When people speak of Nha Trang, they think about the beautiful, tempting beaches, friendly locals and delightful fresh seafood to feast on. The coastal city of ${bigcity_Nha_Trang:"Nha Trang"} has become a popular tourist destination because of its 10km white-sand coastline, where the clear waters are warm all year round. It is located in Khanh Hoa Province in the south-central region of Viet Nam, 440km north-east of ${bigcity_Ho_Chi_Minh_City:"HCM City"}.

Recently, a different kind of attraction has been drawing more tourists to the area. And they are nothing brand-new at all. In fact, they are hundreds of years old, yet are only receiving the increasing attention it deserves these recent years.

The city cradles a number of ancient houses that are well-preserved by the locals. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism says that Khanh Hoa has around 50 old houses, mostly located in the districts of Dien Khanh and Ninh Hoa, and Nha Trang City. Around one-third of these houses date back to more than 100 years old.

Phu Vinh Village in Vinh Thanh Commune, located 4km from the city center, is known to have many of these ancient houses. Among them, six houses have been identified by the city's culture sector as those that are almost intact, have unique characteristics and have beautifully preserved its old-style interior decor as well as the vintage household objects. Visiting these houses will give you an insight into old customs, worship practices and the way local people lived many years ago.

One property that is open to visitors for sightseeing is one owned by Nguyen Xuan Hai, located about 30 minutes from the pier at the foot of the Po Nagar Temples complex. The house sits in the middle of a massive garden covering more than 1,000sq.m, providing a complete cool atmosphere.

The house was built according to a layout of three rooms in a structure supported by 36 pillars. Like other houses in the village, Hai's faces the southeast and has a roof of yin and yang tiles. Built 200 years ago, it still has its original wooden doors, altars and pillars, which are carved with inscriptions. In accordance with tradition, altars for worshipping the family's ancestors take a central position in the house. According to 72-year-old Hai, the house has never undergone major repairs during the six generations he lived there.

Apart from admiring the old-styled architecture of the house, a tour inside and outside the structure will give travelers insight into old customs, worship practices and the local way of life. It’s like a short walk back to history.

Today, many tours are integrating the varied experiences they offer to visitors - from the laid back atmosphere of the magical islands, attractive beaches to the historic houses. These help tourists have a sense of the diversity and beauty of Vietnam.