[Reading level: C1 – Advanced]
The system of heritage works of the “real estate king” Hứa Bổn Hòa family stretches across Ho Chi Minh City, still retaining its vitality and humanistic value alongside the flow of urban development.
In the bustling heart of Ho Chi Minh City, the architectural works of the “real estate king” Hứa Bổn Hòa (Chú Hỏa) still stand tall, telling the story of a glorious golden era and a deeply humanistic spirit. The family’s legacy is not only luxurious mansions and splendid hotels but also schools, hospitals, and spiritual sites for the community.
Inaugurated in 1925 at the corner of Catinat Street (now Đồng Khởi), overlooking the Saigon River, the Majestic Hotel was a passionate project of Chú Hỏa, aimed at anticipating the wave of waterway travel by the upper class. This was the first stop for European visitors arriving in this promising land of the Far East.
With classical French Baroque architecture, the Majestic exudes elegance through its soft curved arches and artistic wrought-iron balconies. After many renovations, the hotel has still preserved the character of a “precious gem,” once hosting everyone from royalty to world-renowned war correspondents.
From the balcony of the Majestic, visitors can feel the rhythm of Ho Chi Minh City through its many ups and downs. The building is not only a business facility but also part of the city’s soul, a testament to a planning vision closely tied to waterway trade.
The mansion at 97 Phó Đức Chính Street (Bến Thành Ward), now the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, was once the “headquarters” of the entire Hứa Bổn Hòa empire. This building was not only a residence but also a declaration of the supreme status of one of the famous “Four Great Wealthy Families” of old Saigon.
The mansion sits on a campus of nearly 4,000 square meters with three facades, built from 1929 and completed after five years, designed by the French architect Rivera.
Today, as it has become the Museum of Fine Arts, its characteristic yellow walls and patterned classical tiles are still well preserved. Stepping inside, visitors feel as if they have entered a vivid artistic space where historical and artistic values blend into one.
The architecture is a combination of modern Western Art Deco style and Eastern elements such as dragon-phoenix carvings and yin-yang tiled roofs. A special highlight lies in its 99 doors and the first elevator in Saigon, creating a space that is both grand and mysteriously captivating.
Every corridor and window seems to still carry the breath of a noble family, taking visitors back in time to the fascinating stories of the previous century. It is a brilliant piece of Saigon’s memory, carefully preserved within enduring brick walls.
Besides the lively mansions in the city center, Chú Hỏa also owned more private “quiet spaces” such as the villa complex at no. 1 Lý Thái Tổ Street (Vườn Lài Ward), a peaceful resting place for the family. Hidden behind ancient trees at a busy six-way intersection, this land of thousands of square meters is a rare “green lung,” completely separated from the noise outside.
The complex includes villas in typical French architectural style with yellow walls and tall windows welcoming natural wind. The sophistication lies in the decorative moldings along the balconies and the system of precious wooden staircases inside, reflecting the elegant yet disciplined lifestyle of Saigon’s upper class in the early 20th century.
Out of the seven old villas, Ho Chi Minh City has demolished three due to severe deterioration. The remaining four have been preserved and reinforced to maintain their architectural value. The entire 4.3-hectare “golden land” has been converted into Lý Thái Tổ Park No. 1, inaugurated during the recent Lunar New Year.
This place is no longer a closed villa complex but has become a community cultural space, including a memorial for victims of the Covid-19 pandemic (a symbol of gratitude and rebirth).
Alongside building his properties, the Hứa family also paid special attention to spiritual life by establishing Phụng Sơn Pagoda on Nguyễn Công Trứ Street as a private place of worship. Unlike other temples, this “ancestral hall” carries a private character, preserving the spiritual connection across generations of the “real estate king” family of old Saigon.
The pagoda has a solemn beauty with typical Chinese architecture, featuring green tube-tiled roofs, intricately carved reliefs, and a sturdy column system. Every small detail, from Chinese characters to interior arrangements, reflects wealth without ostentation, showing refined aesthetic taste and deep respect for origins.
Not only building for themselves, Chú Hỏa’s generosity is also reflected in charitable works such as Saigon General Hospital, located on “diamond land” opposite Bến Thành Market. Allocating such a prime location for healthcare for the poor shows that he prioritized public welfare over commercial profit.
At the beginning of this year, Saigon General Hospital officially ceased operations. All its functions, tasks, organizational structure, personnel, facilities, equipment, finances, assets, and related rights and obligations were transferred to Gia Định People’s Hospital for continued management and use.
