The standing board of the Party Committee in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam has decided to preserve a 100-year-old villa, situated in Buu Long Ward, Bien Hoa City, to promote its cultural, historical, and architectural values, the provincial Party Committee Office announced on Thursday afternoon.

The 100-year-old villa earlier faced a risk of demolition as it is located within the planned site for a riverside road project.

The provincial Party Committee made the decision after the public proposed retaining the villa.

The committee tasked the relevant agencies with preserving and promoting cultural, historical and architectural values of the villa and coming up with measures to execute the road project in line with the law.

The villa of Vo Ha Thanh, a former local governor, was built in 1922-24 with all building materials imported from France.

It includes two floors and features Western architecture, with its front facing the Dong Nai River.

The villa was used as a filming location for a great Vietnamese movie entitled ‘Nguoi dep Tay Do’ (The Beauty of Tay Do) released in 1996.

In 2016, it was proposed by authorities for recognition as a historical site, but its owner declined the request.

Dong Nai authorities estimated compensation for the villa's owner at nearly VND5.4 billion (US$219,920).

Local authorities said the riverine road project will encroach on nine meters of the land on which the villa is located, or half of the land lot’s length.

After many members of the public voiced their backing of the preservation of the villa, several agencies in Dong Nai suggested that the local administration purchase the century-old residence to manage and preserve it properly.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!