Villa Nguyen Van Hao Saigon is often known as a crossroads of many cultures, the promised land of many people. From the exiled wanderers, the outcasts, to the people from all over the world looking for a place to live, Saigon has always opened its arms to support. Among them, there are many people who have made a name and left many imprints on the prosperity of this land. Merchant Nguyen Van Hao (1890-1971) is one such case. Through many ups and downs, the memory of a man from a poor background, working in Saigon doing business, selling auto parts and having a brilliant business has long since passed, but his legacy still remains. there. Building with four facades at Tran Hung Dao – Ky Con – Yersin – Le Thi Hong Gam streets, the symbol of his family’s golden age. Started in 1933 and completed in 1937, the villa is located on approximately 800 square meters of land and is designed in the popular Art Deco style of the time. Different from the sophisticated, ornate construction of colonial buildings, the outstanding three-storey building reflects the spirit of the time (zeitgeist): the 1930s was the heyday of modern, elegant architecture. elegant, luxurious and highly effective in use. According to some documents, the building’s construction material is sand mixed with latex, because there was no cement at that time, and high-grade cement tiles for the floor were also imported from France, to match the appearance of the building. Due to not being preserved and restored, Nguyen Van Hao’s villa is now degraded, with an old and gloomy appearance. Not many visitors from all over the world know about the old owner, but his name is now only saved on the walls with the words “NG.V.HAO.” But for those who love and understand Saigon, the Nguyen Van Hao villa is an important witness of a period of development of Saigon architecture. Ancient fountain in the campus of Saigon Water Supply Corporation (1882) After the announcement of permanently staying in Cochinchina (1865), the French began to lay the foundation for the Saigon planning project following the European urban model. Infrastructure issues are put on top, including the construction of a clean water supply system. The first fountain was built in 1878, the second one built in 1882 is still located on the campus of Sawaco. Ancient architecture of Saigon: Ancient fountain in the campus of Saigon Water Supply Corporation This oval fountain consists of three floors, about 25m high, above there are two stainless steel water tanks, solidly built like a fortress, and has an architectural style in harmony with the general urban planning. The highlight of the architecture is the intricately designed rows of doors and ventilation holes. The fountain ended its historic role (1966), when the water supply from shallow wells was replaced by a water supply system from the Dong Nai River. This 130-year-old fountain has officially been kept for conservation, and stands there as a historical monument of Saigon’s water supply industry. Catinat Building (1926) In Saigon, there are ancient buildings that have been renovated to suit modern lifestyles, but still retain their ancient features and architectural values. Catinat Building at 26 Ly Tu Trong is an example. The building used to be the office of many large companies, including the headquarters of the American Consulate (1930-1940). In 1941, Catinat suffered heavy damage because it became the target of Japanese bombing. In the 1960s, the Americans used this place as the headquarters of the CIA. After 1975, Catinat became an apartment building and the ground floor was used as a trading place. In recent years, young people in Saigon have given Catinat a new life by turning this place into a miniature commercial center, with shops, fashion shops, cafes… The Art Deco elements in the building are preserved almost intact, from the old brick foundation, winding iron stairs, to the old elevator that goes up and down slowly every day. But inside the rental areas are spaces with separate styles, expressing the personality of the owner. There are many controversies surrounding the preservation of heritage by changing the use, but in the case of Catinat building, it can be considered as a reasonable solution in the current situation. Saint Joseph Saigon Seminary Chapel (1867) In the heart of Saigon as it is today, there is still a place of tranquility and silence: the chapel of Saint Joseph’s Seminary, more than 140 years old. The building was designed in the Gothic style with Father Wibaux’s original intention to “symbolize the special adoration of the Seminarians”. The chapel consists of a main compartment interspersed between two auxiliary compartments using pointed arches, the outermost is a series of flat roof corridors. The rows of large and small columns intertwine to create a feeling that the space is larger than it really is. The interior of the chapel is simple but still exudes an elegant and elegant look. Although it has received little attention due to its location on the seminary grounds, this chapel is still considered an important architectural work on the heritage map of the city.

