## A Grand Vision: Unveiling Vietnam’s Majestic Castle
Doanh nhân Đỗ Văn Tiến, a prominent businessman from Ninh Binh, has made his mark in the cement industry, but it is his grand castle that truly leaves a lasting impression.
With a total area of over 14,000 square meters, this is the largest private residence in Vietnam, inspired by European royal architecture.
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The main castle boasts a construction area of approximately 2,000 square meters and stands tall with six floors. It is inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica and other iconic structures in Vatican City (Italy), seamlessly blending European grandeur with Vietnamese influences and the owner’s personal touches.
The owner, a successful cement entrepreneur, has a passion for architecture that led to the creation of this majestic castle.
The architectural masterpiece features a intricate dome, adorned with gold-plated reliefs, exuding opulence and class. Inside, the grand architecture continues with a striking combination of white, gold, and red—the signature colors of European royalty. The basement level is divided into three main areas: a primary garage spanning 700 square meters that can accommodate around 30 cars, a secondary garage measuring 500 square meters for 20 vehicles, and a magnificent music hall covering 600 to 700 square meters, complete with a stage and seating for over 300 spectators.
The castle comprises five stories and is adorned with hundreds of stone columns, each valued at approximately 450 million VND. The construction required an enormous amount of materials, including 1,000 tons of iron, 4,000–5,000 tons of cement, and tens of thousands of tons of sand and bricks. The total investment in this grand project is estimated to be in the thousands of billions of VND, with the gate alone valued at around 40 billion VND.
The interior dome soars to a height equivalent to 11 stories, with an 18-meter diameter and no supporting columns. In contrast, the exterior architectural height is equivalent to an 18-story building. The interior is lavishly appointed with Spanish stone cladding on the walls and floors, along with rare redwood furnishings valued at around 100 billion VND. This wood symbolizes nobility and is used for the ceiling, columns, beams, and ancestral altar.
The interior décor features a range of premium materials, including gold, silver, copper, and sapphire.
The castle is divided into several sections, with the two blocks closest to the road designated for the owner’s sons. Besides serving as a residence, the main block also functions as the company’s office. Due to the castle’s popularity as a photo backdrop, the owner has employed a team of five security guards to ensure round-the-clock protection.
One of the rooms in the castle, featuring rare redwood furnishings.
Construction on this grand project began in June 2016 and took three and a half years to complete.
Each day, hundreds of people flock to the castle to take photographs, leading Mr. Tiến to hire a dedicated security team of five members who work from morning till night. The castle is still undergoing finishing touches.
According to the owner, the castle was built to fulfill his passion for architecture rather than for show. “It also provides my family with a comfortable and spacious living environment, enhancing my work efficiency,” he shared.
The Golden Palace: A Billion-Dollar Wonder in Southeast Asia, and the Unique Profession of its Owner
The Thang Thanh Castle has long been renowned for its majestic grandeur, touted as the most spectacular palace in Ninh Binh and the largest castle in Southeast Asia. This magnificent structure is owned by Do Van Tien, a prominent businessman in Ninh Binh.
