Hanoi ancient villas assessed for restoration to former grandeur

An ancient villa built in the style of French architecture can be found at a ‘diamond’ location in the capital city of Hanoi. Specifically, the building is at the Hang Bai - Tran Hung Dao intersection in Hoan Kiem district at the heart of the city. Covering an area of 993 square metres, the villa is being leased to the World Publishing House but shows signs of dilapidation. More than 1,200 French-style villas in Hanoi constructed before 1954 will be examined to evaluate their state, value and need for preservation by the municipal People’s Committee. The report must specify the number, address, current status, ownership and classification of the buildings. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

This is among the priceless old villas remaining in Hanoi. Going through the test of time, it is dilapidated and needs urgent protection. The city People's Council has requested the municipal People's Committee to direct the review and report on the status of the old villas and architectural works that were built before 1954 in the city. Meanwhile, the municipal People’s Committee has issued a list of 1,253 villas subject to management and use according to the regulations on management and use of old villas built before 1954 in Hanoi at the end of 2013. In this list, there are 352 state-owned villas, 100 owned by organisations, 301 privately-owned villas and 500 villas of mixed ownership. 

Inside of the old villa. The People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem district is devising plans to renovate the ancient building. According to figures from the Hanoi Department of Construction, there are 1,253 old French houses and villas in the city built before 1954 and on a list of being in need of preservation. As it develops modern areas and skyscrapers, Hanoi still cherishes and preserves the heritage of its past. It is said that Vietnamese architects acquired Western concepts and expressed them in new forms that suit the local climate and culture after French colonial rule, despite shortages of infrastructure, material and technology. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa at No. 5 Le Phung Hieu and 20 Ton Dan. Also situated in Hoan Kiem district, the building is being used at the moment. More than 1,200 French-style villas in Hanoi constructed before 1954 will be examined to evaluate their states, values and need for preservation by the municipal People’s Committee. The French side is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in restoring and preserving cultural relics related to architectural works built by France in Vietnam through such activities as sharing information and training human resources for these works, and willing to cooperate with Vietnam in the field of cultural industry through specific projects proposed by both sides. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa is under the management of the Party Committee of Hanoi. The old villas in the capital city are mainly concentrated in five districts, namely Ba Dinh (428), Hoan Kiem (527), Hai Ba Trung (270), Tay Ho (14) and Dong Da (14). Officials plan to update and reissue the list of villas and architectural works built before 1954 for more effective management and use. Those typical French villas were mainly built in the early 20th century and were once the residence of high-ranking French officials before changing hands many times. Though their walls were peeling and old doors had deteriorated after a hundred years or more, the imprint of French architecture was maintained in every detail. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa at No. 97 Quan Thanh and No.7 Nguyen Bieu in Ba Dinh district is also regarded as a nice location as it faces two bustling streets. Ba Dinh is dubbed the political centre of Hanoi as most of the Government offices and embassies are located here. It was formerly called the "French Quarter" because of a high concentration of French-styled villas and government buildings built when Hanoi was the capital under French colonial rule, with the number nearing 430. The district has a large number of monuments, landmarks and relics, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Flag Tower of Hanoi and Imperial Citadel of Thang Long. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa is named in the list of properties not for sale and currently serves as the headquarters of the trade union of Ba Dinh district. Villas in Hanoi are divided into three groups. Group 1 features villas associated with ranked historical and cultural relics or cultural heritage. Group 2 includes villas with architectural value but not in group 1, located on main streets such as Phan Dình Phung, Dien Bien Phu, Hoang Dieu, Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Học. The remaining villas are in Group 3. Similarly, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem district is home to many old villas, which are also massively renovated and newly licensed, including those with illegal construction work. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa No. 65 Nguyen Thai Hoc street in Dong Da district, Ha Noi, was built before 1954. It is under the management of the one-member Ha Noi housing management and development limited company at the moment. The ground floor has been divided and rented to businesses. The Ha Noi People’s Committee in 2013 issued a list of more than 1,250 villas subject to management and use according to the regulations of old villas built before 1954 in the capital city. In this list, there are 352 state-owned villas, 100 owned by organisations, 301 privately-owned villas and 500 villas of mixed ownership. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa has deteriorated with various parts of its walls coming off and need repairing. Hanoi is an attractive destination for domestic and foreign visitors thanks to its unique cultural and architectural heritage. In the face of strong urbanisation, the preservation of those distinctive heritages is more urgent than ever. The capital city is home to about 6,000 historical, cultural-artistic, architectural and archaeological relic sites, some of which have been recognised by UNESCO. According to the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, around 2,000 local relics have been damaged, with more than 200 in need of immediate conservation. The municipal authorities have endeavoured to manage and preserve valuable tangible and intangible heritage. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Motorcycles are parked in front of the villa at No.17 Dien Bien Phu street in Ba Dinh district located at the T-junction linking with Le Duan street. The two-storey building spans an area of up to 500 square metres, coupled with a garden. Previously, it belonged to the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam. Hanoi’s beauty is also a blend of western and oriental architecture, notably works built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as buildings in the classical French style, luxury villas owned by French officials or wealthy Vietnamese working for foreigners. Up to 1,586 French-style buildings and villas, built over 100 years ago, are conserved at present. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa at No. 34 Dien Bien Phu street in Ba Dinh district is also in the list of buildings not for sale. Villas in Hanoi are divided into three groups. Group 1 features villas associated with ranked historical and cultural relics or cultural heritage. Group 2 includes villas with architectural value but not in group 1, located on main streets such as Phan Dình Phung, Dien Bien Phu, Hoang Dieu, Tran Phu and Nguyen Thai Học. The remaining villas are in Group 3. Similarly, Tran Hung Dao Ward, Hoan Kiem district is home to many old villas, which are also massively renovated and newly licensed, including those with illegal construction work. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Some land lots of the villas are rented as residences and business spaces while the rest is vacant. More than 1,200 French-style villas in Hanoi constructed before 1954 will be examined to evaluate their states, values and need for preservation by the municipal People’s Committee. The city People's Council has requested the municipal People's Committee to direct the review and report on the status of the old villas and architectural works. The report must specify the number, address, current status, ownership and classification of the buildings. It must also include proposals of management solutions in the future and the lists of old villas and architectural works in need of being maintained, renovated, and preserved in 2021-2025. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The solemn beauty of an old villa that has weathered the challenges of time at No. 57 Hang Bo street in the Old Quarter of Ha Noi. The ground floor has been used as a business space as shops mushroomed. The Old Quarter was designated as a national historical relic site in 2004. It also has the highest density of monuments in the country, with 79 streets and almost 4,300 houses on an area of 81ha. Although the area has experienced socio-economic changes, it retains a unique atmosphere with vibrant commercial streets as well as some traditional handicrafts and socio-cultural activities. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

