The Old House of Tan Ky is one of the best-preserved historic merchant houses in Hoi An’s Ancient Town. It’s nicely preserved and is still owned by the same family after more than two centuries and seven generations.
The house is located at 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, in the heart of Hoi An’s old town The front opens onto the busy commercial street, while the rear once connected directly to the Hoai (Thu Bon) River, allowing boats to dock for loading and unloading goods.
The house was built around 1741 for a prosperous Chinese-Vietnamese merchant, identified as Lê Công. It was built by skilled Vietnamese carpenters and has the features of typical houses in the town, having a long narrow design with two stories.
The name “Tấn Ký” (roughly translates to “Progress Shop”) was given by the family’s second generation as a wish for lasting business success that appears to have worked.
During Hoi An’s golden age as an international trading port in the 18th–19th centuries, this house functioned both as a family residence and as a trading house specializing in agricultural products from the Vietnamese highlands. Goods arrived by boat on the river at the rear of the property, were hauled upstairs by a pulley system, and stored. The items were sold at the front of the house, street-side.
Over the years the river silted up and larger ships could no longer reach Hoi-An. The family maintained the house through economic decline, wars, and major floods—most notably the severe 2025 flood that submerged the entire first floor. Flood-level markers are still visible on the walls
The House is constructed almost entirely of precious woods (jackfruit, ironwood, teak) with no nails, —everything is joined by traditional pegged techniques allowing for durability and flexibility against floods and earthquakes. The home has a thick roof and walls that keep the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. There is an inner courtyard that brings in light and ventilation. An old well is in the courtyard.
The house was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Monument, and it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing of Hoi An Ancient Town.
If you visit: The ground floor is open to visitors, while the upper floor remains the private living quarters of the family. The house preserves hundreds of antiques, including 16th-century ceramics, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, bronze items, teapots, calligraphy scrolls, couplets, and horizontal plaques.
It is open daily (typically around 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM). Entry is usually covered by the standard Hoi An Ancient Town ticket (which allows access to several heritage sites), or by paying a small separate fee
Here are some more of the features of this interesting historic home.
