VietNamNet Bridge - Hoi An town, Tan Ky House located at 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street was built almost two centuries ago as the home of a Vietnamese merchant.

The owner of the house has preserved its interior design and old furniture, as well as many relics of prospering trade and cultural exchange among the Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese during the late 17th century.

This is the first old house, along with two other structures in Hoi An, granted the title of Cultural Site by the Ministry of Culture and Information.

The house was built from traditional materials by skilled local artisans and was influenced by Chinese and Japanese styles. Its charming and elegant designs give it a cozy aspect. The architecture of the house has been kept almost intact, with only small repairs when necessary.

The house had a large wooden door, but no window. Above the door there are two wooden bolts carved with the yin-yang symbol. Long planks are put together horizontally on the two sides of the door. They can be dismantled for displaying goods and seating the owner when necessary.

Chinese poems written in mother-of-pearl are hanging from a number of the columns that hold up the roof. The back door overlooks a wharf by the Hoi An River, which was very convenient for loading and unloading goods.

There are four rooms in the Old House of Tan Ky; all of them are small in size, but packed with various beautiful antiques mainly made of wood. These four rooms are for four different purposes: one for welcoming Chinese merchants, and a living room, courtyard and bedroom.

The Old House of Tan Ky has a unique combination of three types of architecture. The beams of the roof are curved and they display Chinese information in an elaborate way; the peak of the roof bears Japanese characteristics and the Vietnamese crosshatch stands as a support to the roof of the old house. The walls of the house are also decorated with unique mosaics.

Photos of rare antiques inside the house:

VNN/Hoiantourism