Tan Ky Old House: A living museum with more than 200 years old in Hoi An

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Tan Ky House Hoi An is a not-to-be-missed tourist site in the ancient town (Source: Collected)

Tan Ky old house is a not-to-be-missed tourist site in Hoi An ancient town. The old house was built in the late 18th century by a Chinese-Vietnamese merchant and has become one of the most beautiful architectural works in the town. Over a period of more than 200 years, having suffered many historic floods, the old house is still attracting tourists with its lasting beauty.

1. Learn about the long history of Tan Ky Old House

• Location: No. 101, Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province
• Opening hours: 8:30 a.m – 5:45 p.m
• Ticket price: 35,000 VND/person/20 minutes (around $1.5)

Tan Ky old house is likened to a “living museum” that has been preserving the cultural, artistic and historical values of Hoi An ancient town. Built in 1741, the old house is where the local Le family has lived for 7 generations. In 1964, a historic flood occurred and the old house was heavily affected. Although the entire first floor was flooded, the whole structure has been kept intact even to this day.

In 1990, Tan Ky old house was recognized as a national cultural and historical relic and a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. Still, this remains a residential house with the current owner living on the upper floor while the lower floor is open to visitors.

The Old House of Tan Ky is likened to a “living museum” in Hoi An (Source: Collected)

2. Explore the impressive architecture of Tan Ky Ancient House

Tan Ky old house consists of 2 floors and 3 compartments. The house has an architectural style that combines the features of 3 cultures: Vietnam, Japan and China.

• Vietnamese architecture: the traditional architecture of Vietnam is the most prominent here as the 3 compartments are roofed with yin and yang tiles. The main highlight of the house is the columns and trusses that have fine carvings of multiple objects such as dragontail fish head, pomegranate, pumpkin, peach, bat, etc.
• Japanese architecture: the architecture of Japan can be seen in the living room area, which was built according to feng shui and the five elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth). Besides, the yin and yang tile roof also makes the house airy and cool in summer and cozy in winter.
• Chinese architecture: the architecture of China is imprinted here with the typical tube house structure that consists of many compartments and separate rooms. Although there are no windows, it is not stuffy or hot in the house. In the center of the house, a skylight was designed to make the most of natural light and regulate indoor air flow.

This ancient house in Hoi An has the architectural features of 3 countries (Source: Collected)

The main material used for the old house is wood. Specifically, the columns and trusses are made of ironwood while the doors are made of jackfruit wood, which are all rare and durable woods. In addition, the exterior decorative stone and floor tiles of the house were bought from Thanh Hoa and Bat Trang, which are both nice and long-lasting.

An interesting feature of the old house is that there was no nail being used. All the columns and trusses were fixed with tenons which are very solid.

>>> Book voucher, combo, tour to Hoi An, Nam Hoi An to explore this ancient house in Hoi An!

3. What is inside the old house of Tan Ky?

Not only having unique architecture, Tan Ky old house also attracts visitors with its long-standing antiques, each of which is associated with a respective anecdote. The most prominent among the antiques here is probably the one-of-a-kind Vietnamese cup that dated from the time of Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC).

There are a lot of antiques in Tan Ky Old House (Source: Collected)

According to historical records, this cup has been around for 550-600 years and it came to the possession of the local Le family more than 200 years ago. This “Confucius” cup has a strange shape which may look very simple, yet it contains a deeper meaning. If more than a certain amount of water is poured into the cup, it will automatically overflow. This is like the advice of the ancient people, that each of us needs to know how to control ourselves and keep our mind pure.

In addition to the “Confucius” cup and other valuable antiques, the management board of the old house also set up two small areas to display souvenirs and badges, so that visitors can buy them as gifts for their loved ones.

4. Save some notes for your trip to Tan Ky House Hoi An

Coming to Tan Ky old house, visitors should note the following:

• This place displays many antiques of great value, so visitors should refrain from touching them to avoid damage
• Avoid making noise so as not to disturb the owners that live upstairs
• To better understand the historical value of the house, ask the guides in the old house or those at the ticket booth
• Keep the ticket stub for further use during your visit to Hoi An
• Shop for gifts and souvenirs in the area behind the old house

Visitors should avoid making noise when coming to Tan Ky Old House (Source: Collected)

5. Suggested places to visit around Tan Ky Ancient House

After you have explored Tan Ky old house and learned about its historical and cultural values, do not forget to visit the nearby tourist sites as follows:

5.1. VinWonders Nam Hoi An

Located only about 15 kilometers from the center of Hoi An ancient town, VinWonders Nam Hoi An is a large-scale amusement park that is ideal for visitors to experience the unique architecture, culture and art of Vietnam as well as other countries around the world.

Attractive activities not to be missed when coming to VinWonders Nam Hoi An include:

• Come to the Harbor Corner and immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of Hoi An in the 16th – 17th centuries
• Go to the Island of Folk Culture and experience the unique art forms of Vietnam
• Explore the River Safari alongside the river and discover the home of more than 50 animal species
• Conquer more than 20 thrilling rides and nearly 100 indoor games at the Adventure Land
• Go crazy with 11 water games and cool down the summer heat in the Water World

>>> Book tickets of VinWonders Nam Hoi An to have lots of fun at this wonderful amusement park!

VinWonders Nam Hoi An is your next go-to destination after visiting Tan Ky Old House

5.2. Japanese Bridge Hoi An

Japanese Bridge Hoi An connects the two banks of the peaceful Hoai River in the center of the ancient town. This place impresses visitors with a unique wooden roof and classical decorative motifs that highlight Japanese architecture. This work is a special symbol of Hoi An and also a favorite destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

5.3. Thanh Ha Pottery Village

As one of the oldest and most famous traditional craft villages in Hoi An, Thanh Ha Pottery Village entertains visitors with extremely sophisticated ceramic works. They are made by the talented and skillful hands of the artisans of Thanh Ha. Here, visitors can also create their own ceramic works and bring them home as souvenirs.

You can make your own ceramic works in Thanh Ha Pottery Village (Source: Collected)

As time passes, Tan Ky old house has been still standing firm and witnessing the many ups and downs of history in Hoi An. It preserves what is left from the ancient eras and has become a meaningful living lesson for the next generations of Vietnamese.

>>> Book voucher, combo, tour to Hoi An, Nam Hoi An now to see with your own eyes the beauty of this ancient work and don’t forget to book tickets of VinWonders Nam Hoi An to enjoy the fun at this top-rated amusement park!