A visit to H’Mong King’s palace

August 29, 2014 | 13:55

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Sa Phin Valley in Dong Van Commune, about 140 kilometers from the northwestern city of Ha Giang, is renowned for a nearly one-hundred-year-old palace of Vuong Chinh Duc who was dubbed as Vua Meo (king of H’Mong people) in the 1940s.

The so-called regime of Vuong became prosperous thanks to his trading of opium from China and surrounding regions into Vietnam. During his reign over the northwestern region, he made it into a self-ruled area under the political pressure of the French on one side and of the Chinese on the other.

He was then persuaded by late President Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Communist Party in Vietnam, to fight against the French and to protect the far north region of Vietnam.

Vuong Palace was built during eight years in the early 20th century with solid stone, wood and terracotta tiles in ancient Chinese architectural style of the Man Qing era. It covers a total area of 1,120 square meters and used to be fortified to protect the members of the Vuong Dynasty from attacks by their enemies.

The house is protected by a solid parapet system and a watch-tower outside. Inside, along with the living space, the construction has a warehouse for food, gold and opium products. The area also is home to stone tombs of the family members lurking under dense foliages and grass, recalling visitors a nostalgia and secluded atmosphere.

A corner of the old palace
Visitors at Vuong Palace in Ha Giang Province
A stone tomb of a member of the Vuong Dynasty
Some household equipment inside Vuong Palace - Photo: Nguyen Vinh