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87 Mã Mây Ancient House
The front of the house boasts considerable width
A spacious courtyard divides the various sections of the house
Guidebook for Sightseeing
There are still plenty of ancient houses standing in Hanoi today. However, the uniquely architectured 87 Ma May ancient house, preserved as part of the unforgettable memories of the locals here, stands out. Formerly privately owned, this house has passed through several generations of owners. With the support of the Toulouse City Council (France), the house has been conserved by the Old Quarter Management Board since 1999.
History of Ma May Ancient House
Built in the early 19th century, this is one of the 14 ancient houses in Hanoi that still retains its almost original structure. Consequently, the house has been placed under conservation to preserve the traces of ancient Hanoi.
Recognized as Heritage Site
Imbued with the essence of ancient Hanoi
Over centuries, the ownership of the house has changed hands multiple times. Before 1945, a rice trader resided here, later, it was purchased by a Chinese businessman dealing in traditional medicine to live in and conduct business. After this family migrated south, the State took over the management of this ancient house. Subsequently, five families were allowed to reside here until 1999. The house was preserved through a collaboration between Hanoi City and Toulouse – France in a project. All structures, building materials, architecture, and household items were kept intact. The 87 Ma May house was recognized as a National Heritage on February 16, 2004 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Distinctive Architecture of Old Hanoi Houses
With an area of 157.6 m2, the ancient house is built perpendicular to the street, 28m in length, 5m in width, and 6m in the rear facade. The house follows the ancient belief that land used for building should expand towards the rear, symbolizing prosperity for generations to come.
The First Section of the House
Exploring the structure of the house, one can observe that the primary load-bearing structure is wood, consisting of a system of wooden columns, beams, and rafters. The surrounding walls are brick walls built using traditional techniques from ancient times (bricks handcrafted with lime mortar, without the use of cement). The roof structure is a traditional folk-style wooden rafter system (stacked rafters). The roof slopes on both sides are covered with flat tiles, including 2 layers of tiles: the bottom layer is the underlayment tiles, and the top layer is the cap tiles. All architectural details of the house are symmetrically constructed, with a central doorway and two wide doors on either side for selling goods. The windows facing the street are wooden shutters installed vertically and can be removed, while the entrance doors with sales counters are folding doors with hinges. The second-floor entrance doors are designed in a double-leaf upper-lower style, decorated with carved wood motifs. Above the entrance door and sales counter are ventilated window panels decorated with longitudinal wooden slats along the facade. Thus, when the lower section of the door is closed, the upper section serves as a source of light and ventilation for the entire house.
Water Basin Area
This ancient house serves as a testament to traditional architecture in a former urban center of Vietnam since the late 19th century, dedicated to trade and commerce. Hanoi is known for its tube houses, and this house is no exception. A tube house is a long, narrow structure divided into areas to serve the needs of the family, commerce, and residence. Upon entering, you will notice spacious areas.
Formed from three adjoining and interconnected house sections, the house is separated by courtyards and illuminated by skylights. This structure is divided into multiple layers. The outermost layer is the first room on the ground floor dedicated to trading, with the reception area placed in the middle of the room. This layer has no partitions and opens to the street. Wooden tables and chairs are placed centrally, with a tea set for entertaining guests. Two wooden pillars bear couplets written on a red background. On both sides of the room, ancient artifacts such as paintings and pottery are displayed.
Objects all bear the mark of time
Passing through a courtyard, you will reach the second layer, the rear house or considered as the living room. This room features a round table and four wooden chairs used for dining. This second area also showcases woven frames, mainly pottery from the Bat Trang pottery village, and various other traditional musical instruments.
Majestic Wooden Dining Set
The rearmost section of the house serves as a storage area and kitchen. The bamboo shelves, baskets, or brass trays... exude warmth, tranquility, and tidiness. Every item here evokes memories of the past with a kitchen fueled by firewood and ash. The tidiness of the kitchen space is enough to imagine the homemaking skills and household management of Hanoi women in the past.
Traditional Wood-Fired Kitchen
Kitchen Area
The second floor comprises the bedroom area and a separate guest reception area. In this room, the homeowner places a grand teakwood tea cabinet in the center, with a large self-portrait hanging on the wall, flanked by two ceremonial swords. A delicate painting of four-season flowers adorns the opposite wall, exuding elegance and sophistication.
Second Floor Space
The front canopy above the bedroom on the second floor features a crab shell-shaped structure in the Chinese architectural style. At both ends of the tiled roof ridge are two rectangular blocks built with bricks, known as roof pillars. The walls adjacent to the neighboring houses are built 1m high, adorned with terracotta decorations and reduced in height to prevent fires and leaks. From the roof pillars to the eaves, decorative ridges embellish the structure.
Teakwood Chest
Neglecting ancestral altars signifies forgetting one's roots. Altars symbolize the connection between humans and the spiritual world. Within a home, the altar occupies the most dignified space, usually on the second floor towards the front. It is placed centrally within the room. The walls are adorned with horizontal lacquered boards and couplets.
Ancient Houses Today
After over a century of existence in the capital's land, Ancient Houses have become an unmissable tourist attraction in Hanoi. Simultaneously, they serve as venues to exhibit handicraft products from various villages such as tea, silk weaving, or ceramics. During winter visits, the place is adorned with typical Hanoi flowers like chrysanthemums or peach blossoms. 87 Ma May Ancient House truly preserves a solid milestone for the architectural development history of Hanoi's Old Quarter.
Elegant white nightingale flower vase
A panoramic view of the 'market' space
Specialty tea products
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Author: Tran Thi Nhu Quynh
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