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

Tan Ky Old House is located in the center of Hoi An ancient town, one of the architectural works with historical and cultural value, bearing the mark of time. Built more than 200 years ago, this ancient house witnessed the ups and downs of the once bustling Hoi An trading port and preserved the traditional architectural beauty of the Vietnamese people. With a harmonious combination of Asian architectural style and sophistication in every detail, Tan Ky Ancient House has become an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists when visiting Hoi An ancient town.

Overview of Tan Ky Old House Hoi An

Tan Ky Ancient House is one of the unique architectural works in Hoi An ancient town, famous not only for its historical value but also for the unique cultural beauty of the Vietnamese people. Although not the oldest house in the area, Tan Ky Old House has a special significance as the first ancient house to be recognized as a national heritage of Vietnam. This place attracts domestic tourists and is an attractive destination for international visitors.

• Location: Tan Ky Old House is located at 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. Located right in the heart of the old town, this place is easy to access and is on the itinerary of many tours.
• Opening hours: The house is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, creating favorable conditions for visitors to visit and explore the ancient architectural space as well as the historical story of the house.
• Entrance fee: With an entrance fee of 35,000 VND per person, Tan Ky Old House offers visitors an experience worthy of the value it represents. This is an opportunity to learn more about the life and culture of the ancient people of Hoi An, through the layout and architecture that have been preserved intact for hundreds of years.

Tan Ky Old House is an architectural work of historical value, an indispensable part of the cultural heritage picture of Hoi An. Visiting this ancient house will give visitors a deeper understanding of the life and culture of the Vietnamese people here.

History of Tan Ky Old House

​​Tan Ky Ancient House Hoi An is one of the unique architectural heritages and has profound historical value in Hoi An with a history of more than 200 years. Built in 1741, the house was the residence of the Le family for seven generations. Through many historical changes, Old House of Tan Ky still retains its ancient beauty and inherent cultural value, becoming one of the typical symbols of Hoi An ancient town.

The name “Tan Ky Old House” originated from the second generation of the Le family, used by Mr. Le Tan Ky. This name means prosperity and development, expressing the wish that the business career will always progress smoothly. Previously, Tan Ky ancient house was used for agricultural business, taking advantage of the commercial advantages of Hoi An seaport – one of the busiest seaports in Southeast Asia at that time, attracting many merchant ships from different countries.

In 1964, Tan Ky Old House faced a major flood, but fortunately, the house was not seriously damaged and remained in its original state. This was thanks to its solid structure and the careful care of the owner through the generations. To this day, the Le family continues to live on the upper floor of the house, while the lower floor is reserved for tourists to visit and explore the architecture and history. In 1990, Tan Ky Old House was recognized as a national historical and cultural relic, recognizing the historical and cultural value of the building. Moreover, at the time UNESCO recognized Hoi An as a world cultural heritage, Tan Ky Old House became one of the important highlights, contributing to introducing the history and unique culture of Hoi An to global tourists.

Unique architecture of Tan Ky Old House

Tan Ky Old House is a precious cultural heritage of Hoi An and is a testament to the architectural exchange between three cultures: Vietnam, China and Japan. With a delicate combination of feng shui elements, construction materials and layout style, the house has existed for more than 200 years but still retains its beauty and sustainability over time.

Building materials and house structure

The house is built mainly from precious woods, especially ironwood used for the truss and frame system, creating solidity and durability. The entrance door is made from jack fruit wood, bringing a rustic yet sophisticated beauty. The house has a structure of two floors and three compartments, each part has a deep meaning in terms of feng shui. The stacked columns symbolize the connection between heaven and man, while the five upright columns represent the five elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, to balance and maintain harmony in the living space.

Architectural style

• Vietnamese architectural style: Vietnamese architecture is clearly shown in the traditional three-room house style and the yin-yang tiled roof, which helps regulate the temperature and create ventilation for the space. The carved details on the columns and rafters are familiar symbols of Vietnamese culture such as dragons, peaches, and bats, symbolizing luck. The sophistication in each carved detail not only brings aesthetic value but also honors the skillful craftsmanship of ancient artisans.
• Japanese architectural style: Japanese style appears most clearly in the living room, which is arranged and built according to the principle of the five elements. This not only creates a balance of energy in the house but also helps the air flow easily, keeping the space airy. It is the arrangement according to the five elements that helps the house maintain a healthy and comfortable living environment, even though it has existed for many centuries.
• Chinese architectural style: The influence of Chinese architecture is shown through the design of many separate rooms, similar to ancient Chinese houses. Another characteristic feature is that the house has no windows, instead using skylights to provide light and air circulation. This design creates an airy feeling, demonstrating the ingenuity in combining natural elements into the living space. 

Tan Ky Old House strictly adheres to feng shui elements. From the use of carved symbols to the arrangement of space, every detail is aimed at creating harmony between humans and nature. This contributes to maintaining prosperity, luck and sustainability for the homeowner through many generations.

