Situated at 77 Tran Phu Street remains one of Hoi An’s best-preserved heritage homes.

It was named after Quan Thang, a Chinese merchant who was among the town’s most influential traders during its golden age.

Spread over some 300 square meters, the house has a narrow façade but runs 30 meters deep.

Its architecture blends Vietnamese and Chinese influences, with yin–yang tiled roofs, ironwood structures and detailed wooden carvings made by artisans from Kim Bong village.

Inside, the layout follows a traditional merchant-house design: a front shop, living room, inner courtyard, rear living area, kitchen, and the family’s private quarters in the upper floor.

Wooden wall marking water levels reached during some of Hoi An’s historic floods. Photo by Huyen Viet

What intrigues visitors is a wooden wall marked with the flood levels reached during Hoi An’s major inundations in past years.

The “Year of the Dragon” flood in 1964 remains the highest, when the Vu Gia – Thu Bon River rose to 3.4 meters.

On Oct. 30 this year the Thu Bon River in nearby Da Nang reached 5.62 meters, surpassing the highest flood warning level by more than 1.6 meters and even exceeding its 1964 record by 0.12 meters.

After four days of heavy rain the ancient house once again drowned in floodwaters, forcing the family to move all their belongings upstairs.

During the floods a local named Huyen Viet shared a photo of the wooden pillar with the caption: “This post marks a record every Hoi An local knows, not of human height, but of flood height.”

The post went viral, attracting thousands of responses. Commenters noted that seeing the pillar in person showed the harshness of nature and highlighted Hoi An residents’ resilience and love for their town.

Many others expressed hope the waters would soon recede and life would return to normal.

The house’s owners welcome visitors and serve them local specialties such as Hong Trang flower cake – white rose dumpling, steamed buns and fried wontons. It has become a regular pit stop for tourists who come to explore its architecture and hear its stories.

Quan Thang is one of seven historic houses officially recognized in Hoi An. It represents the town’s heritage and stands as a witness to centuries of weather, history and local life.