Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, Melaka

The guide demanded you to pay first with very unfriendly tone. They should have a ticket counter instead of asking visitor directly. The exhibits are quite interesting and the guild doing a reasonable job except she has to be more polite.

The museum is opened from 10 am -- 12.30pm and from 2pm -- 4.30pm. So please do go early if you want to view the exhibits. They do keep strictly to the opening hours. Since each guided tour lasts about 30 -- 45 mins, the "last tour" will be at around 12pm and 4pm. So it's better to go earlier. The tour groups also tend to be big. For instance, I was there on a Sunday morning and there were about 20 plus of us in one group. Yes, the guide can be rather fierce and demanding in asking people to pay up first before they can view the exhibits... but her demeanour improved when the tour started. You can tell that she is rather proud of her Peranakan heritage. :) Also, no photography is allowed in the museum. I like the museum very much and appreciate that most of the things there were previously the private collection of Mr Chan (the owner) who has very kindly opened up his family home to allow others to view these Peranakan artefacts. The museum is so famous that even the China President Mr Hu Jin Tao went there in November 2009.

After having watched "The Little Nyonya" videos, I am planning to visit the museum next year when I go back to Malaysia for a vacation. I am a little disappointed after reading the reviews on the guard and the staff. Please give them a proper training on customer service. It is very important to the museum and tourism.

Like: Well maintained antiques & historical architecture. Dislikes: HEAPS! 1) Rude guide. Guard the gates and asked "How many?" before collecting money and letting you in. Did not receive any warm welcome. Did not provide any guided tour and asked us to "read the signs and make your way upstairs. Pls hurry we are closing." We did not pay any lesser then the other group of 40pax which had a guide with them, why are we treated different? 2) Closed on Sundays. Open from M-S, 8.30-12, 2-4.30pm. Arrived at 4pm, and were told to hurry up so they can close. 3) Some of the furniture have lost its glory since I was there 3 yrs ago. The 'museum' look dulled and boring (maybe its the effect of the staff). First bedroom need to have some air circulation and sunlight. Strong negative energy were felt. Presence of other beings suspected. 4) My parents were looking forward to the trip but left without learning much about the Peranakans. It was a wasted trip to us. 5) I will not recommend this museum to anyone. Instead, Singapore Peranakan museum is far more professional. That, you can call a Museum.

Like: Well kept antiques & historical architecture. Dislikes: Heaps! (1) Rude staff who would guard the gate and ask "How many?" and collect money from you before entering. Maybe that's the Peranakan "entreprenuer" culture? I can feel the "warm" welcome by the "Peranakan" staff. (2) Closes on Sunday, Opens from 8.30-12 & 2-4.30pm. We arrived at 4pm, and were ushered to the grand hall and then were told, "read the signs (yourself), and make your way upstairs. Pls hurry we are closing." I did not pay any lesser then the other big group (of over 40pax), why did I not deserved to be told the stories behind this house and the history of Peranakan history & culture? My last trip 3 yrs ago, the same rude guide had gave a tour with her pissed off face and attitude. My parents were looking forward for this trip and I felt bad they walk away learning nothing about the Peranakans, except rudeness. (3) And by the way, the first bedroom need some air circulate & sunlight. It is stuffy, dark and haunted. We felt presences of other beings. I will not recommend this to anyone. Instead, the Singapore Peranakan Museum is far more professional. (4) We all felt it was a wasted trip.

This is a very nice place to visit but the Guide does not comb her hair probably and it looks like she is just jump out from her bed. A very pale face with no makeup at all. Personality is very important to attract more customers. Her explaination sounds like recital. The artifacts are good.

I was very excited to see this museum. I was very disappointed though. The guide was most unfriendly and bored with her job. It probably also didn't help that she was 7 months pregnant at the time I was there. I was also made to be part of a group of 34 people who were taken through the house by the same guide. Now, 1st of all, I didn't know any of these people, but it was obviously more convenient for the guide to have me tag along. Also, because there were so many people in the group, most of the time you couldn't see anything, nor hear what the guide said, before she simply moved on!! I must say that I felt ripped off. I paid the entrance, I couldn't see anything because the group was too big, the guide was unpleasant and we weren't allowed to take pictures!

It's just like going back to the time my great grandma's time. I can see the similarity of my grandma's house and amenities plus traditions and habits to what I saw in the museum. very impressive !! I'm half peranakan and glad to learn a lot about it .. it's just like a journey to my root ..

a very well preserved living museum, but as like one of the users says, i remember the guide was showing her icy face most of the time while explaining stories to us. would be more gladful if she kindly show us her friendly smile.

It was like going back in time to experience what it was like to live as a Peranakan. Lovely musuem and very well preserved piece of Peranakan culture. Please maintain.