Thanh Chuong searched far and wide for the appropriate place to make his vision of a museum nestled in the heart of nature a reality. Finally, he stumbled upon this garden 35 km from the city centre, where he could construct his cultural buildings that are straight out of Vietnamese folklore. Inspired by Vietnam’s rich history and heritage, the buildings are pastiches of traditional ones, crafted from bamboo and gnarled wood. He has replicated his childhood home, a cottage with a thatched roof and earthen walls, which protect him and his family during the Vietnamese-French conflict of the 1950s. A gazebo with a tiled roof and a black wooden sign inscribed with the words “To Sit Amidst Spring Winds.”, is another example of the nostalgic architecture. Within these buildings is the biggest collection of his art that he has been accumulating since the age of 14 for over 50 years, including a sculpture of a fasting Buddha that he rescued from being dragged by a buffalo carelessly through the mud, as well as his own large oil paintings in bright vibrant colours and Picasso style for which he is famous. Using cranes to haul in Banyan and Bodhi trees, he has designed a charming garden of pure peace, with trees shedding pink and yellow petals and a lovely pond that is spanned by a 500 year old stone bride.

Although merely a reproduction, the area feels like stepping into a different universe – one of peace and serenity where Vietnam’s essence is perfectly encapsulated. Without a doubt, the visionary has seen through his desire to create an interactive attraction that honours Vietnam’s heritage, where history art and culture harmonize seamlessly with the sky, the earth, the animals and the trees.