Bac Lieu, a prosperous land in the Mekong Delta, is not only famous for its vast white salt fields and orchards laden with longan fruit but also known for the story of a legendary figure: the Bac Lieu Playboy. “Hearing the name of the Bac Lieu Playboy, burning money like paper to show off his wealth,” a familiar folk verse vividly depicts the wealth and extravagant lifestyle of this playboy. But behind these legends, who exactly was the Bac Lieu Playboy? And what makes his mansion a captivating tourist destination, attracting visitors from all over to explore? Let’s join “Du lịch khắp thế gian” and journey back in time to learn about the life, career, and special marks of the Bac Lieu Playboy, as well as discover the cultural and historical values hidden within this ancient house.
Who was the Bac Lieu Playboy? The Legend of the Black Prince, Tran Trinh Huy
The Bac Lieu Playboy, or Black Prince, whose real name was Tran Trinh Huy, was born in 1900 and passed away in 1974. He was renowned as one of the most notorious playboys in Southern Vietnam during the 1930s and 1940s, on par with the White Prince, Le Cong Phuoc. His reputation was associated with immense wealth and shocking displays of extravagance, such as burning money, which caused a stir in public opinion at the time. However, few know that the Bac Lieu Playboy’s family origin began with a poor buffalo boy who gradually rose to become one of the wealthiest families in the region.
The father of the Bac Lieu Playboy, Mr. Tran Trinh Trach, also known as Councilman Trach, was once an orphaned boy who had to work as a buffalo herder for hire. Thanks to his intelligence and diligence, he was taken in as a servant by a wealthy landlord. At a time when the French colonialists wanted to consolidate their power and seek support from the landowning class, they encouraged wealthy families to send their children to French schools. However, due to feudal ideologies, many landlords did not want their children to be exposed to Western culture, so they often chose household members to study in their place. The young Trach was fortunate to be chosen and quickly demonstrated outstanding academic ability.
After graduating, Mr. Trach became the secretary of the Bac Lieu provincial committee. This position helped him expand his relationships with many wealthy people and gain an understanding of the law, especially issues related to land taxes. He helped many wealthy landlords solve tax problems and caught the attention of Ba Ho Phan Van Bi, one of the richest men in the region. Ba Ho Phan Van Bi decided to marry his daughter to Tran Trinh Trach. From here, Mr. Trach’s life took a new turn. He quit his job as a secretary and focused on managing his wife’s family’s fortune.
With his keen business talent, Mr. Trach constantly expanded and developed his business. He also obtained exclusive business rights for pawnshop services, a new field at that time. As a result, his fortune grew rapidly. According to statistics, at his peak, Ba Ho Trach owned 74 large estates, 110,000 hectares of rice fields, and 100,000 hectares of salt fields, becoming one of the wealthiest landowners in Cochinchina.
Realizing the fleeting nature of material wealth and wanting his children to be able to manage the family fortune well, Councilman Trach placed his hopes on his third son, Tran Trinh Huy. He decided to send Ba Huy to study in France, hoping that his son would acquire knowledge of economic management and develop the family fortune.
However, studying abroad in France opened up a whole new world for Tran Trinh Huy. In addition to studying property management, Ba Huy also indulged in luxurious pleasures, learning about the trendy fashions of the French upper class. He learned ballroom dancing, drove cars and motorbikes, and even learned to fly airplanes. During his time abroad, Ba Huy mainly spent his time having fun, enjoying the lavish lifestyle, and exploring new things. He also married a French woman and had a child there.
Portrait of Tran Trinh Huy, the Bac Lieu Playboy
Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion: Historical Witness and Magnificent French Architecture
At the age of 26, the Bac Lieu Playboy returned home, bringing with him not only knowledge of property management but also a liberal, Westernized lifestyle. His return marked a new chapter in the history of the Tran Trinh family and created immortal legends about the Bac Lieu Playboy. The mansion of the Bac Lieu Playboy’s family, located at 13 Dien Bien Phu Street, Ward 3, Bac Lieu City, became a symbol of the wealth and power of this family.
