View of the Western Delta from an abandoned stone villa

Biệt thự bác sĩ Nu có vị trí đẹp đang bị bỏ hoang trên núi Sam. Mùa khô cây cối héo hon, nhưng sẽ là một màu xanh bạt ngàn bao quanh mỗi khi mùa mưa tới - Ảnh: CHÍ HẠNH — Doctor Nu's villa has a beautiful location and is abandoned on Sam mountain. In the dry season, the trees are withered, but will be surrounded by a vast green color every time the rainy season comes - Photo: CHI HANH

Perched precariously near the top of Sam Mountain (Sam Mountain Ward, Chau Doc City, An Giang Province), a long-abandoned villa has a clear view of the entire Western Delta. Its owner is a French doctor, known locally as Doctor Nu. No one knows the exact name of this doctor.

The villa was built before 1975, with the original purpose of being a vacation and convalescent home for the doctor's family and patients. The villa has the architectural style of a miniature medieval fortress in Europe. After 1975, Doctor Nu and his family returned to Vietnam, and the villa was taken over by the local government.

Ms. Mai, whose real name is Nguyen Thi Huynh Lan, has lived on Sam mountain for more than 30 years. Her house is a few dozen meters away from the villa. She said she heard from her parents that Dr. Nu used to come here to build a house for vacation.

"On weekends, the doctor and his family and friends come here to relax. The air here is fresh and cool. This is a high mountain area with a beautiful view, one of a kind in the plains. When the doctor returned home, the villa was abandoned," said Ms. Mai.

Biệt thự được làm bằng đá nguyên khối, phần hiên tầng trệt và tầng 1 có góc nhìn độc đáo nhất nhì ở miền Tây - Ảnh: CHÍ HẠNH — The villa is made of monolithic stone, the ground floor and first floor porches have one of the most unique views in the West - Photo: CHI HANH

The leader of Nui Sam ward said that the villa of Doctor Nu is currently under the management of An Giang Provincial Military Command. About 10 years ago, a unit of the Provincial Military Command opened a hotel, then a coffee shop, and a rest stop, but it did not last long due to lack of business. Since then, the villa has been abandoned and is increasingly deteriorating.

The ward leaders also recognized that Doctor Nu's villa has a unique architecture and a great location for tourism exploitation. Because this location has a beautiful view, charming scenery, and a panoramic view of the Western Delta.

According to observations, mountain rocks, honeycomb rocks, lime mortar, wood… are the main materials used to build the villa. Surrounded by rows of ancient royal poinciana trees, and a well next to the banyan tree. The villa is built on 1 ground floor, 1 upper floor, with 7 bedrooms, numbered in order and has balconies and windows overlooking the Chau Doc region in all directions.