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Visiting Heritage Houses: Exciting and Budget-Friendly Travel Idea
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is renowned for its ancient architectural structures and historic houses that bear the cultural imprints of the nation. Over centuries, these ancient houses have endured and become attractive tourist destinations, captivating not only tourists but also locals who cherish the country's culture and history.
The ancient houses of Hanoi - heritage sites quietly standing amidst the old quarter, reminiscing about a glorious history of the capital.
For a very low entrance fee, less than the cost of a bubble tea, we can delve into the history, culture, and sightseeing experience at these unique ancient houses in Hanoi.
The Houses that Resemble 'Living Museums' in Hanoi
87 Ma May Ancient House - A Historical Gem in Hanoi
Located at 87 Ma May Street, Hoan Kiem District, the 87 Ma May Ancient House is one of the most famous ancient houses in Hanoi. With over 100 years of history, this house has witnessed many ups and downs of history while still maintaining its ancient, elegant charm.
The Timeless Beauty of Hanoi's Ancient Houses
87 Ma May Ancient House features a blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, combining the delicate beauty of Vietnamese rural architecture with classical French architectural elements. Intricately carved entrances and windows create a romantic and mysterious atmosphere for this house. Like most other classic tube houses in Hanoi, the house is divided into multiple rooms interconnected by sky wells, filled with greenery and cool breezes, creating a grand yet elegant living space without feeling oppressive.
The Distinctive Sky Well Structure of Hanoi's Ancient Houses
When visiting 87 Ma May Ancient House, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the lives of ancient people through artifacts, utensils, and exhibits displayed in the house. The special feature of this house is how the owner arranges and preserves paintings, objects, and stories revolving around family and daily life. Although the house has undergone many changes of ownership and generations, the antiques are relatively well-preserved.
Second Floor of Hanoi's Ancient House, where many ancient objects are preserved, reflecting the life and culture of old Hanoi
Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center
Hanoi Old Quarter, with over a thousand years of development history, is a canvas of culture, a blend of time, and a harmonious integration of past and present. The Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center, located at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street, has significantly contributed to the preservation and celebration of Hanoi's cultural heritage. With its unique classical architecture, the Center is a rendezvous point blending the beauty of time with contemporary creativity.
Professional and modern exhibition style, combined with classical architecture
Stepping in, you'll be immediately drawn by the spacious area with deep-rooted traditional architecture. Exhibition rooms, exhibition booths, and performance stages are harmoniously arranged, creating a diverse and rich cultural space.
The Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center is constantly vibrant with diverse and appealing cultural activities. Here, you can participate in art exhibitions, interact with artists, attend lectures on history and culture, and even join experiential courses on traditional arts.
This is a place with numerous exhibitions and in-depth cultural exchange activities, of high academic value
Hang Buom Cultural Center
Located at 94 Hang Buom Street, Hoan Kiem District, the Hang Buom Cultural Center is a unique ancient house, renowned for its distinctive classical architecture and romantic beauty of the French colonial period.
Hang Buom Cultural Center is a unique Hanoi ancient house
Built in the early 20th century, the Hang Buom Cultural Center was originally a cultural hub for merchants and the upper class, the most prestigious Chinese intellectuals at the time. And after decades, this house still retains its exquisite beauty and distinctive architectural style of ancient times. The large windows, beautiful balconies, and intricate details on the entrances highlight the charm and elegance of the house.
The architectural style is somewhat colorful and elaborate, influenced by the ancient Chinese community in Hanoi
Hang Buom Cultural Center is currently used as a space for cultural and artistic activities, hosting art exhibitions, theatrical performances, and traditional cultural activities. Exhibitions change regularly every quarter and every month, providing opportunities for visitors to explore the history, art, culture, and unique architectural style of this house.
The center features a vast number of exhibitions, changing on a monthly or quarterly basis.
Dong Lac Communal House on Hang Dao Street
At 38 Hang Dao Street stands Dong Lac Communal House - the communal house worshipping the deities of Thang Long Hanoi in the 17th century, during the Le dynasty. History has posed many challenges to the communal house, leading to its complete destruction at one point. Enduring hardships, in 1941, Dong Lac Communal House was rebuilt with a two-story architecture - one floor for business and one for living. By 1956, this space had been converted into a grocery store.
In 2000, as part of a collaboration between Hanoi (Vietnam) and Toulouse (France), Dong Lac Communal House was restored to its ancient form, with a special emphasis on artistic architecture. The gate's principles remained traditional, with the central door higher than the side ones. Han-Nom characters on the gate and hanging couplets inside the communal space, along with tall characters on the courtyard and on the second floor, were carved and restored by experts at the Han-Nom Institute to their original state.
Dong Lac Communal House is a rare relic that preserves the history and cultural heritage of ancient craft villages in Hanoi.
Upon entering the communal house, visitors will explore ancient architectural structures such as communal gates, churches, shrines, and temples. Additionally, within the communal house compound, there are historical artifacts, stone steles, and carved paintings depicting reverence and gratitude to the nation's heroes.
The communal house is almost preserved in its original tube house architecture, and worship activities are still maintained on major holidays.
Over centuries, the ancient houses in Hanoi have recorded numerous stories, cultural images, and rich history of the nation. Exploring and visiting these ancient houses not only helps us understand the past but also experience the quintessential beauty of Vietnamese art and traditional architecture. That's the allure and special value that the ancient houses in Hanoi bring to tourists and people who cherish the country's culture.
Author: Mai Thi Tra My
*Article participated in Mytour Golocal program
Mytour Golocal is a blog writing program introducing beautiful destinations across Vietnam, under the framework of the Mytour Go & Share program. This is a great opportunity to promote local tourism to everyone. For each qualifying article, you will receive 800,000 VND and the chance to become a Contributor with Mytour. For more details about the program, see:https://trv.lk/golocal
