Inside an 240-year-old house of Hoi An

The old Phung Hung house, built in 1780, still preserves its original status and has recently become an attractive destination for tourists.

February 22, 2021 | 07:41

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Phung Hung Old House is located at 4 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, in the old town of Hoi An. The house was built by a Vietnamese businessman in 1780, during the flourishing period of the port town of Hoi An. He named the house, also his shop Phung Hung - meaning "prosperous" with the desire that his family would gain success. In the past, this was a shop selling native forest products such as cinnamon, pepper, salt and silk products, porcelain, glass ... The current owner is the 8th generation, living and preserving the ancient house. (Photo: VN Express)

The architecture of the house is influenced by 3 cultures of Japan, China, and Vietnam. The main building was built from wood (for frames and main structure), masonry (for walls), and yin-yang roofing tiles. Many columns and wooden beams are carved elaborately. (Photo: VN Express)

The front of the house is divided into 3 compartments, with the middle leading inside the house, while the other two leading to the rooms for business. Above the main door, there are two "eyes", an architectural specialty in Hoi An. Eyes are both decorative with spiritual elements, considered as guarding the house, helps to avoid bad things from invading the house. (Photo: VN Express)

The outermost layer of rooms of the house used to be the place of sale, now the reception place. The layout and furniture remain the same. (Photo: VN Express)

On the door to enter the inside rooms, there is a hanging panel with four words "The Duc Luu Quang", meaning that ancestral virtue shines. The two sides of the door have ancient pairs of word paintings. (Photo: VN Express)

The space inside is the living room. The high floor gives the house a larger blank space and brings light into the house. The second floor has surrounding railings. The whole house has 80 ironwood columns. The roof set on the floor space has the architecture of Tu Hai roof spread out on 4 sides. This space is a typical hallmark of Japanese architecture. (Photo: VN Express)

This small door lying on the floor is used to transfer goods from the lower floor to the upper floor in case of flooding, which is also a specialty in Hoi An's architecture. (Photo: VN Express)

The outer space on the second floor is a place of worship, where the altar of ancestors and the altar of Thien Hau Thanh Mau - a god in Chinese beliefs were laid. However, the roof structure system in this space has a pure Vietnamese style. (Photo: VN Express)

The front porch on the second floor is a hallmark of Chinese architecture with a crab-shell ceiling structure (curved wooden ceiling system). The image of carp in Chinese culture is a symbol of luck, and in Vietnamese is prosperity and power in the Japanese culture. (Photo: VN Express)

Phung Hung House was recognized as a National Historical-Cultural Relic on June 29, 1993. Up to now, the house still retains most of its architectural structure, interior, and exterior. This is also a relic of the architectural art and lifestyle of the old Hoi An business class and is also a symbol of the cultural exchange in Hoi An. (Photo: VN Express)

The ancient house of Phung Hung still preserves many antiques and ceramics dating back hundreds of years. (Photo: VN Express)

The innermost compartment is the residence of family members. There is a wooden staircase leading to the 2nd floor. (Photo: VN Express)

Tourists can buy tickets to visit Hoi An ancient town at the price of 80,000 VND/person (3.4 USD). (Photo: VN Express)

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Valerie Mai