Sunday at Việt Phủ Thành Chương

Sơn Tĩnh tower & water
puppet theater

Sunday 1 November 2009 - I traveled with my colleagues to the Thành Chương's Viet Palace which is located 35km from Hanoi's center. Mr. Thành Chương was born in 1949 in a northern province. As a famous artist in Vietnam, he has earned millions of USDs from selling his paintings and he has also collected antiques for years. He bought 10,000m2 of land in Sóc Sơn district, flattened a hill and started building various works of art in his own realm during 2001-2003. Mr. Thành Chương has devoted most of his property, energy, heart and mind to the construction of this realm. At this place we can see the old traditional houses of northern Vietnam, Buddha statues, lacquer paintings drawn by Mr. Thành Chương, wooden furniture and antiques dating from hundreds years ago. Anyone who visits the palace would be surprised at his great love for the invaluable heritage of Vietnamese culture.

There are about 20 places to see at the site, for example, the water puppet theater, the house on stilts, the Mountain God Tower, the thatched cottage with earthen walls, the horse shrine, the Champa gate etc. In one of the houses, there are the most valuable antiques and visitors have to pay an extra fee to see them.