“Crazy” man and his unique ceramic house in Vinh Phuc province

Among antique lovers, there is hardly anyone who is more 'playful' than Nguyen Van Truong in Son Kien village, Chan Hung commune, Vinh Tuong district, Vinh Phuc province, when he puts all antiques on the wall. Coming to Son Kien village, everyone knows 'crazy' Truong with a house made from thousands of antique pieces that could be seen from afar. A house of more than 40 sq.m with many auxiliary facilities on a land plot of over 100 sq.m is decorated with thousands of antique pieces and built by Truong decades ago. The road leading to Truong's house is a small lane which is concreted and has houses on both sides. At the entrance, above the dome is ancient vases interspersed with old dishes with all kinds of unique patterns and shapes. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

To the right from the entrance is a giant rockery. On the rockery are thousands of pieces of ancient pottery. In the middle is a small bamboo cluster casting shade down the narrow yard. To the left of the entrance is an old small house. Various kinds of antique dishes are sealed on both inside and outside of the wall. Entering here, visitors feel like they are visiting a giant antique museum. He confided that he used to be a soldier on the war battlefields in Cambodia. In 1986, he returned to his hometown to earn a living by painting furniture. Thanks to this job, Truong had many chances to interact with antiques. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

This man has a limitless passion for porcelain items from ancient times. Commonly, this hobby is only for the rich but Truong is an exception. As a poor peasant, Truong sold rice and mortgaged his home to the bank to have money for antiques. He also traveled along the Red River to seek old pottery pieces. Truong has never sold any item he collected but attached them to the walls of his house. Looking from afar, the house is like an ancient imperial palace. The walls are covered with ancient bowls, plates and pottery pieces. On the yard, several dozen of stone mortars stand in line. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The dome gate is mounted with vases and plates full of patterns from floral birds to bamboo and stone, apricot flowers, daisies, cranes, pine trees, carps, phoenix, among others. Stepping through the gate, on the right is a small house that is not mortared but covered by bowls and plates. On the left is a large rockwork paved by thousands of pieces of ancient pottery. The three pillars in front of the house is mounted with old coins and old buttons. Using his shirt tail to clean a plate on the wall, Truong looked at the whole room, then affectionately called it 'picture.' (Photo: VietnamPlus)

He mounted these items on the walls because he did not have money to buy glass cabinets to display them. He was also afraid of losing them and breaking them. 'I have been fond of antiques since 1986, but it was not until 1991 that I had money to buy the first item. Since 1996, I have started to attach pieces on the walls, rockery and fences,' Truong said. At first, Truong knew almost nothing about antiques, but with hard work, he accumulated knowledge in the field in a short time. Though his job is low-paid, but whenever he saved a little money, he bought old dishes from whole to broken pieces. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The house becomes prominent with thousands of old dishes and plates artfully glued to the walls, from the gates, stairways to the interior. He first collected antiques for the trading purpose at the age of 24, but his love for the old objects gradually grows without knowing, the middle-aged man became an antique collector. Truong came up with such a bizarre idea when his house turned too old and needed renovation. For three decades, Truong has been wandering around alleys to hunt for antiques with his bicycle. However, the passion is not welcomed by his family and relatives. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

He traveled around the country, scouring every single house with antiques for weeks, sometimes even for months. Truong said that in 1982, he went to Cambodia to perform international duty in the Vietnamese army. In 1986, he returned home and worked as a hired woodwork painter. This job enabled him to meet with many antique collectors. Since then, the passion for collecting pottery antiques has invaded him. 'I worked for a famous antiques dealer in the region. There were countless beautiful antiques in his home. He told me that I traveled a lot so if I saw any antique, I could buy and then sell them to him. I was already enamored of antiques, selling antiques is like to sell the cultural values of the nation,' Truong recalled. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

To complete a mosaic made of ceramic works on the walls and fences around the house, Truong spent nearly two decades. Materials to create such huge mosaic are more than eight thousands of antique bowls and plates, 90 kg of slugs, 20 kg of coins, over 20 kg of brass, stone buttons and countless ancient pottery pieces. His current house is covered with nearly 10,000 porcelain bowls, plates and pots. Truong added that though most of them look very nice and cheap, but in fact, some date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. However, he does not care about their material values. His only wish is to preserve the cultural beauty of the country. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 

To him, the ancient artefacts are soulful and imbued with cultural, historical and language identity of a society. According to him, though his collection is huge, its economic value is not high because it is for popular class. There are a few high-end items but they cost a maximum of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese dong. Though he has a reputation for being 'crazy', he still believes that when passing away, he will leave a legacy of cultural value to younger generations. 'Everyone says I am crazy. But whenever thinking about the time when my descendants enter the house, admiring antiques made by the previous generation, I have a motivation to find antiques to hang up', he said. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

