The Tan Ky house traded in agricultural products in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its owners had boats go up the Thu Bon River to buy the products and bring them home. The goods ready for sale were kept on the ground floor; those to be sold later were brought upstairs with the help of pulleys. Customers included local and foreign merchants, mainly from Southeast Asia and Europe. Towards the end of the 18th century, thanks to the rapid development of local trade, the owner was able to rebuild the house on the old foundation as we can see it today. Generation after generation, the Tan Ky family has tried tirelessly to keep the house in good condition despite time and weather. The name Tan Ky comes from the second generation and means "progress shop". It expresses the owner's desire for a thriving business. The Thu Bon River gradually silted up due to constant flooding, making it impossible for large ships to enter the harbor. This is one of several reasons for the recession that began in the early 19th century. By the early 20th century, very few ships from other parts of the world were coming to Hoi An, and the town ceased to be one of the region's most important commercial centers. To date, the house has housed seven generations of the same family. It bears witness to the time when trade with foreigners flourished in this important port from the 18th to the first half of the 19th century, a time when wealthy merchants built such imposing houses.