An area in the old building. Signs of degradation can be seen at the front door and windows, along with peeling walls and those that are full of moss. Development pressure has prompted the destruction of traditional tubehouses, requiring urgent action to preserve and restore the distinctive architectural and cultural value of the Old Quarter in particular and Hanoi at large. According to the city's leaders, in recent times, many renovations and design changes for the old buildings have taken place. France is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in restoring and preserving cultural relics related to architectural works built by France in Vietnam through such activities as sharing information and training human resources for these works. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The villa at No. 12 Thien Quang street in Dong Da district currently serves as a kindergarten and residential area. As it develops with modern areas and skyscrapers, Hanoi still cherishes and preserves the heritage of the past. More than 1,200 French-style villas in Hanoi constructed before 1954 will be examined to evaluate their states, values and need for preservation by the municipal People’s Committee. The report must specify the number, address, current status, ownership and classification of the buildings. It must also include proposals of the management solutions in the future and the lists of old villas and architectural works in need of being maintained, renovated, embellished and preserved in 2021-2025. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The old villa at No. 54 Nguyen Du street in Hai Ba Trung district is also not for sale. It is being leased to Vinatour tourism company. The building faces two of Hanoi's artery streets of Nguyen Du and Quang Trung. France is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in restoring and preserving cultural relics related to architectural works built by France in Vietnam through such activities as sharing information and training human resources for these works. Hanoi’s beauty is a blend of western and oriental architecture, notably works built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries such as buildings in the classical French style, luxury villas owned by French officials or wealthy Vietnamese working for foreigners. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Not very far from that, the house at No. 80 Nguyen Du street is another ancient villa that is not put up for sale. Up to 1,586 French-style buildings and villas, built over 100 years ago, are conserved in Ha Noi at the moment. Hanoi is an attractive destination for domestic and foreign visitors thanks to its unique cultural and architectural heritage. In the face of strong urbanisation, the preservation of the distinctive heritage is more urgent than ever. The capital city is home to about 6,000 historical, cultural-artistic, architectural and archaeological relic sites, some of which have been recognised by UNESCO. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

A villa at No. 82 - 86 Quan Su street in Hoan Kiem district. According to the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, around 2,000 local relics have been damaged, with more than 200 in need of immediate conservation. The municipal authorities have endeavoured to manage and preserve valuable tangible and intangible heritage. Accordingly, more than 1,200 French-style villas in the over 1,010-year-old capital city constructed before 1954 will be examined to evaluate their state, value and need for preservation by the municipal People’s Committee. The city People's Council has requested the municipal People's Committee to direct the review and report on the status of the old villas and architectural works. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The building has deteriorated. Some of its areas are for rent while some families purchased parts of the land in line with Decree No. 61 issued by the Government. Under Government Decree No. 61/1994, housing developers are allowed to demolish degraded buildings with the consent of apartment owners. After an agreement is reached with all occupants, developers submit construction plans to related authorities for approval. In addition, Decree No 101/2015/ND-CP gives owners of dangerous and severely degraded apartment buildings three and 12 months respectively to choose developers to demolish and rebuild them and decide compensation amounts. If they fail to do so, the Government will take over responsibility for selection of developers and demolition. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Recent statistics show that Ha Noi is now home to more than 1,210 old villas. Of them, there are 367 state-owned villas, 117 privately-owned villas and over 730 villas of mixed ownership. With the dream of building a French-style administrative capital in Indochina, French architects constructed a number of buildings in the heart of Ha Noi over the past century. The building were erected at the end of the 19th and early 20th century such as the Hanoi Opera House, Louis Finot museum (now the Vietnam History Museum), Ha Noi Post Office, Indochina University (now Hanoi National University), Indochina Finance Office (now the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Doumer bridge (currently Long Bien bridge). (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Between 2021 and 2025, the capital city will renovate 60 villas and architectural works that are under the management of the city and centrally-run agencies. Some 20 of them are located in four urban districts of Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung and Dong Da. The old villas in Hanoi are mainly concentrated in the districts of Ba Dinh (about 440 villas), Hoan Kiem (525 villas), Hai Ba Trung (270 villas), Tay Ho (14 villas) and Dong Da (14 villas). Local authorities plan to update and reissue the list of villas and architectural works built before 1954 for more effective management and use. (Photo: VietnamPlus)