Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House

Huynh Thuy Le Ancient House is a well-preserved historic residence at 255A Nguyen Hue Street in Sa Dec City, Dong Thap Province. Built in 1895 and renovated in 1917, it is notable for its fusion of French colonial, Vietnamese and Chinese architecture. The house was the residence of Huynh Thuy Le and is internationally known as the setting for Marguerite Duras' novel The Lover.

Visitors can explore a two-storey historic house with a French colonial exterior and richly decorated interior featuring Chinese carved wood, Vietnamese mother-of-pearl inlay, and French tiles and arches. The ground floor displays antique furniture, altars, and family memorabilia, while the upper floor shows living quarters. The house is located in central Sa Dec near the Sa Dec River, with guided tours explaining architecture and history.

Originally built in 1895 by Huynh Cam Thuan, a wealthy Chinese-Vietnamese merchant, and extensively renovated in 1917 in French colonial style. It was the family home of his son Huynh Thuy Le (1894-1990), whose love affair with French writer Marguerite Duras while she lived in Sa Dec in the late 1920s inspired her Prix Goncourt-winning novel The Lover (L'Amant) published in 1984.

A prominent example of Mekong Delta merchant architecture blending Eastern and Western design traditions, reflecting the multicultural heritage of Sa Dec. The house is a symbol of Sa Dec's historic prosperity and a literary pilgrimage site linked to French-Vietnamese cultural exchange, preserved as a heritage attraction showcasing traditional craftsmanship and lifestyle of the early 20th century.