Tan Ky Ancient House: A Unique Living Museum in Hoi An

Tan Ky Ancient House

Tan Ky Ancient House

Overview of Tan Ky Ancient House

Tan Ky Ancient House is one of the rarest houses that is recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO. It has more than 200 years of history and is considered as a “living museum”. Its unique architecture of ancient Hoi An and long-standing traditional cultures have made Tan ky Ancient House become a household name for many tourists. If this is the first time you have visited Hoi An, especially the old house of Tan Ky, here is all the information you need to know about Tan Ky ancient house – a charming destination in Hoi An.

Tan Ky Ancient House
Inside Tan Ky Ancient House

Where is Tan Ky Ancient House?

  • Address: 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hoi An, Quang Nam

The old house of Tan Ky is located at 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, which is in Ancient Hoi An Town, and it is about 3 minutes of walking to the Japanese Covered Bridge.

Tan Ky Ancient House - Vietnam Shore Excursions
Tan Ky Ancient House is about 3 minutes of walking from the Japanese Covered Bridge

History of Tan Ky Ancient House

Tan Ky Ancient House in Hoi An was built in 1741 as the residence of a 7-generation family. Especially, it was the trading place of the local merchants as well as the foreign traders in the 18th and 19th centuries.

“Tan Ky” is not its original name; it was given by the second generation of this house with the hope of having an appreciative life and business.

In 1961, the old house of Tan Ky was badly damaged by the enormous flood. Luckily, it still retained the original architecture and valuable antiquity.

In 1990, the old house was recognized as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. However, up to now, Tan Ky ancient house has still been managed by Le’s family. While the family members live on the top floor, the first floor is allowed for tourists to pay a visit.

Old House of Tan Ky
The first floor of Tan Ky Old House in Hoi An

Architecture of the old house of Tan Ky

Tan Ky ancient house is well known for its appealing ancient beauty. Paying a visit to the inside of this old house will bring you back to the previous decades with a variety of memorable things about old Hoi An.

The sophisticated design of Tan Ky Ancient House

Tan Ky Ancient House was built by famous artisans in Kim Bong carpentry village. The motifs and patterns of the structure of the house are all meticulously made and carry the breath of oriental philosophy. The style of this old house is the combination of three different cultures: Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese.

Tan Ky Ancient House Hoi An
The living room of the house was made in Japanese architecture

The main materials to build the house are rare wood, rocks, and floor tiles. The materials were all chosen from famous places. The stone is taken from Thanh Hoa Province, the floor tile is produced from Bat Trang Village.

The combination of three materials has made the characteristic of Tan Ky Ancient House become extremely special, which is being cool in summer and warm in winter. Besides, the high-quality materials are the main factors that help this old house be well retained after more than 200 years.

Tan Ky Ancient House Hoi An - Vietnam Shore Excursions
The tiled roof of the living room is set up in a harmonious yin-yang style, helping to expand the living room space

The house is built in a typical tubular style of Hoi An Ancient Town, divided into many separate rooms inside. Especially, there is no window but the air is still fresh.

Tan Ky Old House
The ancient beauty of Tan Ky Old House

The valuable antiques in Tan Ky House

Currently, the ancient house of Tan Ky still retains many valuable antiques with high cultural and historical value.

Tan Ky Old House Hoi An
The Confucius cup in Tan Ky Ancient House

The Confucius Cup is a treasure of the Tan Ky family and is considered a unique antique in Vietnam. In addition, this treasure also teaches a meaningful lesson of balancing between richness and happiness. Otherwise, we will lose everything.

Old House of Tan Ky
The appealing beauty of the paintings in Tan Ky Old House

In particular, there is also a horizontal lacquered board “Bách Điểu” written in 100 strokes, each stroke is like a bird in flight, which is evaluated by archaeologists to be unique.

Old House of Tan Ky Hoi An
The valuable antiques in Tan Ky House

Entering the first room of the old house, you will see many antiques and sailing ships models, which are all symbols of the bustling trading port of Hoi An 400 years ago.

Tan Ky Hoi An
The corners display badges and souvenirs in Tan Ky Old House

In the living room is a space to display priceless antiques. In addition, there are two little corners in the house for the owner to display badges and small, lovely souvenirs for visitors.

Moreover, in the old House of Tan Ky, there are also a variety of valuable antiques from the 18th century, such as the Ty Ba vase, the ancient cigarette pipe, and Chu Dau pottery.

Tan Ky House’s opening hours and ticket prices

  • Opening hours: 8 AM – 5 PM
  • Tickets: 35.000 VND

Articles for you:

Tan Ky Ancient House Map

How to get to Tan Ky Ancient House?

Vehicles are not allowed in Hoi An Ancient; therefore, tourists can only visit the old house on foot as well as by bicycle. Moreover, Tan Ky ancient house has a lot of fascinating things to discover. Owing to this reason, travelers should have a tour guide to have the most well-rounded experience.

For travelers who want to visit the Tan Ky Ancient House with private services, you can book a private tour from Vietnam Shore Excursions. Professional and knowledgeable tour guides will share profoundly many interesting stories about Tan Ky Ancient House and Hoi An Ancient Town, as well as the local life of local people during the tour. Here are some Hoi An Tours which customers can find out and book for you and your group.

Tan Ky  Ancient House
Travelers are taking their photos in Tan Ky Old House

Notes for visitors to Tan Ky Ancient House

  • You need to bring 120.000 VND for the Hoi An Ancient Town’s entrance fee before getting to the house
  • Avoid smoking, chewing gum, and touching valuable artifacts
  • Avoid making noise or running
  • Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs behind the house for families and friends
  • Contact the tour guides in the house to understand more about its history and architecture. Free tour guides for groups of more than 8 people.

In conclusion, Tan Ky Ancient House is the must-go destination in Hoi An. Visiting this heritage site will help you deeply understand ancient Hoi An. In addition, the stunning beauty of the old town will be the most unforgettable memory for any visitor to Hoi An.

Spread the love

David Nguyen - Vietnam Travel Expert

Mr. David Nguyen is a travel expert and as a seasoned traveler he has the inside track on the most memorable adventures which will help you to have unforgettable memories and wonderful experiences to better your Vietnam Holiday!

Hotline: +84913138096 (WhatsApp/ Zalo/ Imessage) Email: chiduyencssh@gmail.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *