Hoi An family chapels are the most beautiful old houses, mansions, and historic houses intact in this ancient town.
The Hoi An Heritage Visit package has five tickets to visit the 22 sightseeing places and streets in the Old Town.
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Hoi An Family Chapel
A visit to these ancestral homes is the best way to discover more about culture, family, and history and experience the local flavor and character.
You can plan your visits based on their popularity. These sites range from ancient houses to assembly halls, museums, and even architectural relics.
SmartDory visited the Old House of Tan Ky and wished to return another day to tour the rest of the old mansions and view them at leisure.
There is much to write about for my travel and food blog in Hoi An.
The Tran Family Chapel
The centuries-old Tran Family Chapel is one of the most historic houses built at the beginning of the 19th century.
Built by Tran Tu Nhac, a Mandarin under Gia Long Reign, they designed the house to follow the Feng Shui rules strictly.
The house has Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese architectural elements, giving it its distinct oriental heritage and oral history.
Tran Family Chapel is a gathering place for all members of the Tran family to meet for ancestral worship.
The garden setting of flowers, fruit trees, ornamental plants, and century-old trees is a cozy atmosphere for the Tran family gatherings.
Tran Family Chapel in Hoi An, Vietnam Photo: @ gringooo
The Tran Family Chapel
Address: 21 Le Loi Street, Hội An, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily 08:30 AM – 06:00 PM
Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel
Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel, built by Nguyen Tuong Van in the early 19th century, has a fine collection of rare old books and antiques.
Here is a rare copy of the 10 Thing Village Regulation (Huong Uoc Thap Dieu) of Hoi An, drafted by Nguyen Tuong Tiep in Chinese.
They often refer to this family home as Dinh Ong Lon.
The temple is under the care of the 10th generation descendant of Nguyen.
Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel, Hoi An, Vietnam Photo: @breez78
Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel
Address: 8/2 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Hoi An, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Old House of Phun Hung
One of a rich family’s most famous homes is the Old House of Phung Hung, built in 1780.
The old house bears the popular style of the 19th century.
It is a typical wooden commercial house with a tubular shape.
It has a wide facade but is much shorter than other old-style houses.
The house is a double-story building with four roofs, a unique blend of Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese styles.
The ground floor was a trading shop dealing in silk, chinaware, glassware, cinnamon, salt, and pepper.
They now use part of the house as a gift shop and for commercial embroideries.
The owners reserve the upper floor to worship Thien Hau, Holy Mother, and the family’s ancestors.
Old House of Phun Hung, Hoi An, Vietnam Photo: @
Old House of Phun Hung
Address: 4 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Hoi An, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily 08:30 AM – 06:00 PM
Old House of Quan Thang
It is easy to miss this beautiful old house.
I remember walking by the house but not looking beyond its simple exterior.
Built in the early 18th century, Captain Quan originally owned this private house, Thang.
The Old House of Quan Thang carries the architectural style of Hoa Ha, China.
The decorative oriental style architecture is a sophisticated sculptured building with intricate details.
Visitors appreciate the artistically carved wooden balusters, wattles, and shutters, taken right up to the auxiliary arched roof and rafter finials.
Its impressive, beautiful blue ceramics shard work in the courtyard hints at its valuable pottery collections inside the house.
Old House of Quan Thang in Hội An, Vietnam. Photo: buffalotrip.com
Old House of Quan Thang
Address: 77 Tran Phu Street, Hội An, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily 09:30 AM – 06:00 PM
Old House Duc An
Old House Duc An is a family-run.
The descendants of the original owners maintain the house well.
The building has some period furniture.
At one point, it served as a medicine shop, a bookshop, and a gathering point for anti-French activities!
There is a gift shop selling a good range of jewelry and souvenirs.
The family doesn’t charge an admission fee.
There is a donation box if you wish to support it.
Drop in to see what living in the 19th century was like.
Old House Duc An, Hoi An, Vietnam Photo: @danmooan
Old House Duc An
Address: 129 Trần Phú, Phường Minh An, Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 AM – 09:00 PM
Old House of Tan Ky
When I visited, they packed the famous Old House of Tan Ky like sardines.
Many tour groups and travelers were milling around.
The English-speaking Vietnamese guides, however, did a good job explaining the topic to small groups of travelers, but not in great detail, as it was the peak hour when I walked in.
The house has elements of Japanese and Chinese influences in its architecture.
The interior is beautiful and articulate, with many symbolisms.
I was intrigued to discover that the 150-year-old panels with Mother of Pearl inlay wooden Chinese characters were entirely composed of birds gracefully portrayed in various flight positions.
The back of the house faces the river.
They rented it out to foreign merchants who traded it, which was close enough for loading and offloading.
One of the most sobering things I noted was the record of recent flood heights on a wall.
The 1964 record showed that the flood covered the entire ground level.
Most of the furniture and wooden columns and beams remain intact.
Two pulleys are attached to a beam in the loft for moving goods.
Today, they are used to raise the antiques if the loft floods again.
Old House of Tan Ky, Hoi An, Vietnam Photo: @sayaneko1216
Old House of Tan Ky
Address: 101 Nguyễn Thái Học, Phường Minh An, Hoi An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM
How to Get to the Hoi An Family Chapel
Hội An’s most beautiful mansions, old houses, and family chapels are in the center of the old town.
Getting there on foot or bicycle is pretty easy if you’re up for leisure walking or peddling.
Some Useful Tips
The Hội An Ancient Townsite opens from Mon to Sun, from 08.30 AM to 12.00 AM.
The admission fee differs for Vietnamese and foreigners: VND 40,000/3 sites (Vietnamese) and VND 75,000/6 sites (foreigners).
Note that the ticket in Hoi An differs slightly from those in other places.
The entrance ticket is for admittance to all the old streets of the Heritage Town, five sites, and one cultural show.
For the five sites, Hoi An Beautiful Old Mansion and Family Chapels, choose one from
- Four museums
- four ‘old houses’
- three ‘assembly halls’
- the handicraft workshop and either the Japanese Bridge or the Quan Cong Temple
- The cultural show entitles entry to a traditional music concert.
For visits: Please dress decently.
Sleeveless blouses, shorts, over-the-knee skirts, and dresses are prohibited in sight-seeing places.
You’re all set to explore the ancient city now!
If you are wondering, the tour guides in Vietnam speak good English and can explain the chapel’s history in detail.
What was your experience when you visited the Hoi An family chapels?
Do you have any tips and tricks I didn’t mention in this post?
