Duc An old house: The most beautiful ancient house in Hoi An captivates tourists

Located in the heart of Hoi An ancient town, Duc An ancient house is one of the destinations that cannot be missed by tourists when visiting this land rich in cultural traditions. With a history of nearly 200 years, Duc An old house is not only a unique architectural work, but also a place that contains historical and cultural stories. Coming here, international visitors will have the opportunity to explore the traditional culture and art of Vietnam, from sophisticated architectural details to ancient artifacts preserved intact through many generations. Let’s step into the peaceful space of Duc An old house, to feel more deeply the timeless beauty of Hoi An and the unique cultural values ​​of Vietnam.

History of Duc An old house

Duc An ancient house was built by the Phan family’s ancestors, and used as a communal house, a place to worship ancestors and a place to live. The name “Duc An” has a deep meaning of morality and peace. In particular, the name “Duc An” is also the name of a famous bookstore of the Phan family specializing in selling books in Quang Nam, a place to connect knowledge and culture in the region.

During the process of formation and development, Duc An old house became an important meeting place for the Communist Party of Vietnam in the 1930s. This was the place where many secret meetings between revolutionary soldiers took place, contributing significantly to the national liberation movement. Duc An old house is therefore not only an architectural heritage but also a historical symbol, marking the heroic years of resistance of the nation.

Up to now, Duc An old house has been lived in by 8 generations of the Phan family, each generation contributing to maintaining and preserving the house as well as the historical values ​​it brings. The house still retains its ancient architecture with a harmonious combination of Vietnamese and Chinese styles, creating a traditional beauty and rich cultural identity of Hoi An. Duc An old house plays an important role in the cultural development of Hoi An and is a testament to the economic development of the area. As one of the famous ancient houses, it attracts many tourists, contributing to promoting local tourism and creating significant economic value.

Read more: Tan Ky Old House: Discover Hoi An’s oldest living museum

General information about Duc An old house

Duc An Ancient House is one of the famous and long-standing ancient houses in Hoi An, bearing the historical and cultural imprints of the ancient Hoi An trading port. Built during the reign of King Minh Mang (Nguyen Dynasty), this ancient house retains intact the architectural and cultural characteristics of the ancient Hoi An town, the period when Hoi An trading port flourished. The antiquity and sophistication in every detail of Duc An old house is a testament to the prosperity and typical lifestyle of wealthy merchant families in Hoi An over the centuries. Located at 129 Tran Phu, Minh An Ward, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Duc An old house is located right in the heart of the old town, a prime location associated with the bustling streets of the past. The architecture of the house still retains the traditional style with a harmonious combination of Vietnamese and Chinese architecture. The sophisticated carvings, antique furniture and ancient house space have become unique cultural symbols, helping visitors better understand the lifestyle and activities of the ancient Hoi An people.

The role of Duc An old house in the Hoi An architectural heritage system is extremely special. Not only is it an architectural heritage with artistic value, this house is also a living historical witness to the economic and cultural development of Hoi An, from the prosperous trading port period to the present. With its architecture preserved almost intact for nearly 200 years, Duc An old house makes an important contribution to maintaining cultural values ​​and developing local tourism, attracting thousands of domestic and international tourists.

Duc An old house is open to visitors from 8am to 9pm, from Monday to Sunday every week. The entrance fee is 80,000 VND for Vietnamese visitors and 120,000 VND for international visitors. In addition to visiting Duc An old house, visitors can choose two other attractions such as Phung Hung ancient house and Tan Ky ancient house in the ticket package.

Discover the unique architecture of Duc An old house

Duc An Ancient House in Hoi An is one of the rare remaining architectural works, bearing the mark of the cultural exchange between Vietnam and China. Built in the early 19th century, Duc An old house is a symbol of the history, culture and unique architectural art of this period.

Duc An old house stands out with its Vietnamese architectural style, typically the traditional tube house shape. With a 7m wide frontage, the house was designed to serve the purpose of trading, typical of merchant houses in Hoi An. Inside, the space is divided into many rooms with different purposes: the outer room is used as a place for trading, the inner room is a solemn worship space, and the backyard is the family’s living space.

