After its makeover, the house of Swiss-French doctor and bacteriologist Alexandre Emile Jean Yersin on Hon Ba peak in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa became more attractive to travelers, especially on national holidays.

Particularly, throngs of tourists are visiting the place during the ongoing National Day (September 2) holiday.

Public workers in Vietnam are enjoying four consecutive days off from Saturday to Tuesday to mark the 79th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day.

Hon Ba Mountain, over 50 kilometers from Nha Trang City, is located in Khanh Vinh and Cam Lam Districts at an altitude of 1,578 meters above sea level.

The mountain boasts year-round cool weather.

The house was built on Hon Ba peak 110 years ago, so it degraded seriously.

Therefore, the house was then renovated to serve tourists.

In March last year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism designated Dr. Yersin’s house as a national cultural relic site.

To visit the house, tourists must register for a tour offered by Kong Forest Adventure Park, which was approved to tap the house for tourism purposes by the provincial People’s Committee.

According to historical documents, it was a wooden house with two floors and a solid water tank.

Dr. Yersin used it as a shelter to live and do research when he climbed Hon Ba peak for his work.

Swiss-French doctor and bacteriologist Alexandre Emile Jean Yersin is closely associated with Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

Tourists take a look at the biography of Dr. Alexandre Yersin at his house, located atop Hon Ba Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Van Dao, deputy chief executive officer at Kong Forest Adventure Park, said that before the provincial administration permitted the unit to rehabilitate the house, its side walls and the roof deteriorated badly.

The renovation work on the dilapidated house began in early 2024, and was completed nearly six months later.

Crowds of tourists have made visits to the site.

Nguyen Trung Minh, a 27-year-old tourist from Tien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, shared that he and his family decided to visit Khanh Hoa Province in celebration of this year’s National Day.

The house of Dr. Yersin was their first stop of their trip.

“It is very cool here (Hon Ba Mountain) and the natural landscape on the mountain is wonderful.

“Inside the house are various unique exhibits,” he said, revealing that he will return to the place with his friends in the future.

A portrait of Dr. Alexandre Yersin on display at his house, located atop Hon Ba Mountain. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

A corner of the house where Dr. Alexandre Yersin worked. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

Tourists visit Dr. Alexandre Yersin’s bedroom. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

Born in Switzerland, Yersin (September 22, 1863 - March 1, 1943) studied medicine at prestigious institutes in his hometown, Germany, and France.

He came to Vietnam in 1891 and spent nearly 50 years of his life working in Khanh Hoa.

According to the Vietnam News Agency, the scientist is best known as the co-discoverer of the bacillus responsible for the bubonic plague in 1894.

He discovered the Liang Biang Plateau, the site of the city of Da Lat now, in 1893 and founded the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang in 1895.

Tourists offer incense to tribute Dr. Alexandre Yersin. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

A water reservoir built near the house of Dr. Alexandre Yersin for his daily activities. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

The house of Dr. Alexandre Yersin is located atop Hon Ba Mountain at an altitude of 1,578 meters above sea level. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

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