VietNamNet Bridge – By a quirk of fate during a tramp around District 2, I found myself in a weird world full of dozens of tuong nha mo (wooden statues used to guard tombs) like human beings in varied nuances in a space filled with antiques from the Central Highlands such as wooden boats, ceramic pots, hunting tools, swords, gongs as well as ethnic costumes.

Antique collector Nguyen Van Hai shows a bird’s nest he brought from a forest in the Central Highlands.

‘I and Highlands’ mini museum is located 200 meters off Luong Dinh Cua Street in an antiques world belonging to Nguyen Van Hai, an architecture who has over 15 years experience of collecting thousands of artifacts from the Central Highlands.

It is an authentic venue for enthusiasts of highlands culture, indigenous customs as well as those who love the historical stories behind antiques.

Just off some busy streets, the site boasts a tranquil and romantic space with ornamental trees and lianas. A small board stated ‘I and Highlands’ stands out amidst the greenness of lianas on a large wall.

Inspired from a business trips to the highlands and attracted by colorful cultural features and good character of ethnic highlands people, Hai started his love affair and collection of antiques related to the highlands culture. He has more than 1,000 antiques dated back to Sa Huynh, Dong Son and Oc Eo civilizations. Many are from the 13th, 14th, 17th centuries or even B.C. and some have been displayed in museums around the country.

“The value of each antique is not counted for its material value, but it is worthy by the stories related to it, like people’s destinies with their involvement in a particular piece and also by my great efforts to get them. To get some artifacts, I spent many years negotiating with the owners,” said Hai.

Visitors can see antiques divided into separated themes. For tuong nha mo, visitors may feel a shiver up their backs as they are statues made for the dead. They seem to have a soul and artisans express the grief on their faces as well as nuances. “Looking at the statues carefully, visitors will see they are crying or awaiting lost loved ones,” said Hai.

For lovers of ethnic musical instruments, this is also a must-visit site to admire many gongs, special bamboo or wood instruments like flutes, bells or pan-pipes and drums.

“I love the highlands - from the weather, landscapes, people, culture and even sounds. The highlands area is really pristine and natural and that is the reason why I am very happy to have a chance to hear highlands sounds via these musical instruments,” Hai added.

Three tuong nha mo are set as people drink ruou can (wine from bamboo pines in a jar).

If you are a researcher in culture or history, you will be lured by his collection of farming and hunting tools. Through them, visitors will learn about daily life and lifestyles of ancestors, how smart they were to invent tools befitting conditions at that time as well as finding out more about past civilizations of old Vietnamese peoples. Hai said the most interesting thing is to know the origin of the antique as well as its meaning. “Some artifacts used to follow the whole life of a person and some are sacred memorial objects of their family over many generations, therefore, each artifact has its own fate.”

Hai added that some artifacts were given by ethnic people as gifts or as an expression of love and friendship.

“I come to them; I live with them, eat, talk and share with them to experience the highlands life. To me, that is also my destiny and I really appreciate the chance to be close with the highlands people.”

Hai also brings many wild flowers and trees from the highlands to plant in his museum. “I want to have an authentic highlands space in this city and I want visitors to experience the real highlands here,” he said.

Other artifacts such as costumes, jewelry or household furniture will give visitors an insight into the culture of minority people and their everyday life.

“Some antiques are not seen in the highlands any more, as they belong to old traditions and form of life that today’s people don’t need or want,” said Hai.

He said in the near future, he will make the site into a highlands café so visitors can enjoy the coffee of the highlands with Hai’s special atmosphere.

Hai said that the happiest person in the world is one who can devote their life to their passion and share it with others.

Source: SGT