Monthly archive for May 2017

Hoi An is a charming and picturesque little city  located near the coastline in Central Vietnam. Once a major trading port between the 16th and 18th centuries, it managed to retain to this day some of his architectural heritage. The old city spreads on  30 hectares and  is listed on the UNESCO Word Heritage since 1999.

Although many of the 1000 old  houses in Hoi An  are now converted to tailor, souvenir, coffee shops and restaurants due the booming of both international and national tourism (more than 2 million tourist in 2016), an handful of preserved houses are open to the public. To  visit them, you need to buy a 120 000 VND ticket (about USD 5),   valid for only 5 world heritage sites. This post lists all  heritage houses you can visit with one pass.

I would recommend  to start your visit around 8 am to avoid  group tours that can spoil your experience and make it difficult to take pictures. The advantage also is to be able to use a tripod as the interior of some houses is really dark. Except for the ancient house, each site is  only few  minutes apart by walk.

 

Tan Ky house (101 Nguyen Thai Hoc St)

Named after  its builder Tan Ky, this house  is the  most popular heritage house in Hoi An, also the first one to be listed on the national heritage of Vietnam in 1985. Built in the late 18th century, its  architecture is   a combination of   Japanese, Chinese and Vietnamese styles. Two entrances are available,  one facing the river but unfortunately the first  floor is not open to the general public. It is not the best house to take interior pictures as often crowded with groups.

A short five  minutes introduction is given but some members of the founding family  before you can wander around. On one wall, water levels due to floods are recorded, the last one being  in December 2016 which lasted for 4 days.

 

 

Phung Hung House (4 Nguyen Thi min Khai St)

Not far from the famous Japanese covered bridge,  Phung Hung is a two-stories private house built in 1780 with a combination of  Japanese (four-sided roof), Chinese and Vietnamese styles. A  balcony with a nice vintage on the street below and on the room below is accessible. A small tour with few explanations is given to you when you enter the premises. It  is one the best house to  take interior pictures because it is quite large and bright. A shop selling embroideries is located on the second floor.

 

 

 

 

 Quan Thang  house (77 Tran Phu St)

Built by a Chinese merchant in the late 17th century, Quan Thang  is a one-story shop-house with some interesting architectural details especially the teak walls. No explanations about the house was given by family during the visit. The back of the house is private so photographic opportunities are quite  limited.

 

 

 

 

Duc An old house (129 Tran Phu St)

Duc An is  an heritage house built in 1850 with some timber carvings. The house was a bookstore at the end of the 19th century and Chinese   medicine dispensary  during the 20th century. Unfortunately a souvenir shop is now located on the back of the house thus restricting photography. There was no guide during the visit.

 

 

 

 

 

Tran Family Chapel (21 Le Loi St)

Tran chapel is a beautiful house built   in 1804 by  Tran Tu Nhac  with purpose  to worship his ancestors. Architecture reflects Japanese (five  columns), Chinese (turtle roof) and Vietnamese (bow and arrow)  styles. The house has three entrances, a beautiful waiting room leading to the atmospheric ancestors’altar with stone tablets. A shop is located  at the back with some interesting Yin Yang coins and few Piastres from the Indochina period. The guided visit was one of the best of all the houses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ancient House (104 Thai Phien St)

One of my favorite heritage house situated in the northern part  of the old town. Built  250 years ago  on one floor with 4 rooms  it has an unique  Vietnamese architecture. A cluster of beautiful red lanterns are hanging in the entrance room and carved pillars are well preserved.  Hosts are  quite friendly and invite you for tea and biscuits to reply to questions you might have. Entrance is free so if  if you do not want to buy anything from the shop,  a donation box is available. Ancient House receives only few visitors daily so  you are likely to be alone during your visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diep Dong Nguyen house (82 Nguyen Thai Hoc St)

This old house built late 19th century has been converted to a museum displaying ceramics  and furniture. Of particular interest is the wooden facade of the house with no windows. You do not need the old town ticket to visit the premises.