He added that his collection could be stolen or broken if left at home. To ensure that they will last over time, he decided to fix them on the walls. Because of his 'craziness', his house is never without friends, guests or even antique collectors. Many antique collectors came to his house and persuaded him to sell at high prices but he firmly refused. He said: 'I have put in a lot of efforts to collect because of my passion for ancient culture, not for commercial purpose. If I plan to sell, I wouldn't have fixed them on the walls like that'. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

During free days, in the morning, he often goes out to collect antiques. At night, he mixes cement and sand to fix dishes on the walls. He does not feel tired because he himself does not understand why he is attracted to old dishes. Most of dishes on the walls date back to the Ly dynasty. In addition, there are also rare ancient ones dating back to the Tran and Nguyen dynasties. Many villagers also gifted him with pottery and porcelain items to enrich his collection. Truong said though antiques in his collection do not have high economic values, their historical and cultural values are hard to measure. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Various kinds of antique dishes are sealed on both inside and outside of the walls. Entering here, visitors feel like they are visiting a giant antique museum. He confided that he used to be a soldier on the war battlefields in Cambodia. In 1986, he returned to his hometown to earn a living by painting furniture. This job enabled him to meet with many antique collectors. Since then, the passion for collecting pottery antique has invaded him. Many villagers also gifted him with pottery and porcelain items to enrich his collection. Because of his 'craziness', his house is never without friends, guests or even antique collectors (Photo: VietnamPlus)

'I worked for a famous antique dealer in the region. There were countless beautiful antiques in his home. He told me that I traveled a lot so if I saw any antique, I could buy and then sell them to him. I was already enamored of antiques, selling antiques is like to sell the cultural values of the nation,' Truong recalled. At first, Truong knew almost nothing about antiques, but with hard work, he accumulated knowledge in the field in a short time. To him, the ancient artefacts are soulful and imbued with cultural, historical and language identity of a society. According to him, though his collection is huge, its economic value is not high because it is for popular class. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Materials to create such huge mosaic are more than eight thousands of antique bowls and plates, 90 kg of slugs, 20 kg of coins, over 20 kg of brass, stone buttons and countless ancient pottery pieces. His current house is covered with nearly 10,000 porcelain bowls, plates and pots. Truong added that though most of them look very nice and cheap, but in fact, some date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. However, he does not care about their material values. During free days, in the morning, he often goes out to collect antiques. At night, he mixes cement and sand to fix dishes on the walls. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

He does not feel tired because he himself does not understand why he is attracted to old dishes. 'I have put in a lot of efforts to collect because of my passion for ancient culture, not for commercial purpose. If I plan to sell, I wouldn't have fixed them on the walls like that', he said. Though he has a reputation for being 'crazy', he still believes that when passing away, he will leave a legacy of cultural value to younger generations. His only wish is to preserve the cultural beauty of the country. Many antique collectors came to his house and persuaded him to sell at high prices but he firmly refused. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

His current house is covered with nearly 10,000 porcelain bowls, plates and pots. Truong added that though most of them look very nice and cheap, but in fact, some date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Materials to create such huge mosaic are more than eight thousands of antique bowls and plates, 90kg of slugs, 20kg of coins, over 20kg of brass, stone buttons and countless ancient pottery pieces. Many villagers also gifted him with pottery and porcelain items to enrich his collection. 'Everyone says I am crazy. But whenever thinking about the time when my descendants enter the house, admiring antiques made by the previous generation, I have a motivation to find antiques to hang up. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 

