The communal house of Cam Pho sits framed by an ancient, sprawling banyan tree that shades its entire tiled courtyard. Built in the early seventeenth century, this structure served as the administrative and spiritual heart for early…
Door Eyes and Roofs
This walk guides you through Hoi An's old town to decode the spiritual symbols and construction techniques hidden in its historic rooftops and protective wooden door eyes.
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1. Đình Cẩm Phô
2. The Old House of Phung Hung
The Phung Hung Ancient House features a distinct, boxy wooden facade that fuses Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese architectural styles. Built over two hundred years ago by a wealthy merchant family, the house served as a center for the…
3. Diep Dong Nguyen House
The Diep Dong Nguyen House features a heavy, dark wooden frame that leans slightly from two centuries of monsoons and humidity. Merchants built these narrow, deep tube houses to minimize their tax burden, which the local authorities…
4. Quan Thang Ancient House
The Quan Thang Ancient House features a narrow facade topped with a curved, tiled roof and elaborate woodwork carved by artisans from the Kim Bong carpentry village. Built in the late eighteenth century by a sea captain from China, the…
5. Tụy Tiên Đường Minh Hương 明鄉華先堂
The Tuy Tien Duong Minh Huong hall stands out for its curved, tiled roof and the weathered wooden carvings guarding the entrance. Built in the late eighteenth century, this communal house served as a gathering place for Chinese migrants…
6. Hainan Assembly Hall
The Hainan Assembly Hall features a sweeping, tiled roof accented by intricately carved wooden pillars and heavy, weathered doors. Built in eighteen seventy-five, the structure served as a meeting place and sanctuary for merchants arriving…