Nestled along the Tuy Loan River in Tuy Loan Dong 1 Village, Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang, an old tiled house with 3 compartments and 2 wings is quite prominent by its gentle and poetic features, along with unique collections of artifacts.

The house owner is Mr. Nguyen Van Chin, 58, who is a teacher of Literature at the Pham Van Dong Junior High School in Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District.

Mr. Nguyen Van Chin and his large porcelain plate made by Vietnamese people. Photo: TIEU YEN

Mr. Chin was awarded the name of ‘Crazy Chin’ by his villagers many years ago because, during the difficult subsidy period in Viet Nam, people tried to save money to rebuild their downgraded houses, build a new gate or buy buffaloes and cows to improve the family economy, he used his meager salary to buy old stuff. Many antiques are piled up in his garden year after year because of not knowing what to do.

His wife, Mrs. Tan Thi Kim Phuong - a former teacher of the An Phuoc Primary School in Hoa Phong Commune - have cried many times over her husband's high-cost hobbit.

Strong passion for antiques

Mrs. Phuong said that in the early 1990s, after working hours, Mr. Chin was often away from home, going to upstream areas of the Thu Bon and Cu De rivers or going to the Tien Phuoc and Duy Xuyen countrysides, both in Quang Nam Province, to buy antiques. Included are house frames and house poles of a three compartment rural house made of jackfruit wood, old household items, a stone mill, a crock pot, some honeycomb stones, and others.

Mr Chin’s 1,000m² garden was full of old items made of jackfruit wood or old chests and counters.

“In heavily rainy days, my husband couldnot sit still for a moment because of his anxiety for a pile of old things piled up in the corner of the garden. He cherished those items as if he valued his life” Mrs Phuong said.

Each item comes to Mr. Chin's family by chance. Pointing to a porcelain plate with a radius of nearly 40cm, hand-painted hibiscus flower motif, covered with an opaque white enamel, Mr. Chin said that this plate was made by Vietnamese people, but he was very precious because of its rare enamel, and beautiful and large drawings. The plate was solemnly arranged by him next to other items in a glass cabinet.

Mr. Chin said, this item was given by a builder from Cam Le District who knew Mr Chin's great passion for antiques.

“This is one of my favorite pieces. It is not easy to find now, money can't be bought" said Mr. Chin.

Most notable among his collected antiques are 14 artillery Shells of all sizes, from 100mm, 122mm, 130mm, 167mm, etc. These shells, which have been collected by him and his son-in-law for many years, were used by Vietnamese soldiers in the anti-American resistance war.

Mr. Chin said that many people came to his house to ask to buy back the collection, but he did not sell it, because he wanted to put it in the common living space, which is a link between the cultural past and the history of the nation.

 “I worked hard to find and collect artillery shells with the desire to teach my students about the nation's history", said Mr. Chin.

The 3-compartment and 2-wing house was built from 36 jackfruit trees for the purpose of restoring Vietnamese families' cultural space. Photo: TIEU YEN

Building a cultural destination

For nearly 30 years of collecting antiques, Mr. Chin can't remember how many objects he has in his house. Worshipers, large wooden chests, wooden sets of tables and chairs, delicately carved reliefs, and others are sparsely put in the complex of three-compartment and one-compartment rural house. What Mr. Chin is proud of is that he has contributed to preserving the cultural values in the rural areas of Quang Nam and Da Nang.

In that architectural complex, a 3- compartment, 2-wing rural house was built from 36 jackfruit trees ordered by Mr. Chin from the gardens in Tien Phuoc and Duy Xuyen districts in Quang Nam Province, and Hoa Phu and Hoa Bac communes in Da Nang.

Despite possessing hundreds of valuable artifacts, Mr. Chin honestly said that he does not know the origin and age of all artifacts. He just looks at the cultural and spiritual values that the antiques bring.

He has recently opened a coffee shop named after the land where he lived ‘Tuy Loan’. This is a great place for antique lovers across Da Nang to meet and understand more about the cultural values of antiques that he is trying to preserve.

Reporting by TIEU YEN - Translating by M.DUNG