Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel is a residence, ancestral temple, and memorial house within the Hoi An Ancient Town. It’s built in the early 19th century by Nguyen Tuong Van, a high-ranking mandarin in the Nguyen dynasty. Up to date, many members in his family worked for the government with a high position or became well-known writers. That’s why the ‘Nguyen Tuong family’ is reputable in the area. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company provides all information that visitors need to know about Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel in Hoi An
You may also like: Old Houses in Hoi An Vietnam
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
Must Knows about Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel (Hoi An)
– Location/address: 8/2 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street, Minh An ward, Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, Vietnam
– Other name(s): Nha tho toc Nguyen Tuong
– Opening hours: 8 AM to 5:30-6 PM
– Ticket price: 120,000 VND for foreign adults and children above 15 years old, free for smaller kids (see more details)
– Reason(s) to visit: one of the best preserved family chapels in Hoi An
– Best time to visit: all day
– Time to spend: 15-30 mins
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/nguyen-tuong-family-chapel-hoi-an
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Recognition(s): national heritage (29/6/1993), Unesco world heritage site (1999)
– Parking: yes available, free
– Food & drink: not available
– Shopping: yes available
– Fact:
Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel on Map
History & Architecture of Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel
In 1806, the main building of Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel was constructed. It was the private residence of Nguyen Tuong Van (1774-1822), a chief secretary in the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945). He was borned in Gia Dinh (today Ho Chi Minh city), and in 1796, at age of 24, he started his role as an official working in the government. Until now, nobody knows why he changed his name to ‘Nguyen Tuong Van’ (and since then, his descendants followed him). In a story, he traveled with Gia Long king to Quang Nam province, and on the way, they saw a mountain named ‘Phuoc Tuong’. After that, the king said that the king’s family name is ‘Nguyen Phuoc’ (or ‘Nguyen Phuc’), and his family name is ‘Nguyen Tuong’.
In 1804, Nguyen Tuong Van was requested to work in Hoi An, and that’s why his family moved to this town to reside. Until his death in 1822, he had many contributions to the country. For that reason, the king gave lots of money to him, and brought his body by boat to return to his hometown to bury.
Today, Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel is the ancestral temple and memorial house for famous personalities in the Nguyen Tuong family. This family is famous for its academic tradition because many members from different generations gained high scores in imperial examinations, and then reached high-ranking positions in the government. According to its genealogy book, originally its name was ‘Nguyen Nhu’, and the ancestors came from Ha Trung district, Thanh Hoa province, northern Vietnam. In the third generation, a man moved to Phu Xuan capital (today Hue) and then Quy Nhon city. This man had 7 childrens, and one of them was Nguyen Van Van (later Nguyen Tuong Van) who started a new chapter for the family.
The oldest son of Nguyen Tuong Van, Nguyen Tuong Vinh (1789-) was one of the contestants who gained the highest score in the royal examination held in 1838. He held high-ranking positions in the reign of three kings: Minh Mang, Thieu Tri, and Tu Duc. In 1860, he passed away. The 3rd son of Nguyen Tuong Van, Nguyen Tuong Pho (1807-1856) became a doctor in 1842, at the age of 35. While being an official, he was widely known for his fairness, integrity, nobility, and compassion for the people. His son, Nguyen Tuong Tiep (1831-1890) also worked in the government like his father. This man had 4 sons, and the youngest son is Nguyen Tuong Chieu (1880-1918).
Mr Nguyen Tuong Chieu was the father of Nhat Linh, Hoang Dao, and Thach Lam, co-founders of the Self-Reliant Literary Association (Tu Luc Van Doan), a centre-left literary association in northern Vietnam in the 1930s. Nhat Linh (birth name: Nguyen Tuong Tam, 1906-1963) is a writer, editor, and publisher. He was also a politician who organized a political party ‘Great Viet Democratic Party’ in 1940s and then became the secretary of the ‘Great Viet Nationalist Party’ when the former one was merged; In 1945, he was appointed to be the minister of foreign affairs in the first coalition government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh’s government). Hoang Dao (birth name: Nguyen Tuong Long, 1907-1948) was an influential essayist and novelist in interwar years in Vietnam. Thach Lam (birth name: Nguyen Tuong Lan, 1910-1942), a famous writer in Vietnam during the 1930s and 1940s.
Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel has preserved 195 units of documents, including genealogy books, that date back from 18 to 20th centuries. This collection is the largest in Hoi An, and very informative to research about a local family.
On 12nd July 2013, Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel was opened to visitors, becoming one of over 20 ‘Hoi An Old Town ticket’ attractions.
Other Family Chapels in Hoi An Ancient Town
Every family in Vietnam, from some to hundreds of households, has its own family chapel (nha tho ho or nha tho toc in Vietnamese language).
Within the Hoi An Ancient Town world heritage area, there are about 25 family chapels. Many chapels amongst them are in laneways where trading activities were less busy in the past, and crowds of tourists are unseen today. It’s good for keeping them peaceful and private enough.
Here are protected family chapels in the Hoi An Ancient Town:
– Tran family chapel at 21 Le Loi St, Minh An ward
– Nguyen Tuong family chapel at 8/2 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Minh An ward (see more information)
– Hoang family chapel at 40 Tran Thu St, Minh An ward
– Ly family chapel at 84 Tran Thu St, Minh An ward
– Pham family chapel at 96 Tran Thu St, Minh An ward
– Lam family chapel at 120 Tran Thu St, Minh An ward
– Ta family chapel at 126 Tran Thu St, Minh An ward
– Thai family chapel at 126 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Minh An ward
– Vuong family chapel at 92 Bach Dang St, Minh An ward
– Tang Dieu family chapel at 44/12 Phan Chu Trinh St, Minh An ward
– Le Doan family chapel at 44/20 Phan Chu Trinh St, Minh An ward
– Truong family chapel at 54/4 Phan Chu Trinh St, Minh An ward
– Truong family chapel at 69/1 Phan Chu Trinh St, Minh An ward
– Phan family chapel at 20 Le Loi St, Minh An ward
– Nguyen family chapel at 24 Le Loi St, Minh An ward
– Pham family chapel at 58/9 Le Loi St, Minh An ward
– Huynh family chapel at 86 Le Loi St, Minh An ward
– Tang family chapel at 16 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Minh An ward
– Huynh family chapel at 46 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St, Minh An ward
Tips to Visit Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel in Hoi An
– It’s needed to buy entry ticket for Hoi An Ancient Town and then sightsee Quan Thang Ancient House. The nearest ticket booth is in crossroad of Tran Phu Street and Le Loi Street. The price is 120,000 VND for adult and children above 15 years ago. See more information & details
– No dress code regulation is required to visitors at Quan Thang Ancient House. However, to see other attractions in town (such as temples, assembly halls), wearing long pants and shirts covering armpits/shoulders/navel is necessary.
– Follow rules, regulations and signs while visiting Quan Thang Ancient House.
– Do not enter private areas and touch on old antiquities in Quan Thang Ancient House.
– Vietnamese traditional costume ao dai dress is highly recommended. Any garment made of see-through material is not respectful.
– In the dry season, from February to the end of August, visitors should bring sun cream, hat/cap/umbrella, sun glasses, and bottles of water to drink. If don’t have, it’s easy to buy at shops near Quan Thang Ancient House.
– In the rainy season, from September to January, visitors should bring rain poncho/jacket or umbrella, sandals or waterproof shoes. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast usually when traveling during this period.
– From October to December, the town may be flooded, so visitors need to keep updating the weather before going to Hoi An.
– The best way to visit the Hoi An Old Town is walking, so make sure that you have good/comfortable shoes or sandals.
– Smartphone or camera is needed for taking pictures. For more experiences, visitors can consider renting Vietnamese traditional costume (for example, ao dai long dress for ladies) or even booking a private photographer (contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) if you need).
– Don’t forget bringing cash to pay for entry fee tickets and small things because many places in Vietnam don’t accept payment by cards.
– It’s better to visit Quan Thang Ancient House with a local guide. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) if you need a professional guide in Hoi An.
– Visitors should buy souvenirs at Quan Thang Ancient House to support local family who owns and preserves it.
