Hoi An Museum of Folk Culture

The Hoi An Museum of Folk Culture is worth visiting for its building as much as its collection. It occupies what the heritage conservation centre describes as the largest two-storey wooden house in the Ancient Town, 57 metres long and 9 metres wide, with frontages on two parallel streets, Nguyen Thai Hoc and Bach Dang. Walking from one entrance to the other gives a clear idea of how deep the old merchant plots were.

The collection is on the upper floor and includes 490 objects arranged in four themes: folk fine arts, folk performing arts, traditional occupations and artefacts of daily life. Together they cover the crafts, trades and customs of the people of Hoi An and the surrounding villages, grouped so that each theme can be followed on its own. It is a useful complement to the merchant houses and assembly halls, which focus more on the town's trading elite.

The ground floor is used for live performances that illustrate the culture and folklore of Hoi An, which adds life to the visit if you arrive at the right time. For the main programme of traditional art in the old town, the daily shows at Hoai River Square, 01 Cao Hong Lanh Street, at 10:15, 15:15 and 16:15 are another option.

Entry is covered by the Hoi An Ancient Town ticket, and the higher ticket option includes the museum system. The museum closes on the 20th of each month for maintenance, so check the date before you plan your route, and keep the ticket stub with you, as it is needed to enter and leave the old town. Opening times are not published in detail on the conservation centre's page, so allow some flexibility.

The museum is at 33 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, on the same street as Tan Ky Old House and Morning Glory restaurant at number 106, and its second frontage on Bach Dang Street makes it easy to continue a walk through the old town towards the Japanese Covered Bridge at the western end of Tran Phu Street. The museum suits families and anyone curious about traditional crafts and rural life around Hoi An.