At 91 years old, Mai Huyen has spent nearly a quarter of a century creating a unique home adorned with thousands of stupas, bas-reliefs, and Buddha statues - an effort to preserve the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of the Khmer people.

Located along the Phu My inter-communal road in My Tu District, Soc Trang Province, Huyen’s extraordinary home in Bung Coc Hamlet draws curious stares from all who pass by, thanks to its intricate Buddhist details and striking architecture.

Visitors must first pass through a large gate measuring 3 meters wide, 4 meters long, and 5 meters high. Its roof is covered in corrugated metal and supported by concrete columns. At its base, two stone benches offer resting spots for passersby. Around the gate, decorative bas-reliefs mimic the heads of the sacred Naga serpent, encircling the entrance in traditional Khmer fashion.

“Since childhood, I’ve studied Khmer language and Buddhist teachings in the pagoda, and they’ve remained deeply rooted in my soul,” Huyen recalled. “In 2000, I began building this stupa house to honor my ancestors and preserve Khmer culture.”

Neighbors have long respected his vision. Many offered to donate money, materials, or labor to help, but Huyen declined all assistance. He insisted on completing the work himself to ensure every detail matched his vision.

The house spans just under 100 square meters, but inside, walkways are narrow - barely wide enough for one person to pass. Nearly every inch is dedicated to displaying cement Buddha statues, handcrafted and lovingly maintained by Huyen.

The most striking feature of the home is its tower structures. Aside from the main stupa, which stands over 2 meters tall, there are thousands of smaller ones decorated with Buddha faces or statues oriented in four directions - symbolizing the Buddhist virtues of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

Many of the Buddha faces are embedded with mirrored fragments. According to Huyen, these mirrors serve to "illuminate the soul and expand the mind" of those who see them.

Regarding construction costs, Huyen explained that his large family - he has 12 children - manages more than 7 hectares of rice fields. His children, successful and supportive, regularly contribute to his spiritual endeavor.

“I’ve been building for nearly 25 years, and still many parts are unfinished,” he said, adding that his health is now deteriorating, leaving the future of his work uncertain.

Neighbor Ly Thi Hoang, 58, shared her admiration for the project. “It’s incredible how much dedication went into this house. It reflects the deep cultural values of the Khmer community,” she said. Though Huyen used to ride his motorbike to temple services each month, recent health issues have made that more difficult.

Do Than Hoang, head of Bung Coc Hamlet, confirmed that Huyen built the house with the help of his children. “There’s nothing else like it in the entire commune,” he said.