How to Get to Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel in Hoi An
Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel is located at 8/2 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Cam Pho ward, Hoi An city, Vietnam.
If stay in or near the Hoi An Ancient Town, visitors can walk to Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel. From hotels or places in Cam Pho, Minh An and Son Phong areas, the distance isn’t long. Nguyen Thi Minh Khai street or Tran Phu street is the only road leading to the house.
Visitors can easily ride the bicycle to get to Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel. It’s often free at many hotels, so please ask again when check in (come first serve first). If not available, renting a bicycle is also very cheap at Hoi An. A good one should have basket in the front (to storage perfonal items), horn to warn when needed, and a locker to use when go shopping or sightseeing. Different from motorized vehicles, visitors can ride the bicycle anytime of the day, to the Hoi An Ancient Town and Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel. Just park around the entrance of the house (sure, it’s free).
If ride the motorcycle, make sure that you know the pedestrian hours (because the house is within the Ancient Town). Everyday, from 9 to 11:30 AM, and from 3 to 9:30-10 PM, motorbikes are banned. So, to go directly to the house by bike, it’s needed to get there earlier than 9 AM or from 11:30 AM to 3 PM. If come in the pedestrian hours, please park in Phap Bao Pagoda, and then walk to Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel. The fee is 5,000-10,000 VND.
If getting to the town by car/taxi/minivan, let’s tell the driver to drop off at the Hoi An Museum and then follow Le Loi Street and Tran Phu Street to see Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel. From anywhere inside Hoi An, a car ride to the town is 15-20 mins maximum. From Da Nang, it’s 45-60 mins. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to book a private car to Hoi An with a good price.
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes transfers to Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Itinerary to Visit Hoi An Old Town for First Timer
First of all, to enter and visit the Hoi An Old Town (the part inscribed by Unesco), visitors need to buy an entry ticket. Its price is 120,000 VND per adult and children above 15 years old and free of charge for smaller kids. Entry to 5 attractions is also included for free. See more information & details
If possible, first time visitors should go with a local guide, to know better about history and culture. Contact us by +84968009827 (call/whatsapp) to book a private English-speaking guide.
We suggest this itinerary for first timers:
Total distance: 1,65 kilometers
– Starting point: the Japanese style gate (the west end of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street). A model of the Red Seal Ship (Japanese merchant’s ship) and a ticket office are in a close distance.
– Walk along Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee Cam Pho Communal House (ticket required), Japanese Culture Gallery (ticket required), Phung Hung Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required), Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel (in the alleyway, ticket required).
– Visit the Japanese Covered Bridge, the symbol of Hoi An. This place definitely is a must see attraction.
– Walk along Tran Phu Street, the most beautiful road in Hoi An, until Hoi An Central Market. On this road, visitors will have the chance to sightsee so many historical attractions. From the bridge to the market, there are Cantonese Assembly Hall (ticket required), Museum of Sa Huynh Culture (ticket required), Duc An Old House (ticket required), Kazik Park (free), Quan Thang Old House (ticket required), Museum of Trade Ceramics (ticket required), Trung Hoa Assembly Hall (ticket required), Fujian Assembly Hall (ticket required), Quan Cong Temple (ticket required), Quan Am Pagoda (ticket required), Hoi An Central Market (free to enter), a couple of rooftop coffee shops, Instagrammable spots, shophouses selling lanterns, food, souvenirs and fashion items.
– Walk southwards and along Tieu La Street (east side of Hoi An Central Market). On this road, there are many vendors and stalls selling a diversity of local products, giving a good chance to know about local life and photograph.
– Walk westwards and along Bach Dang Street (the riverside street). On this road, visitors will see Hoi An Traditional Performance House (ticket required if want to watch shows) and Museum of Folklore (ticket required).
– Turn into Le Loi Street and then turn left, walking along Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. On this road, visitors will see Tan Ky Old House (one of the best heritage houses, ticket required) and Diep Dong Nguyen Old House (not yet opened to visitors, see from outside).
– The ending point: the crossroad near the north end of An Hoi Bridge or the west end of Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. In the evening, from here, visitors can walk cross the bridge and then turn right to see the entrance of the Hoi An Night Market, the biggest night market in Hoi An.