A special feature of Duc An ancient house is that the house frame is built in the traditional Central Vietnamese house style, using brick walls and yin-yang tiled roofs – familiar and durable materials over time. The special overlapping roof style extends to the back to form a large upper floor, a rare remnant in Hoi An today, a clear demonstration of the ingenuity and creativity of the ancients in combining aesthetic elements and functionality.

Duc An old house is still preserved intact, preserving many valuable ancient artifacts such as ancient books, horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, and many other antiques. Every decorative detail, from the tiled roof to the intricately carved wooden doors, shows the meticulousness and skillful craftsmanship of ancient artisans, bringing invaluable historical and cultural values. Visiting Duc An old house, visitors can admire a unique architectural work, discover historical stories, culture and life of Hoi An people through each item, each small corner of the house. This is truly a destination not to be missed for those who love ancient architecture and want to learn about the beauty of traditional Vietnamese culture.

Cultural and tourism value of Duc An Old House to date

Duc An Ancient House attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists every year. Duc An old house plays a special role in the patriotic movement of Vietnam. This is a place that leaves a deep impression on history, the birthplace of patriot Cao Hong Lanh, an important figure in the Vietnamese revolutionary movement. In addition, this ancient house is also the place where the Vietnam Revolutionary Youth Association in Hoi An was established, a revolutionary organization that played an important role in the struggle for national independence. During the years of resistance, this place was the place to hold Party meetings, contributing to strategic decisions of the Vietnamese revolution at that time.

In addition to playing an important role in revolutionary history, Duc An old house is also a place to preserve and tell stories about the prosperous past of Hoi An trading port. Through every architectural detail, every relic, and every antique on display, Duc An old house faithfully recreates a picture of the daily life and trade of Hoi An people in the previous centuries, when this place was one of the busiest trading ports in Southeast Asia.

In particular, Duc An old house is also a unique art space, where many precious traditional values ​​are preserved and displayed. Artifacts such as antiques, old books, and many other works of art are collected and displayed here to help visitors better understand the cultural history of Hoi An, contributing to maintaining and protecting traditional values ​​that are gradually fading away.

Duc An old house continues to play an important role in connecting the past with the present, contributing to preserving and spreading the cultural and historical values ​​of Hoi An. That place will certainly bring visitors unique and profound experiences about a turbulent but also very proud historical period of the nation.

Read more: Phung Hung old house – Fascinated by the beauty of Asian features

Notes when visiting Duc An old house

To protect and respect the space of Duc An Hoi An ancient house, visitors must comply with the following important regulations:

Respect traditional values, and do not touch artifacts

Duc An old house preserves many valuable artifacts of historical and cultural value. Therefore, visitors should only touch the artifacts that are allowed to be touched and absolutely do not touch unauthorized artifacts, especially those that are being preserved in glass cabinets. This is to avoid damaging or losing the original value of the artifacts.

Move smoothly, without making noise

Duc An old house is a historical and cultural space, where quietness is needed to preserve its unique space. Visitors should move gently and avoid making loud noises so as not to affect the experience of other visitors.

No smoking

Smoking in the ancient house area affects the health and experience of other visitors and also poses a risk of fire and explosion, threatening the safety of the ancient building. Therefore, visitors must strictly comply with the no-smoking regulations to protect the visiting space and everyone’s health.

No jostling or pushing 

In case the ancient house is crowded, visitors should line up in order and move slowly. Pushing and shoving will disrupt order and can be dangerous for visitors and those around them. Please maintain a civilized and polite attitude when visiting to ensure safety and create an enjoyable experience for everyone.

Above, Bliss Hoi An Beach Resort & Wellness sends readers the things they need to know for a trip to visit Duc An old house. Readers should not forget to refer to the rooms at Bliss Hoi An Beach Resort & Wellness to have a perfect resort experience for their upcoming journey to explore Hoi An.