Phung Hung Old House

Located on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Phung Hung Old House is a still-standing specimen of Hoi An’s trading past. This famous architectural building was constructed during Hoi An’s urban and commercial prosperity. The architecture is a joyful blend of Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese influences.

The recurring motif of koi fish on the walls ties in with the importance of the symbol in all three cultures. The house stands on 80 wooden columns raised from the floor by lotus-shaped bases to keep the structure safe from moisture during monsoon. The Yin-Yang tiling system provides natural ventilation to the rooms.

The house was built in 1780 by a Vietnamese merchant as his residence and shop to sell products like silk, spices, and chinaware. It is currently owned by the descendants of the trader. The ground floor used to be the shop, now a living room decked with the family’s antique exhibits on display. The second floor is a shrine dedicated to the ancestors and Thien Hau, the deity of the seafaring merchants. To date, a part of the house is used as a workshop for embroidery work.