He first collected antiques for the trading purpose at the age of 24, but his love for the old objects gradually grows without knowing, the middle-aged man became an antique collector. Truong came up with such a bizarre idea when his house turned too old and needed renovation. Coming to Son Kien village, everyone knows 'crazy' Truong with a house made of thousands of antique pieces that could be seen from afar. A house of more than 40 sq.m with many auxiliary facilities on a land of over 100 sq.m is decorated with thousands of antique pieces and built by Truong decades ago (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Most of dishes on the walls date back to the Ly dynasty. In addition, there are also rare ancient ones dating back to the Tran and Nguyen dynasties. At first, Truong knew almost nothing about antiques, but with hard work, he accumulated knowledge in the field in a short time. He mounted these items on the walls because he did not have money to buy glass cabinets to display them. He was also afraid of losing them and breaking them. He also traveled along the Red River to seek old pottery pieces. Truong has never sold any item he collected but attached them to the wall of his house (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A house of more than 40 sq.m with many auxiliary facilities on a land plot of over 100 sq.m is decorated with thousands of antique pieces and built by Truong decades ago. The road leading to Truong's house is a small lane which is concreted and has houses on both sides. At the entrance, above the dome is ancient vases interspersed with old dishes with all kinds of unique patterns and shapes. To the right from the entrance is a giant rockery. On the rockery are thousands of pieces of ancient pottery. In the middle is a small bamboo cluster casting shade down the narrow yard. To the left of the entrance is an old small house. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Entering here, visitors feel like they are visiting a giant antique museum. He confided that he used to be a soldier on the war battlefields in Cambodia. In 1986, he returned to his hometown to earn a living by painting furniture. This job enabled him to meet with many antique collectors. Since then, the passion for collecting pottery antique has invaded him. Looking from afar, the house is like an ancient imperial palace. The walls are covered with ancient bowls, plates and pottery pieces. On the yard, several dozen of stone mortars stand in line. To him, the ancient artefacts are soulful and imbued with cultural, historical and language identity of a society. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Coming to Son Kien village, everyone knows 'crazy' Truong with a house made of thousands of antique pieces that could be seen from afar. A house of more than 40 sq.m with many auxiliary facilities on a land plot of over 100 sq.m is decorated with thousands of antique pieces and built by Truong decades ago. At the entrance, above the dome is ancient vases interspersed with old dishes with all kinds of unique patterns and shapes. To the right from the entrance is a giant rockery. On the rockery are thousands of pieces of ancient pottery. In the middle is a small bamboo cluster casting shade down the narrow yard. To the left of the entrance is an old small house. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

He first collected antiques for the trading purpose at the age of 24, but his love for the old objects gradually grows without knowing, the middle-aged man became an antique collector. Truong came up with such a bizarre idea when his house turned too old and needed renovation. He added that his collection could be stolen or broken if left at home. To ensure that they will last over time, he decided to fix them on the wall, turning his house into a unique masterpiece. Though most of them look very nice and cheap, but in fact, some date back to the 17th and 18th centuries (Photo: VietnamPlus)

To him, the ancient artefacts are soulful and imbued with cultural, historical and language identity of a society. According to him, though his collection is huge, its economic value is not high because it is for popular class. There are a few high-end items but they cost a maximum of hundreds of thousands of VND. Truong said though antiques in his collection do not have high economic values, their historical and cultural values are hard to measure. On the left of the house is a large rockwork paved by thousands of pieces of ancient pottery. The three pillars in front of the house is mounted with old coins and old buttons. Using his shirt tail to clean a plate on the wall, Truong looked at the whole room, then affectionately called it 'picture.' (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Commonly, this hobby is only for the rich but Truong is an exception. As a poor peasant, Truong sold rice and mortgaged his home to the bank to have money for antiques. He also traveled along the Red River to seek old pottery pieces. Truong has never sold any item he collected but attached them to the walls of his house. Looking from afar, the house is like an ancient imperial palace. 'I have been fond of antiques since 1986, but it was not until 1991 that I had money to buy the first item. Since 1996, I have started to attach pieces on the wall, rockery and fences', Truong said (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Though he has a reputation for being 'crazy', he still believes that when passing away, he will leave a legacy of cultural value to younger generations. 'Everyone says I am crazy. But whenever thinking about the time when my descendants enter the house, admiring antiques made by previous generation, I have a motivation to find antiques to hang up', he said. 'I worked for a famous antique dealer in the region. There were countless beautiful antiques in his home. He told me that I traveled a lot so if I saw any antique, I could buy and then sell them to him. I was already enamored of antiques, selling antiques is like to sell the cultural values of the nation,' Truong recalled (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Because of his 'craziness', his house is never without friends, guests or even antique collectors. Many antique collectors came to his house and persuaded him to sell at high prices but he firmly refused. Most of the dishes on the walls date back to the Ly dynasty. In addition, there are also rare ancient ones dating back to the Tran and Nguyen dynasties. At first, Truong knew almost nothing about antiques, but with hard work, he accumulated knowledge in the field in a short time. Many antique collectors came to his house and persuaded him to sell at high prices but he firmly refused (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The walls are covered with ancient bowls, plates and pottery pieces. On the yard, several dozens of stone mortars stand in line. The dome gate is mounted with vases and plates full of patterns from floral birds to bamboo and stone, apricot flowers, daisies, cranes, pine trees, carps, phoenix, among others. Stepping through the gate, on the right is a small house that is not mortared but covered by bowls and plates. On the left is a large rockwork paved by thousands of pieces of ancient pottery. Entering here, visitors feel like they are visiting a giant antique museum (Photo: VietnamPlus)