This community-oriented spirit also extended to education through Minh Đức Secondary School, formerly a religious school bearing the family’s imprint. It is an important piece in the chain of educational and religious works contributed by the Chú Hỏa family, affirming the philosophy that sustainable prosperity must go hand in hand with knowledge.
The pinnacle of this humanistic spirit came in 1937, when the Chú Hỏa family donated a large piece of land to build the Indochina Maternity Hospital (now Từ Dũ Hospital). At a time when medical infrastructure was still underdeveloped, this act laid a solid foundation for maternal healthcare in the South, fully expressing a business philosophy tied to social responsibility.
Unlike the luxury of mansions or hotels, the hospital’s architecture focuses on simplicity and ventilation, with long corridors catching the breeze and abundant greenery. Every design detail prioritizes functionality and fresh air, creating a sense of reassurance for mothers in their most sacred moments.
The legacy of the Chú Hỏa family is not merely massive bricks or concrete structures, but a humanistic planning vision and a generous spirit that have blended into the soul of Saigon. These works still stand there, telling the story of a man who rose from collecting scrap to becoming a legendary builder of the city.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/bat-dong-san/ngam-nhung-cong-trinh-mang-dam-dau-an-cua-vua-nha-dat-sai-gon-xua-20260326150835230.htm
WORD BANK:
heritage /ˈher.ɪ.t̬ɪdʒ/ [B2] (n): di sản
stretch across somewhere /stretʃ əˈkrɔːs/ (v): trải dài khắp nơi nào đó
retain sth /rɪˈteɪn/ [B2] (v): giữ lại
vitality /vaɪˈtæl.ə.t̬i/ [C1] (n): sức sống
humanistic /ˌhjuː.məˈnɪs.tɪk/ (adj): mang tính nhân văn
flow /floʊ/ (n): dòng chảy
bustling /ˈbʌs.lɪŋ/ (adj): nhộn nhịp
stand tall /stænd tɔːl/ (v): sừng sững, hiên ngang
legacy /ˈleɡ.ə.si/ [B2] (n): di sản để lại
luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊr.i.əs/ [B2] (adj): sang trọng
mansion /ˈmæn.ʃən/ (n): biệt thự lớn
splendid /ˈsplen.dɪd/ (adj): lộng lẫy
spiritual site /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əl saɪt/ (n): địa điểm tâm linh
inaugurate /ɪˈnɑː.ɡjə.reɪt/ (v): khánh thành
overlook sth /ˌoʊ.vɚˈlʊk/ (v): nhìn ra
passionate /ˈpæʃ.ən.ət/ [B2] (adj): đam mê
anticipate sth /ænˈtɪs.ə.peɪt/ [B2] (v): dự đoán, mong đợi
the upper class /ði ˈʌp.ɚ klæs/ (n): tầng lớp thượng lưu
promising /ˈprɑː.mɪ.sɪŋ/ [B2] (adj): đầy triển vọng
Baroque /bəˈroʊk/ (adj): (thuộc) phong cách Baroque
exude sth /ɪɡˈzuːd/ (v): toát ra
elegance /ˈel.ə.ɡəns/ (n): sự thanh lịch
arch /ɑːrtʃ/ (n): vòm
wrought-iron /ˌrɔːt ˈaɪ.ɚn/ (adj): bằng sắt rèn
precious /ˈpreʃ.əs/ [B1] (adj): quý giá
gem /dʒem/ (n): viên ngọc
world-renowned /ˌwɝːld rɪˈnaʊnd/ (adj): nổi tiếng thế giới
war correspondent /ˈwɔːr ˌkɔːr.əˈspɑːn.dənt/ (n): phóng viên chiến trường
rhythm /ˈrɪð.əm/ (n): nhịp điệu
ups and downs /ˌʌps ən ˈdaʊnz/ (n): thăng trầm
testament to sth /ˈtes.tə.mənt/ (n): minh chứng cho
tied to sth /taɪd tuː/ (adj): gắn liền với
ward /wɔːrd/ (n): phường
fine arts /ˌfaɪn ˈɑːrts/ (n): mỹ thuật
empire /ˈem.paɪr/ (n): đế chế