For more information and details, please browse https://hoiandaytrip.com/hoi-an-self-guided-walking-tour
Guided Tours to Hoi An Ancient Town Vietnam
From Hoi An
– Hoi An Old Town Walking Tour – 2 Hour Express Tour with Local
– Hoi An Half Day Walking Tour: Heritage Sites, Crafts & Show
– Hoi An Early Morning Walking Tour with Local Pho & Coffee
– Hoi An Afternoon Walking Tour + Thu Bon River Sunset Cruise
– Hoi An Night Tour from Hoi An: Lantern Boat, Markets & Food
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Sightseeing & Cooking Class
– Hoi An Late Afternoon Walking Tour with Local Food Tastings
– Hoi An Walking Tour with Thanh Ha Pottery Village by Boat
– Hoi An Instagram Tour: Best Photo Spots & Rooftop Café
– Hoi An Old Town Food Tour with Night Boat Ride
– Hoi An Old Town Private Walking Tour with Local Expert (4 hours duration from departure time)
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
From Da Nang
– Hoi An Half Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Highlights Tour
– Marble Mountain, Lady Buddha & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang with Chinese Speaking Guide
– My Son Sanctuary & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Da Nang Cruise Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Tour from Chan May Cruise Port
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours in Hoi An and Da Nang. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Places to Visit near Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel in Hoi An
– Bridges: Japanese Covered Bridge (Pagoda Bridge), Moonlight Bridge, An Hoi Bridge (Bridge of Lights), Cam Nam Bridge, Cam Kim Metal Bridge
– Museums: Museum of Sa Huynh Culture, Museum of Sa Folklore, Museum of Trade Ceramics, Museum of Traditional Medicine, Hoi An Museum of History & Culture, Japanese Culture Gallery, Black Sesame Soup Demonstration
– Chinese assembly halls: Cantonese Assembly Hall, Fujian Assembly Hall, Trung Hoa Assembly Hall, Hainan Assembly Hall, Teochew Assembly Hall
– Heritage houses: Tan Ky Old House, Phung Hung Old House, Duc An Old House, Quan Thang Ancient House, Diep Dong Nguyen House, Thai Phien Ancient House
– Temples & pagodas: Quan Cong Temple (Ong Pagoda), Ba Mu Temple, Phap Bao Pagoda, Quan Am Pagoda, Hoi An Confucius Temple, Cao Dai Temple of Hoi An, Hoi An Ancestral Temple, Cam Pho Confucius Temple, Minh Huong Confucius Temple, Vien Giac Pagoda, Hy Hoa Temple
– Family chapels: Tran Family Chapel, Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel
– Communal houses: Cam Pho Communal House, Hoi An Communal House, Minh Huong Communal House, Tu Le Communal House, Xuan Lam Communal House, Son Phong Communal House
– Markets: Hoi An Central Market, Hoi An Cloth/Fabric Market, Hoi An Night Market (Nguyen Hoang Night Market), Cam Pho Market
– Theatres: Hoi An Traditional Art Performance House, Hoi An Lune Center for Performing Arts (now where Teh Dar Show takes place), Hoi An Memories Land Theme Park (now where Hoi An Memories Show takes place)
– Famous streets: Tran Phu Street, Phan Chu Trinh Street, Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Bach Dang Street/Wharf, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Cong Nu Ngoc Hoa Street, Phan Boi Chau Street (Hoi An French Quarter), Hoi An Lantern Streets
– Other points of interest: Red Seal Ship Model, Hoi An Evanlegical Church, Thong Dang Prison & Park, Kazik Park (Memory Statue of Kazimierz Kwiatkowski), Hoai River (Hoi An River), Song Hoai Square, An Hoi Sculpture Park, Hoi An Catholic Church, Hoi An Prison, Hoi An Central Park, Ba Le Well, Hoi An Book Street, Hoi An Lantern Park, An Hoi Island, Cam Nam Island, Thu Bon River, Da Ken Tree
Photos, Videos about Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Nguyen Tuong Family Chapel in Hoi An:
