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.

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### **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 .

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### **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 .

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### **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 .

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### **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 .

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### **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. 🌸