Known locally as “Dinh Ong Lon” (The Great Lord’s Mansion), the Nguyen Tuong ancestral house is one of the most well-preserved ancient structures in Hoi An. It not only reflects the glorious past of a distinguished academic family but also safeguards precious historical documents.

Built in 1806, the residence originally belonged to Nguyen Tuong Van (1774 - 1822), who served as Minister of War under Emperor Minh Mang of the Nguyen dynasty. After his death, it was converted into an ancestral house.

According to the Hoi An Center for Cultural Heritage Conservation, the Nguyen Tuong family is famous for its scholarly tradition, with many generations achieving academic honors and holding prominent positions in the imperial court.

Nguyen Tuong Van’s eldest son, Nguyen Tuong Vinh, was a Phó bảng (second-rank laureate) and governor of Dinh Tuong Province. His second son, Nguyen Tuong Pho, earned a doctorate and served as education commissioner in Quang Nam and Hai Duong under Emperor Thieu Tri.

Notably, in the early 20th century, three descendants of the family became iconic figures of modern Vietnamese literature: Nguyen Tuong Tam (pen name Nhat Linh), Nguyen Tuong Lan (Thach Lam), and Nguyen Tuong Long (Hoang Dao).

Today, the ancestral house still holds dozens of royal edicts from the reigns of Emperors Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, and Thanh Thai, along with Han-Nom manuscripts, paintings, calligraphy, and antique books.

In 2008, the site was recognized as a provincial-level historical, cultural, and architectural relic. In 2020, the tomb of Nguyen Tuong Van was also designated a provincial historical site.

Photos of the Nguyen Tuong ancestral house:

Ha Nam