name “Xuân Viên Tiểu Cung” (the small residence in the spring palace) for his home.
A small Residence but an amazing museum
Slow Travel cycling tour in Hue is proud to connect tourists to the real local heritage and raise the awareness of local people in protecting their legacy. When other ancient houses are collapsed, Minister Điển’s residence maintains its original architecture and soul. Built-in the late 19th century, this residence blend Eastern and Western architecture whose title roof had carved wooden frames while its walls are made of concrete. As an Rường house, the main residence has three chambers with the middle for worshiping. Buddhist’s altar in front and ancestor behind is Hue worshiping rule. In the middle compartment, at the end of the house standing altar of Minister Điển where some of his mementos such as his belt, walking stick still remain. All furniture is old and meticulous carving. Especially, the hundred-year-old kitchen is an amazing place for tourists taking photos and understanding how ancient people live.
Follow a cycling tour in Hue and meet the protectors of the ancient house
This unique traditional house keeps its value thanks to the contribution of the Minister’s descendant. Mệ Túy (Mrs. Túy) who passed away two years old is Minister’s granddaughter. She had many siblings but they live far away and she sacrificed her life to preserve this legacy for the ancestor. She lived as a single with her housekeeper Mrs. Gái to take care of the shrine and keep the garden always beautiful. You can easily see a no-age beauty on Mrs. Túy elegant smiley face. She was an amiable old lady and a humorous person that I ever met. Once coming here, O Gái or Mệ Túy warmly invites tourists with hot green tea, ginger jam, and some garden fruit like bananas. Then, share many good memories about the Minister with the curious and keen travelers. This is an easy way to get understand the culture by a cycling tour in Hue.
It is very easy to get into the mandarin life and see local heritage. Join our Slow Travel Art of living with a garden house in Kim Long village. Pedal as you wish and visit and you like, your guide will be with you.
