A house built with 4,000 coconut trees in two years is now a popular tourist attraction in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long.
The house, owned by Duong Van Thuong and his wife Nguyen Ngoc Giac, is located on An Binh Islet in Hoa Quy Hamlet, Hoa Ninh Commune, Long Ho District, and sits on an area of eight hectares.
The house is made entirely of coconut.
Thuong, now 84, said he was born in the delta and wanted to build a house using materials from his homeland.
Inspired by his family's long history of coconut farming, he conceived the idea of designing a house made entirely of coconut.
In 2017, Thuong hired more than 30 artisans and skilled workers, including craftsmen from neighboring Ben Tre Province, to build the house.
A tea set and candy boxes made from coconut, along with coconut flowers, adorn the table.
To source the materials, he traveled across Ben Tre and Vinh Long, seeking coconut trees between 80 and 100 years old, with straight, strong, and durable trunks.
The transportation cost was quite expensive, making the construction to cost about VND6 billion (US$243,000).
The house was built in a traditional southern style, featuring three main rooms and two wings.
Curtains made of round beads cut from coconut shells, chandeliers covered with coconut fiber, and lampshades crafted from carved coconut shells are among the house's decorative features.
In addition to key structural elements like columns, beams, doors, and walls made from coconut, all furniture and decor, including tables, chairs, beds, altars, and even tea sets, were also crafted from coconut.
In front of the house, artisans have carved old coconut trees into the shapes of Fu Lu Shou, the three lucky gods in Chinese mythology, Maitreya Buddha, and other symbolic figures.
Behind the house, Thuong has planted more coconut trees, creating a shaded dining area for guests.
Thuong’s family regularly takes pictures with visitors.
During peak times, Thuong said they welcome several hundred visitors a day, many of whom stay to experience the local cuisine and enjoy the islet’s refreshing atmosphere.
Visitors have to pay an entry fee of VND20,000 (US$0.81) per person.
Accommodation services range from VND600,000 to 1 million per night.
As the house attracts many tourists, Thuong has opened a restaurant and arranged accommodation for visitors.