Scholar’s memorial house to be renovated

The project will be implemented in the 2017-19 period, including leveling of the surface to extend its total area to about 20,500 sq.m and upgrading the road, water, electricity and lighting systems.

The main hall, exhibition and reception rooms will also be renovated, as will the surrounding garden, park, tea hill and lake.

“The aim of the project is to promote the values of the house, making it appropriate for the historical roles and significant contributions of scholar Huynh Thuc Khang,” said Vice Chairman of the Tien Phuoc District People’s Committee Phung Van Huy.

“Besides, it is expected to create favourable conditions for visitors, helping educate young Vietnamese about patriotism and revolutionary tradition and exploit the local tourism and socio-economic development potential,” he added.

Huynh Thuc Khang was born in 1876 in Thanh Binh village in Tien Phuoc district, becoming a feudal scholar. In 1904, he passed the imperial examination and received his doctorate. He was one of the initiators of the Duy Tan, a movement espousing non-violent patriotic activities, and the founder of Tieng Dan (People’s Voice).

After the success of the August 1945 Revolution, President Ho Chi Minh invited him to join the government system, and Khang served as Acting State President. He died in 1947 while on an inspection tour of the central region.

The Memorial House was built by his father in 1869 on a total area of over 1,700 sq.m in the style typical of Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) architecture. It is a three-section house with a tiled roof and skillfully carved wooden frame. Many artifacts and documents relating to Khang’s revolutionary life are on display there.

The Memorial House was recognised as a national historical and cultural relic in 1990 and has been through many renovations and embellishments.