Hidden in the shadows of ancient trees in Sa Phin valley is the palace of the former Meo ethnic minority lord.

The estate of Meo Lord Vuong Chi Sinh was built in the early 20th century in Vietnam’s northernmost mountainous area, in Sa Phin Commune in Dong Van District of Ha Giang Province. Vuong Chi Sinh is famous for donating most of his treasure to the Vietnamese revolutionary force in the war against French colonialists. 

He was named Vuong Chi Thanh by President Ho Chi Minh and nominated as a member of the first and second National Assembly of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the former name of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Sinh’s royal-styled palace was inspired by both ancient Asian and Western architecture. It took nearly a decade to build the palace, which covers an area of 1,120 square meters.

The lord employed several famous local geographers to decide a favorable position for a possible building. Sa Phin Valley, which is shaped like a tortoise (the symbol of longevity and prosperity) and protected by eight surrounding mountains, was finally selected. The two-floor structure contains 64 rooms. The first story is made of stones while the second floor is wooden.The walls are made of clay to keep the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. t the end of the palace, there are two stone buildings. One was used by the lord to store money and explosives, the other to store opium and guns. At the front of the palace are two lines of tombs. The tombs on the right-hand side are said to contain the bodies of the lord and his sons, while the left-hand side is the final resting place of his wives and daughters-in-law. Just 12 kilometers from the center of Dong Van Dist., Vuong’s estate was recognized as a state historical architectural relic in 1993. In 2004, more than VND7 billion (US$421,680) of restoration work was carried out at the palace. Most travel agents that offer tours to Ha Giang – Dong Van can arrange a visit to the palace of Meo Lord Vuong Chi Sinh.