Tan Ky Ancient House: A 280-Year-Old Architectural Marvel in Hoi An** 🌿🏯

#holidayitinerary Step into **Tan Ky Ancient House**, Hoi An’s oldest and most beautifully preserved merchant home, where **nail-free craftsmanship**, multicultural architecture, and priceless antiques tell stories of Vietnam’s golden trading era. A must-visit UNESCO site, this living museum offers a rare glimpse into 18th-century life. --- ### **Why Visit Tan Ky Ancient House?** ✅ **Nail-Free Architecture**: Built in **1741** without a single nail, using **mortise-and-tenon joints** by Kim Bong artisans . ✅ **Cultural Fusion**: Blends **Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese** styles—from yin-yang tile roofs to tubular Chinese layouts . ✅ **Priceless Antiques**: Houses the legendary **Confucius Cup** (pours water only when 80% full, teaching moderation) and 16th-century Chu Đậu ceramics . ✅ **Living History**: Still home to the **7th-generation Le family**, who preserve heirlooms like flood markers from the 1964 deluge . --- ### **Must-See Highlights** 1. **The Three-Section Layout**: - **Front (Nguyen Thai Hoc St.)**: Trading space with "door eyes" to ward off evil . - **Central Atrium**: Skylight-lit, windowless yet breezy—a feat of passive cooling . - **Rear (Hoai River)**: Historic goods-loading dock, now silted . 2. **Symbolic Carvings**: - **Dragons, bats, peaches** (longevity), **pomegranates** (fertility) adorn jackfruit wood beams . 3. **Confucius Cup**: - A 550-year-old treasure illustrating the **"golden mean"** philosophy . 4. **Flood Markers**: - Lines on walls show water levels from historic floods, like the 1964 disaster . --- ### **Visitor Essentials** 📍 **Location**: 101 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hoi An Ancient Town . ⏰ **Hours**: 8:00 AM–5:30 PM daily . 🎫 **Entry Fee**: 35,000 VND (~$1.50) . 👗 **Dress Code**: Cover shoulders/knees; sarongs provided . --- ### **Pro Tips** - **Best Time**: Visit at **8 AM** to avoid crowds and heat . - **Guided Tours**: Opt for a guide (available onsite) to decode hidden symbolism . - **Nearby Combos**: Pair with **Japanese Covered Bridge** (3-min walk) or **Hoi An Night Market** . - **Photography**: No flash indoors to protect antiques . --- ### **A Story of Resilience** Built by orphan-turned-merchant **Le Cong**, the house survived floods and wars, symbolizing perseverance. Its name, *Tan Ky* ("new beginnings"), reflects the family’s hope for prosperity . **Ready to time-travel?** Wander its creaking floors, touch centuries-old wood, and let Hoi An’s soul whisper to you. 🌸