The man in Nghe An and his journey to preserve nearly 5,000 antiques associated with rural life

In the heart of the rice fields of Yen Thanh commune, there is a spacious 3-storey house that stands out in the middle of Yen Phu hamlet - not only because of its modern architecture but also because inside is a miniature "living museum" of ancient rural life. Its owner is Mr. Nguyen Duy Long, who for nearly 20 years has been diligently collecting and preserving many antiques, from jars, mortars, oil lamps... to valuable items from the Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties.

Not just a hobby, Mr. Long's work is quietly preserving the soul of a Vietnamese countryside. All are displayed by him as a vivid "memory museum", preserving the old spirit, becoming a unique cultural destination in the heart of the rice countryside.

In early July, we had the opportunity to visit Mr. Nguyen Duy Long's house. Right from the entrance, the peaceful space with green trees and antique stone objects arranged alternately with ancient bonsai pots evoked a special feeling. Stepping inside, thousands of ancient artifacts were arranged scientifically and carefully: ancient jars and earthenware pots were neatly placed in the garden; and inside the house were various types of tea cabinets, mahogany beds, and sofas from the French colonial period. Some objects were kept in shiny glass cabinets, others were placed on high wooden shelves, making the space like an ancient museum in real life.

Born and raised in difficult times, Mr. Long shared that, since childhood, he was familiar with his father's traditional farming tools. The mill, the rice mill, the rusty iron hoe, the oil lamp... were once a part of his family's life. "For some reason, those old objects have a strange attraction. They remind me of my childhood memories, a past that today's young generation rarely has the opportunity to witness," Mr. Long mused.

Since 2005, he started his journey of collecting antiques. At first, he just followed the long-time collectors to the countryside markets and second-hand markets to "look" and learn. But the more he went, the more passionate he became. To have money to buy the first items, Mr. Long did not hesitate to sell some of his household items. "There was a time when I sold the whole set of wooden tables and chairs in the house, just to exchange for an antique jar that was being sold in Thanh Hoa. There were items that I had to travel hundreds of kilometers, even mortgaged my land to have money to buy," he said.

Currently, Mr. Long's collection has reached nearly 5,000 artifacts, many of which are highly valuable. Regarding ancient jars, he owns hundreds of them, each one is worth from several dozen to more than 100 million VND. In particular, the 2 lotus water tanks from the early Nguyen Dynasty that he owns are valued by collectors at up to 1 billion VND each. In addition, he also owns a series of other valuable artifacts such as stoneware from the Tran, Le, and Nguyen dynasties, along with sets of mahogany beds, tea cabinets, and antique tables and chairs from the French colonial period - all of which are cleverly arranged, harmoniously combined with the architecture of the house and garden space.

Although the value of his collection is up to billions of dong, Mr. Long rarely sells his items. “I do not trade antiques. Occasionally, when I have friends who are really passionate about them, I exchange a few items for them to preserve. For me, the greatest value of antiques is not money but memory and culture,” he shared.

Every day, Mr. Long opens his house to welcome visitors for free. Locals, tourists, or local students can all stop by to experience, listen to him tell old stories, and see items that were once associated with rural Vietnam. “I want children to know how their grandparents lived in the past and what they used. That is a way to nurture love for their homeland and history,” Mr. Long said.

However, pursuing the hobby of collecting antiques is not always smooth. According to him, the technology for making fake antiques is very sophisticated today, which can fool even long-time collectors if they do not have deep knowledge and practical experience.

Fortunately, thanks to perseverance and lessons from his "seniors", Mr. Long gradually learned how to evaluate antiques, distinguishing between real and fake through materials, patterns, manufacturing techniques, and traces of time. He also regularly interacts and exchanges with reputable players to improve his knowledge, avoiding being fooled by "old-fashioned" items.

Today, Mr. Nguyen Duy Long's "private museum" is not only a place to preserve antiques, but also a local cultural and educational address. In the midst of modern life, this place is a door opening back in time, so that everyone, especially the young generation, can get closer to traditional culture and national history.