My wife Hien was born and raised in Vietnam, but she is ethnic Chinese, and her ancestors came from Fujian province. On two previous trips to Vietnam, she visited Hoi An which is one of the few Chinese communities in Vietnam today. She met a Fujian elder there at his ornate house in the middle of Hoi An, and she took me to meet him and see the house.
This house is typical of the Chinese houses in the center of Hoi An, and is very old -- maybe 200 years old. Unlike many that have converted to modern shops on the ground floor, this house remains private, so it is fortunate to be able to see the interior.
All of the walls of the ground floor have glass cases with an extensive collection of ceramic pottery or dinner ware. Otherwise, the house is filled with antiques.
The owner is now retired but was a professional photographer. There are several historical photos on the walls, including a couple of the past emporer of Vietnam, Bao Dai, visiting the house.