What valuable antiques are kept in Tan Ky Old House?

Tan Ky Old House is home to many valuable antiques of cultural and historical value. The antiques here all carry special stories, reflecting the development and prosperity of the commercial port of Hoi An more than 400 years ago.

• Horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences: One of the most prominent antiques is the horizontal lacquered boards and parallel sentences. The horizontal lacquered boards carry the words “Tich Duc Luu Ton” with the meaning of advising descendants to accumulate virtue to maintain family traditions. In addition, the parallel sentence “Tam Thuong Thai” reminds us to always keep our souls peaceful and calm. In particular, the parallel sentences “Bach Dieu” are carved with 100 extremely sophisticated strokes, demonstrating the excellent calligraphy and sculpture skills of the ancients.
• Sailboat on display: In addition, another antique with special meaning is the sailboat, a symbol of the prosperity and bustle of Hoi An trading port. The image of the sailboat is reminiscent of the period when Hoi An was one of the most vibrant international trading centers in Southeast Asia, where trade of goods between Asian and European countries took place busily.
• Confucius Cup: An extremely rare and unique artifact at Tan Ky Old House is the Confucius Cup, dating from 550 to 600 years ago. This is considered one of the ancient cups with great historical value and is rare in Vietnam, highlighting the cultural value of the ancient house.

• Translation of the stele: The translation of the stele by Mr. Le Tan Ky is also a remarkable artifact. This stele tells the story of an orphan boy who, with perseverance and extraordinary will, built his own career, became successful and was respected by many people. The translation shows the spirit of overcoming difficulties of the ancients and is a valuable source of information about the history and people of this land.

The antiques at Tan Ky Old House are both priceless historical artifacts and a bridge between the past and the present, helping future generations better understand the life and people of Hoi An during the glorious period of this commercial port.

The best time to visit Tan Ky Old House

Although Hoi An has a fairly mild and pleasant climate all year round, the best time to visit Old House of Tan Ky is from February to April. During this time, the weather in Hoi An is very pleasant with a cool, fresh climate, not too hot and not too rainy, creating favorable conditions for exploration. This is also the time when the landscape in Hoi An enters its most beautiful stage, with fresh flowers, clear blue sky, gentle sunlight, enhancing the ancient beauty of the ancient houses in the city.

In addition, from February to April is also the peak season for international tourism, when many tourists from all over the world choose Hoi An as a stopover. Thanks to that, the atmosphere at Tan Ky Old House becomes more vibrant with people visiting and learning about the unique history and culture of this ancient house.

Visiting Tan Ky Old House during this time helps visitors experience the architecture and long history of the house, enjoy the wonderful atmosphere of Hoi An. This is an ideal opportunity to take beautiful photos, preserving the moment of immersing yourself in the ancient, peaceful features of the old town.

Notes when visiting Tan Ky Old House

When visiting Tan Ky Old House – a valuable cultural heritage of Hoi An, visitors need to note some important things to preserve the space and historical artifacts here, and at the same time have a good visiting experience.

• Do not touch artifacts without permission: Tan Ky Old House is a place to preserve many valuable historical artifacts, carefully preserved for hundreds of years. Therefore, visitors should limit touching the displayed artifacts without the guidance or permission of the manager. Touching antiques can affect their quality and durability, so special attention must be paid to protect these heritages for future generations.
• Keep quiet and polite: The ancient house is not only a tourist destination but also a place where the owner lives. When coming here, visitors need to maintain a polite attitude, avoid talking loudly or causing disorder so as not to disturb the owner as well as other visitors. The quiet and peaceful environment in the ancient house helps visitors feel more deeply about the old space and traditional beauty of the house.
• No smoking in the ancient house area: Smoking affects the fresh air inside the ancient house, and can damage the ancient artifacts and wooden structure of the house. Therefore, visitors must strictly comply with the no-smoking regulations when visiting, contributing to preserving the clean green space and protecting the precious heritage values ​​here.
• Shop for souvenirs in the area behind the ancient house: After visiting, visitors can visit the area behind the ancient house, where many typical souvenirs of Hoi An are sold. This is an opportunity for you to choose to buy unique handicrafts, imbued with local culture, as souvenirs for your trip.

Following these notes will help preserve the cultural and historical values ​​of Tan Ky Old House, contributing to creating a complete and memorable visiting experience for visitors.

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Bliss Hoi An Beach Resort & Wellness is the ideal choice for those who want to combine exploring Hoi An ancient town with enjoying a coastal vacation. Located right next to the beautiful beach, the resort offers panoramic views of the cool blue ocean, helping visitors feel relaxed and in harmony with nature.
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Bliss Hoi An is not simply a place to stay, but also a destination that brings the feeling of relaxation in harmony with nature. With a green natural landscape, quiet space and diverse health care services, this is the ideal place for you to enjoy the tranquility and relaxation, forgetting the stress of everyday life.

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