Inside his modest 45-square-meter office, Hoàn showcases nearly 100 artifacts gathered over 35 years, ranging from household tools and wartime memorabilia to relics of Vietnam’s subsidy era.
Items include stone flour mills, fish traps, hurricane lamps, typewriters, cassette players, and deactivated bombs and ammunition such as cluster bombs, mortar shells, and artillery rounds.
For Hoàn, each object is more than a relic. “These items are my close companions. Just looking at them brings me peace,” he said, adding that the collection helps students learn about history and the cultural heritage of Vietnam’s ethnic groups.
The collection reflects both nostalgia and resilience. Hoàn, who grew up in Hà Tĩnh province, recalls surviving a 1972 cluster bombing that left 68 people dead in a single night. A scar under his chin remains as a reminder.
“Children used to play with unexploded grenades. Many were injured or killed. I myself once narrowly escaped death when I used a cluster bomb to trap a wild boar,” he recounted.
Despite being called eccentric for amassing what others see as scrap metal, Hoàn refuses to sell his artifacts. Instead, he uses them to educate.
After history lessons, students often gather in his office to hear stories tied to the relics. “The eager eyes of students examining each item warm my heart. I want them to understand the sacrifices of their ancestors and feel proud of our nation’s history,” he said.
For many students, especially from ethnic minority communities, Hoàn’s collection is their first encounter with historical objects.
“The exhibition helps us visualize the fierce years of war and reminds us to study hard to honor our ancestors’ sacrifices,” said Kpă H’Ưn, an eighth grader.
To fund his passion, the principal has part-time jobs such as photography and computer repairs. While he never sells his antiques, he sometimes donates items to friends or charity groups supporting disadvantaged children.
His long-term wish is to create a dedicated exhibition space, allowing more students and visitors from remote areas to experience Vietnam’s historical legacy.