Tan Ky Old House in Hoi An - Explore Merchant Heritage

Each house in Hoi An old town is a unique and integral part of the city's architectural complex. As a result, the people of Hoi An continue to lead their normal daily lives within their neighborhoods, closely connecting their lives with the ancient architectures of their land. Tan Ky Old House, regarded as the oldest and most beautiful old house in Hoi An, has preserved numerous precious antiques and has become an attractive destination for tourists.

Location: 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam

Opening Hours: 8:30 - 17:45 daily

Entrance Fee: 30,000 VND / foreigner

1. History of Tan Ky Old House

Tan Ky Old House was built in 1741 and has been home to seven generations of the Le family. The name "Tan Ky" was chosen by Mr. Le Tan Ky, the second generation. During that time, the house was used for trading agricultural products. The front of the house faces Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, while the back faces Bach Dang Street and the Hoai River. At that time, Hoi An was a bustling international trading port with numerous Japanese, Chinese, and Western merchant ships, making the house's location ideal for trading goods.

Over the years, Tan Ky Old House has endured many floods, notably the flood of 1964, which reached the first floor of the house. Despite this, the house has miraculously remained intact. In the souvenir area for visitors, flood markers can still be seen inside the house.

Although it is not the oldest house in Hoi An, Tan Ky Old House was the first ancient house to be recognized as a "Cultural Work" by the Ministry of Culture and Information in Hoi An since 1985.

2. Architecture of Tan Ky Old House

The house is a combination of Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architectural styles. Constructed in a unique style, it consists of two overlapping columns, symbolizing the heaven-human relationship, and five vertical columns like five fingers, representing the five elements in nature.

The house features the typical tubular architecture of the old town. There are no windows anywhere in the house. The only light comes from a space called the atrium. However, when you enter this old house, there is no feeling of stuffiness at all.

Wood is the main material for the house, alongside stone and floor tiles. The stone was brought from Thanh Hoa Province and is used to protect the wooden pillars from damage. The floor tiles from Bat Trang keep the house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

A distinctive feature of this house is that it was built without using a single nail. Despite this, the house remains "self-standing" to this day.

The house was designed and constructed by the most skillful artisans from the famous Kim Bong carpentry village in Quang Nam Province at that time. The textures, patterns, and structures in the house carry meanings and messages of Oriental philosophy.

3. What to See and Do at Tan Ky Old House?

The old house Tan Ky has preserved many horizontal lacquered boards such as “Tích đức lưu tôn” (teaching the children to keep virtue for the following generations) and “Tâm thường thái” (keep the mind to always be quiet). The area inside the first apartment is the place where artifacts and sailboats are exhibited, symbolizing Hoi An Port from 400 years ago.

The house also retains a horizontal lacquered board named “Bách Điểu” (One Hundred Birds), which archaeologists consider unique in Vietnam. It is written in 100 letters, each representing a bird in flight.

When entering the house, you can see a shiny black bed, carefully carved, and the base of a flower vessel, which is also elaborately carved.

Among the many artifacts in the old house, you cannot miss the “Confucius Bowl,” an invaluable treasure tied to the ancient remnants of Confucius. It advises people to refrain from impulsive behaviors, keep themselves in a neutral state, and avoid outrageous activities.

In the house, there is a translation of the inscription of Mr. Le Tan Ky's stele, who established the Tan Ky business. It summarizes the story of an orphan boy named Cong who, through his self-independence, became a person of fame, love, and respect, helping the poor and earning the people's admiration.

Besides the exhibition space with many priceless antiques in the living room, the house has two charming little corners where the homeowners display small gifts from tourists who visited the family as souvenirs.

The old house also has a space for tourists from around the world to leave their business cards to save their memories when visiting the house.

4. How to Get to Tan Ky Old House?

If you are in Chua Cau Hoi An (Japanese Covered Bridge), you can go along Bach Dang Street to Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. The distance is not far, so you can walk slowly to enjoy the beautiful scenes here.

5. Tips on Visiting Tan Ky Old House

If you have the opportunity, you should visit Hoi An from February to April. Hoi An is the most beautiful and sparkling city during this time. Visitors are advised to wear appropriate clothing. There have been many cases where visitors were refused entry because they wore clothes that were too short and inappropriate. In this house, there is a space for selling souvenirs to visitors. Don't forget to buy some items for your relatives!

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