History & Architecture of Phung Hung Old House

A very short walk from the Japanese Bridge, Phung Hung Old House is one of the best preserved houses in the Hoi An Ancient Town (this heritage town has over 1,300 buildings!). Which year it was built is still unclear because of no reliable document and information at the present. Based on the history of the quarter where it lies within – the Japanese quarter as well as the Japanese Bridge, historians believe that this house was constructed around the mid-17th century. Furthermore, its architectural style is similar to some others in the town. Several online sites mentioned that it’s built in 1780 because the owning family has lived here for more than 100 years, from 1880. However, to be true to history, its age should be older.

Phung Hung Ancient House is a tube house (or ‘horse bowel’ house), with brick walls, yin-yang tile roof, and wooden frame and furniture. Its architecture is typical to Hoi An. It comprises three connecting compartments and two storeys. During its life, the owning family (Tran family, a Vietnamese family) have used it as a place to reside, a shop, and a place to worship ancestors. Its name, ‘Phung Hung’ means ‘prosperity’ because owners do business. Current owners who are managing and preserving the house, are in the 8th generation. They came here to live in 1945. Previously, there were two other families living in Phung Hung House, one from 1880 to 1910, and one from 1910 to 1945, but all have the same ancestry.

At Phung Hung House, people sell cinnamons, black peppers, salt, silk, and glassware. Today, visitors can see souvenirs, hand-weaved embroideries and watch female needleworkers at work.

The façade of Phung Hung Old House shows an elegant and not-complicated architectural style (may be an influence from Japanese people). To the left, the house accommodating the Japanese Culture Gallery looks similar, creating an awesome twin-house.

Above the main entrance of Phung Hung Old House, there is a pair of ‘door eyes’, one of unique features in Hoi An’s Old Town. Amongst 20 different styles in the town, house’s owners chose one with a symbol of ‘eight trigrams’ (bagua or bat quai) and daisy flower pedals. These eyes symbolize the eyes of the god who protects the family from bad luck and evils. The daisy flower alone means ‘long life’ in local culture. Two red fabrics are also used to decorate, in order to bring good fortune to the family. We can’t find ‘door eyes’ anywhere else across the world, except Hoi An.

On the sides of the middle entrance, doors are designed to open and show selling products, instead of long wooden panels like Tan Ky House or Duc An House. Upstairs, there is a balcony where many visitors like standing to take photos (those holding camera/phone will be on the street).

The first compartment of Phung Hung Old House is the selling space, supported by 5 rows of wooden columns, all black and waterproof. Each column stands on a piece of stone with lotus flower carvings (to avoid damage from annual flooding in Hoi An). The family owners use vertical wooden boards to decorate columns, on which Chinese poems about human and nature are written. Furniture in this compartment is all made of high-quality wood, inlaid by mother of pearl carefully, and expensive. Above the door leading inside, there is a board with a set of 4 Chinese words that means the beautiful virtues of the ancestors will pass down and shine. Above the head, that is a hook where products the family sells, are lifted up and down when needed by a pulley. In floods, it’s used to move stuff from the ground floor to the upper one.  

The second compartment of Phung Hung House is actually a courtyard but covered, to protect against the sun and rain. It’s the most spacious. Here, the family arranges wooden old-styled tables and chairs, to greet guests and customers. Today, visitors can have a seat and listen to an introduction and explanation from an in-house female guide who wears a Vietnamese traditional ao dai dress. If someone stands on the upper storey, he/she can easily watch or talk with others on the ground and vice versa. That’s so convenient for selling and buying. To make use of natural light, the family replaces some tiles with glasses.

Near the stair, visitors can see local female needleworkers weaving the silk embroidery by hand. It’s possible to buy one and bring it home as souvenirs. Their working hours are from 8 am to 5 pm, and their break will be in the noon. Therefore, if want to see/photograph, please come to Phung Hung Old House anytime in this span of time.

To go to the upper floor of Phung Hung Old House, the family built a wooden stair and it’s quite steep, so it’s needed to walk carefully, especially when going down. On the second floor, visitors can see altars to worship ancestors of the family as well as traditional style furnitures and old stuffs (potteries, blue-and-white porcelains, ink washing paintings, sculptures, lanterns, mother-of-pearl inlaid vertical wooden boards, statues of God of Three Stars – Luck, Prosperity, and Longevity). Souvenirs are also sold here too.

Furthermore, Phung Hung Old House has decorative motifs and carvings that prove influences from Japanese and Chinese people. One of them is the carp transforming into a dragon which symbolizes overnight achievements, advancements and life changing moments. Compared to other ancient houses, this house looks simpler, but still elegant and functional.