declaration /ˌdek.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/ (n): tuyên bố
supreme status /suːˈpriːm ˈsteɪ.t̬əs/ (n): địa vị tối cao
campus /ˈkæm.pəs/ (n): khuôn viên
facade /fəˈsɑːd/ (n): mặt tiền
patterned /ˈpæt.ɚnd/ (adj): có hoa văn
tile /taɪl/ (n): gạch
vivid /ˈvɪv.ɪd/ (adj): sống động
artistic space /ɑːrˈtɪs.tɪk speɪs/ (n): không gian nghệ thuật
blend into one /blend ˈɪn.tuː wʌn/ (v): hòa quyện thành một
element /ˈel.ə.mənt/ (n): yếu tố
dragon-phoenix carvings /ˈdræɡ.ən ˈfiː.nɪks ˈkɑːr.vɪŋz/ (n): chạm khắc rồng phượng
yin-yang /ˌjɪn ˈjɑːŋ/ (n): âm dương
grand /ɡrænd/ (adj): hoành tráng
mysteriously /mɪˈstɪr.i.əs.li/ (adv): một cách bí ẩn
captivating /ˈkæp.tɪ.veɪ.tɪŋ/ (adj): cuốn hút
corridor /ˈkɔːr.ɪ.dɔːr/ (n): hành lang
the breath of sth /breθ/ (n): hơi thở của
noble /ˈnoʊ.bəl/ (adj): cao quý
brilliant /ˈbrɪl.jənt/ (adj): rực rỡ
enduring /ɪnˈdʊr.ɪŋ/ (adj): bền bỉ
complex /ˈkɑːm.pleks/ (n): khu phức hợp
a six-way intersection /ˈsɪks weɪ ˌɪn.t̬ɚˈsek.ʃən/ (n): ngã sáu
sophistication /səˌfɪs.tɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự tinh tế
decorative molding /ˈdek.ə.rə.tɪv ˈmoʊl.dɪŋ/ (n): phào trang trí
elegant /ˈel.ə.ɡənt/ [B2] (adj): thanh lịch
disciplined /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪnd/ (adj): kỷ luật
demolish /dɪˈmɑː.lɪʃ/ (v): phá hủy
deterioration /dɪˌtɪr.i.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự xuống cấp
pandemic /pænˈdem.ɪk/ (n): đại dịch
gratitude /ˈɡræt̬.ə.tuːd/ (n): lòng biết ơn
rebirth /ˌriːˈbɝːθ/ (n): sự tái sinh
spiritual /ˈspɪr.ɪ.tʃu.əl/ (adj): thuộc tâm linh
ancestral hall /ænˈses.trəl hɔːl/ (n): nhà thờ tổ
carry a … character /ˈkær.i/ (v): mang đặc trưng
solemn /ˈsɑː.ləm/ (adj): trang nghiêm
intricately /ˈɪn.trɪ.kət.li/ (adv): một cách tinh xảo
carved /kɑːrvd/ (adj): được chạm khắc
relief /rɪˈliːf/ (n): chạm trổ
sturdy /ˈstɝː.di/ (adj): vững chắc
ostentation /ˌɑː.stenˈteɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự phô trương
refined /rɪˈfaɪnd/ (adj): tinh tế
charitable /ˈtʃer.ə.tə.bəl/ (adj): từ thiện
welfare /ˈwel.fer/ (n): phúc lợi
cease sth /siːs/ (v): chấm dứt
rights /raɪts/ (n): quyền lợi
obligation /ˌɑː.blɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/ (n): nghĩa vụ
community-oriented spirit /kəˈmjuː.nə.ti ˈɔːr.i.en.tɪd ˈspɪr.ɪt/ (n): tinh thần hướng tới cộng đồng
religious school /rɪˈlɪdʒ.əs skuːl/ (n): trường tôn giáo
bear a(n) … imprint /ber ˈɪm.prɪnt/ (v): mang dấu ấn gì đó
affirm sth /əˈfɝːm/ (v): khẳng định
philosophy /fəˈlɑː.sə.fi/ (n): triết lý
go hand in hand with sth /ɡoʊ hænd ɪn hænd/ (v): song hành với
pinnacle /ˈpɪn.ə.kəl/ (n): đỉnh cao
maternity hospital /məˈtɝː.nə.t̬i ˈhɑː.spɪ.t̬əl/ (n): bệnh viện phụ sản
maternal healthcare /məˈtɝː.nəl ˈhelθ.keər/ (n): chăm sóc sức khỏe bà mẹ
ventilation /ˌven.t̬əˈleɪ.ʃən/ (n): sự thông gió
abundant /əˈbʌn.dənt/ (adj): dồi dào
greenery /ˈɡriː.nə.ri/ (n): cây xanh
a sense of reassurance /ə sens əv ˌriː.əˈʃʊr.əns/ (n): cảm giác yên tâm
sacred /ˈseɪ.krɪd/ (adj): thiêng liêng
merely /ˈmɪr.li/ (adv): chỉ đơn thuần
soul /soʊl/ (n): tâm hồn
collect scrap /kəˈlekt skræp/ (v): nhặt phế liệu
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