It has the lowest value of $ 127 million at the moment. Photo: BI According to some valuations, Bill Gates’ home villa is priced at about $ 127.48 million at the present time. Bill Gates bought the land in 1988 for $ 2 million. His house has 7 bedrooms. Nearly 1,200 cubic meters of wood were used to complete the project. Photo: BI Bill Gates’ house was built with the highlight of 500-year-old fir wood along with 300 construction workers participating in the project – 100 of them are electrical engineers. There is a modern sensor system that helps visitors to control the temperature and lighting in the room. Photo: BI When visitors come to the home, they are given a PIN number to interact with sensors located throughout the house. Guests can then enter the desired temperature and lighting levels so that these conditions automatically change as they move through the villa. The built-in wall speaker also allows the music to “move” with you. The whole villa area uses the surrounding natural landscape to reduce heat loss. Photo: BI Xanadu 2.0 is a “sheltered earth” building, which means it is built into the surrounding landscape to more efficiently regulate the temperature. You can change your wall murals with the touch of a button. Photo: BI Placed around the house is an amount of $ 800,000 worth of computer screens. Anyone can adjust these screens to show their favorite painting or photo. Pictures or photographs contained in these devices are priced at $ 150,000. The swimming pool has an underwater music playing system. Photo: BI The swimming pool area is also a highlight in Bill Gates’ home with an underwater music system. Even in the Bill Gates house there is a room to play spring cushions with the ceiling 6 meters high. Photo: BI In fact, this room is part of the Bill Gates sports facilities complex. In addition, he also has a massage room, a sauna and separate changing rooms for men and women. The reception hall can accommodate 200 guests. Photo: BI Covering an area of ​​more than 213 square meters, this lobby can accommodate dinner for 150 people or 200 people in a cocktail buffet. On one side of the wall in this room, one can see a stone-paneled fireplace measuring 1.8 meters wide, while on one side of the wall is a 6.7 meter wide screen. The villa has 24 toilets, 10 of which are fully equipped with a bathroom. Photo: BI It also has 6 kitchens. Photo: BI Of course, Bill Gates has a “huge” library in his house that holds a precious manuscript that he once spent $ 30 million to buy. Photo: BI With an area of ​​nearly 200 square meters and a ring-roof design, this library is the “home” of Codex Leicester, a handwritten manuscript by Leonardo da Vinci that Bill Gates once bought at an auction for $ 30.8 million. year 1994. The home cinema can accommodate 20 guests. Photo: BI It’s designed in an Art Deco style with comfortable armchairs, sofa and even a popcorn machine for guests to come home. The guest house is just as modern as the main building. Photo: BI According to US News, the official guest building is the first to be completed in the arena. It is fully equipped from bedrooms to bathrooms and is used for the purpose of testing new technologies before it is applied in the main building. Bill Gates used to write the book “The Road Ahead” (1995) in this guest house. The garage system has enough room for 23 cars. Photo: BI There are garages in the Bill Gates estate, but the most interesting one is probably an underground cave made of cement and stainless steel. This particular garage may contain 10 cars. Bill Gates has a tree he loves so much that it is controlled and monitored electronically 24 hours a day. Photo: BI Bill Gates loves a 40 year old maple tree in his house. It is monitored by a computer and if a spot dries up, the automatic watering system is activated. An artificial stream for fish farming. Photo: BI Sand on the lake of Bill Gates is imported from the Caribbean. Photo: BI You may be surprised to learn that bulk sand is added each year. Someone once paid $ 35,000 to walk around the Bill Gates estate. Photo: BI Microsoft holds an auction each year with the profits going to volunteer activities. In the past, Bill Gates used to “auction” the visits to his house. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, a Microsoft employee once paid for the visit $ 35,000.