Inside King Meo’s mansion on the rocky plateau of Ha Giang
The Wang (Vương) family mansion (Meo King Mansion) appears with an ancient look and unique architecture in the midst of the coincidence of the Northwest mountains and forests, attracting a large number of visitors.
The residence is in Sa Phin (Sà Phìn) valley, Lung Phin (Lũng Phìn) commune (Dong Van district, Ha Giang province), approximately 125 kilometers from Ha Giang city center and approximately 25 kilometers from Dong Van rock plateau. The name and career of two Hmong fathers and sons, King Meo - Vuong Chinh Duc (Vương Chính Đức) and Vuong Chi Sinh (Vương Chí Sình), are associated with this mansion.
This project began construction in early 1898 and was officially completed in 1907, nearly ten years later, with an estimated amount of about 15 lakh Indochina white silver coins, a huge amount at the time, worth about 150 billion VND at the current price.
The entire Meo King mansion covers nearly 3,000 m2. The mansion's architecture is inspired by Qing Dynasty (China) sarcophagus architecture, combined with Hmong patterns, and selected with French architecture elements such as fireplaces and blockhouses...
The palace has three money arcs: front, middle, and back, with 64 large and small rooms that can accommodate about 100 people. There is a large courtyard full of light between the rows of self-contained 2-story wooden houses. An orchard surrounds the house, with many different types of trees such as wood, cinnamon, peach, pear, flowers...
Details of the wooden structure beneath the gate roof, which is shaped like Hmong bat wings and bears the symbol "Phuc."
Decorative door from the gate house to the front yard with poppies and peach blossoms.
The structure and layout of the rooms define the residence's characteristics. The mansion was built like a fortified fortress, with thick walls made of bluestone, terracotta tiles, and stone pine woodwork in the rows of houses. The palace has two blockhouses for defense, warehouses for storing assets, arsenals, and the rooms are laid out like a miniature sarcophagus.
More than 900 silver coins were used to sharpen the foot of the stone pillar with the poppy symbol in the Wang palace (Indochinese silver coins, equivalent to one billion today).
Mr. Vuong Chi Sinh's tomb (renamed Vuong Chi Thanh (Vương Chí Thành) by President Ho Chi Minh) is on the grounds of the mansion. He was King Vuong Chi Duc's (Vương Chí Đức) younger son. Mr. Vuong Chi Thanh served in the First and Second National Assemblies. He was also the chairman of the Dong Van district before retiring.
"I've been here several times, but each time feels like the first. Looking at the wooden, earthen, and stone architecture, which appears simple but solid and sophisticated, creates a sense of nostalgia for wartime "Mr. Nguyen Thang (Bac Ninh) explained.
Inside the mansion, an altar has been set up for tourists to worship and remember. "When visiting the mansion, I was very curious and interested by the historical story surrounding it, as well as the life of King Meo's father and son and interesting stories about people and land in Ha Giang," said Ms. Le Anh Thu (24 years old, Hung Yen).
King Cat's mansion is about 125 kilometers from Ha Giang city.
Source: Mạnh Đạt