The house was built in 1919, designed by a French engineer and adjusted by a famous Vietnamese feng shui master of the time. All building materials, from steel and bricks to furniture, were imported from France, reflecting the investment and class of the homeowner. The mansion’s architecture is imbued with classic French style, with delicate lines, elaborate decorative patterns, and spacious, airy spaces.
The highlight of the mansion is its solid column system, spacious corridors, and large windows, creating an open space and welcoming natural light. The main colors of the house are yellow, white, and black, bringing a luxurious and noble look. Inside the mansion, the rooms are arranged scientifically and conveniently, reflecting the modern lifestyle and refined aesthetic taste of the Bac Lieu Playboy.
The ground floor of the mansion includes a large living room, a family dining room, and two bedrooms, including the bedroom of Councilman Trach and the bedroom of the Bac Lieu Playboy. The Bac Lieu Playboy’s bedroom is equipped with a private dressing table, showing his attention to his appearance. The upper floor has three bedrooms and two large halls, decorated with luxurious furniture imported from France. In particular, on the upper floor, there is also a sun-drenched attic, where it is rumored that the Bac Lieu Playboy had people dry money to prevent mold.
The Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion is not only a unique architectural work but also a historical witness, associated with the ups and downs of the Tran Trinh family and the land of Bac Lieu. Today, the mansion is preserved and has become an attractive tourist destination, attracting visitors to visit, explore, and learn about the legendary story of the Bac Lieu Playboy. Visitors can feel the lavish living space of the former upper class, admire antique items, and listen to fascinating anecdotes about this famous playboy.
Exterior view of the Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion
Legends of the Bac Lieu Playboy: Playboy Lifestyle, Burning Money, and Hidden Talents Behind the Arrogance
When mentioning the Bac Lieu Playboy, people often immediately think of legends of extravagant playboy lifestyle, burning money like paper. Stories such as burning money to cook eggs, burning banknotes to find dropped money in the cinema have become symbols of his wealth and arrogance. However, behind the flashy exterior and shocking actions, the Bac Lieu Playboy was also an intelligent, talented person with certain contributions to the development of Bac Lieu.
Perhaps the most famous legend about the Bac Lieu Playboy is the story of “burning money to cook eggs.” Legend has it that, to prove his wealth, the Bac Lieu Playboy challenged the White Prince (Le Cong Phuoc) in a contest to burn money to cook green bean sweet soup. Whoever boiled the pot of sweet soup first by burning money would win. In the end, the White Prince won, but the story of this money-burning contest spread throughout the region, becoming proof of the wealth and extravagance of the two playboys.
Another anecdote tells that, once when going to the cinema with Miss Ba Tra, a famous Saigon beauty, the Bac Lieu Playboy burned a 20-dong banknote to find a 5-dong banknote that Miss Ba Tra had accidentally dropped in the dark theater. This action not only showed the Bac Lieu Playboy’s chivalry and generosity but also affirmed his wealthy status, as he was willing to burn a large amount of money just to find a smaller amount.
However, not only famous for his playboy lifestyle, the Bac Lieu Playboy was also known as a person with economic management talent and vision. After taking over the family fortune from his father, he applied modern Western-style management methods, kept clear books of income and expenditure, and hired French people to manage the farms. He was also the first to propose opening a private bank in Vietnam, contributing to promoting the economic development of the region.
In addition, the Bac Lieu Playboy was also a person with many new initiatives, bringing modern cultural features to the land of Cochinchina. He initiated the “Miss Countryside” beauty contest, a unique cultural event that attracted the attention of many people. He also advised local officials to organize fairs, contributing to promoting local products and developing tourism.
Thus, the Bac Lieu Playboy was not only a notorious playboy but also a multifaceted character, both arrogant and liberal, and also possessing business talent and contributions to society. The legends about him not only reflect a special historical period of Southern Vietnam but are also an indispensable part of folk culture, passed down and preserved to this day.
