Ho Yan Hor Museum is one of the best museums you can visit in Ipoh Old Town. And because Ho Yan Hor Museum is across from Concubine Lane, it is a convenient stop for many visitors.
But you do need to register yourself to join one of their tours. Which is popular, even on weekdays. If you want to walk-in, you have a higher chance of success before their opening time of 10am.
Read more about what to expect from a visit at Ho Yan Hor Museum in this post!
Table Of Contents:
Overview Of Ho Yan Hor Museum
What we like:
- Friendly well-mannered staff
- Gallery sequence makes sense, and exhibits are interesting and informative
- Free entry and tea tasting
- Interior is air-conditioned
- Visitor control – you get the whole gallery to your group
- Staff don’t pressure you to rush through the gallery, or buy tea
- Rainproof activity (indoors)
- You can tour the gallery at your own pace (i.e., self-tour)
- Multi-lingual exhibit (most of them anyways)
What we don’t like:
- Not wheelchair friendly – no lift and no wheelchair ramps
- Not easy to find parking
- Boring for kids
About Ho Yan Hor Museum
Now known as Hovid, this local herbal tea brand is 80 years old. By comparison, the museum is about 7 years old. It opened in 2017.
The building is of significant value to the brand as the founder once lived upstairs with other households. This was at the start of his tea business in Ipoh.
Beginning with his childhood, the gallery showcases how Ho Kai Cheong chose a different path from his father.
And while his passion was interrupted by World War II, Ho Kai Cheong eventually found his way back in Malaysia. His breakthrough idea was selling dried herbal tea in packets.
The gallery does a great job in showing you how Ho Kai Cheong started the business and how it expanded (along with his family).
Some exhibits show you (mostly through photos) his other passions and parts of his life during the ups and downs of the business too.
There are antiques and tools of the business scattered around the gallery too. The gallery ends with Ho Kai Cheong getting a doctorate at the impressive age of 87.
Entrance Fees For Ho Yan Hor Museum
You don’t have to pay anything to enter Ho Yan Hor Museum.
There is also a free tea tasting session after you explore the museum, but the staff do not pressure you to buy anything if you don’t want to.
If they have them in stock, you can try 4 of their tea flavors as well as 2 of their canned tea series.
Opening Hours
Ho Yan Hor Museum is closed on Mondays. And on other days of the week, it is open from 10am to 4pm.
Ease Of Parking
You’ll need all the luck you can get if you want to find a parking spot close to Ho Yan Hor Museum on a weekend.
The same goes for typical lunch hours on weekdays. On weekdays, it is slightly easier to find parking before 10am in this area. Or during the late afternoon.
Ambiance At Ho Yan Hor Museum
The building that houses the air-conditioned museum is narrow and long.
There are two 100-year-old staircases in the building. After going through the ground floor of the gallery, you can take the stairs at the back of the building to access the gallery upstairs.
By the time you walk through the gallery upstairs, you will find your way back to the front of the building. Where there is another set of stairs that takes you back to the reception area of the museum.
Note: The staircases are quite steep. And staff advise visitors to use it, one at a time.
Service At Ho Yan Hor Museum
All of the staff at Ho Yan Hor Museum are very polite and pleasant. Some speak English too. There is usually one staff member outside the entrance of the museum to register visitors.
During our tea-tasting session, the staff is patient and well-versed in the products. She didn’t rush us to finish the hot tea quickly. And even offered us a chance to refill our cups.
- Address: 1, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
- Opening Hours: 10 am–4 pm (Closed on Mondays)
- Contact: +605-2412048
- Website: https://hyhmuseum.com/
Conclusion
Even if you don’t like herbal tea, we find that a visit to Ho Yan Hor Museum is worth it. It is interesting and inspiring to learn of the founder’s life journey to success.
Not only is entry free, but you also get to sample some of their signature tea before you leave. You might end up buying some but there’s no pressure to.
Furthermore (if you plan your visit well), you can see Han Chin Pet Soo Museum, which is right next to Ho Yan Hor Museum.
Other nearby attractions include Concubine Lane. And it is possible to see many Ipoh mural art when you walk around this area too.