Interior of the Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion with imported French furniture
Tourist Experience at the Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion: Reliving the Old Space
When visiting Bac Lieu, tourists cannot miss the opportunity to explore the Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion, an attractive tourist destination that offers unique and interesting experiences. Here, visitors can:
- Visit classic French architecture: Admire the magnificent beauty of the mansion, with delicate architectural lines, elaborate decorative patterns, and spacious, airy spaces.
- Explore the lavish living space: Stepping inside the mansion, visitors will witness firsthand antique furniture imported from France, recreating the lavish living space of the former upper class.
- Learn about the life and legends of the Bac Lieu Playboy: Listen to guides tell fascinating stories about the life, career, and famous legends of the Bac Lieu Playboy, gaining a deeper understanding of this legendary figure.
- Stay at the Bac Lieu Playboy Hotel: The mansion is now combined as a hotel, visitors can experience living in the old space, enjoying unique resort services.
- Enjoy local cuisine: Near the mansion, there are many restaurants and eateries serving Bac Lieu specialties, visitors can enjoy the unique culinary flavors of this land.
To make your visit to the Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion more complete, tourists should:
- Learn about the history and legends of the Bac Lieu Playboy in advance: This will help visitors have a deeper understanding of the destination and increase their interest when visiting.
- Choose the appropriate time to visit: Bac Lieu weather is quite hot and sunny, so choose early morning or late afternoon to visit.
- Combine visiting other tourist attractions in Bac Lieu: In addition to the Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion, Bac Lieu also has many other attractive destinations such as Xiem Can Pagoda, Tac Say Church, wind power fields, visitors can combine visits to fully explore the beauty of this land.
Living room inside the Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion
Bac Lieu Cuisine: Unique Flavors and Unforgettable Experiences
Traveling to Bac Lieu is not only about exploring historical and cultural destinations but also an opportunity to enjoy specialty dishes, imbued with the flavors of the Mekong Delta. Bac Lieu cuisine is rich and diverse, with many attractive dishes made from fresh seafood and local ingredients.
Some Bac Lieu specialty dishes that visitors should try:
- Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Bun Bo Cay): A flavorful and spicy noodle soup, cooked with beef, lemongrass, chili, and special spices.
- Crispy Pancake (Banh Xeo): Crispy and delicious pancakes, filled with shrimp, meat, bean sprouts, served with raw vegetables and sweet and sour fish sauce.
- Cai Dau Grilled Sausage (Nem Nuong Cai Dau): Grilled sausage over charcoal, fragrant, served with rice paper, raw vegetables, and special dipping sauce.
- Fermented Fish Hotpot (Lau Mam): A rich hotpot with the flavor of fermented fish, with many types of seafood, meat, and vegetables, a typical dish of the Mekong Delta.
- Three-striped crab (Ba Khia): A specialty seafood of Bac Lieu, which can be processed into many attractive dishes such as tamarind-roasted three-striped crab, three-striped crab salad.
In addition, Bac Lieu is also famous for fresh seafood such as tiger shrimp, Ca Mau crab, mudskipper fish, visitors can enjoy at restaurants and eateries along the coast or buy as gifts. Experiencing Bac Lieu cuisine will be an indispensable part of the journey to explore this land, bringing unique flavors and unforgettable memories.
Conclusion: Bac Lieu and the Playboy Story – A Must-Visit Destination
Traveling to Bac Lieu and the story of the Bac Lieu Playboy is a fascinating journey of discovery, taking visitors back in time to learn about a special historical period of Southern Vietnam and a legendary figure. The Bac Lieu Playboy Mansion is not only a unique architectural work but also a cultural and historical symbol, associated with fascinating legends and traditional values.
Coming to Bac Lieu, visitors will not only visit the ancient mansion, listen to stories about the Bac Lieu Playboy but also explore other attractive destinations, enjoy unique cuisine, and experience the unique culture of the Mekong Delta. Bac Lieu promises to be a must-visit tourist destination, bringing memorable experiences and unforgettable memories in the hearts of visitors. Are you ready for a journey to explore Bac Lieu and this fascinating playboy story?