Hanoi to renovate and restore century-old French villas

As century-old French villas in Hanoi are deteriorating, the municipal People's Committee is seeking solutions to preserve the buildings, which are the highlights of the capital city’s urban architecture.

Hanoi will review comprehensive measures to supervise and preserve French villas built before 1954, Truong Viet Dung, spokesman for the Hanoi People’s Committee, said at a pressing meeting on April 19.

“Following the review, the municipal government would announce its results, including issues regarding funds for renovation, embellishment, and reconstruction of antique and valuable old mansions,” Dung added.

All century-old 600 villas are under the management of the Hanoi Housing Management and Development company. Most of them are in the inner districts of Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, Dong Da and Tay Ho.

These villas are works with many cultural and architectural values ​​associated with a historical period of the capital city.

A corner of the old French Villa at No.46 Hang Bai Street in Hoan Kiem District. Photo: tienphong.vn

 Many ancient villas are located in prime locations in the capital city's downtown but have been abandoned for years and are in serious disrepair.

One of the most typical villas is the old French one located at No.46 Hang Bai Street in Hoan Kiem District. The local People's Committee has coordinated with France’s Paris International Cooperation Agency to carry out a conservation project for this ancient villa, the first of its kind in the capital city.

Architect Tran Huy Anh from the Hanoi Association of Architects said that since the 70s of the 20th century, the French developers of Hanoi’s ancient villas have sent written notices to the Government to warn that home warranty for these houses had expired, saying that they will not be responsible if the works encounter any problem. However, many buildings are still in use for different purposes with some renovations.

“Many degraded French villas are public assets, but no unit has taken responsibility for their management, and they are at high risk of collapse,” Huy Anh noted.

According to statistics from the Hanoi Department of Construction, the capital city currently has around 1,216 villas, including 367 public ones, 117 private villas, some others of mixed ownership, or jointly owned by several households. Most of the villas were built over 100 years ago.

Hanoi said many of the villas have become dilapidated over the years and there were not enough funds to repair and renovate them. The majority of the villas have been around for a century and certain state-owned villas are being considered for auction in the future, it added.

By 2025, Hanoi aims to renovate 60 villas and other structures managed by the municipal authorities and the Vietnamese Government.

In order to speed up the process of cataloging, embellishing, and efficiently exploiting public villas built before 1954 in the city and avoid waste of land resources, the municipal People's Committee has issued the topic “Solutions to promote the management and use of public villas built before 1954 in Hanoi, period 2021-2025”.

The city will also compile a list of villas that could not be sold and consider relocating households and businesses from 105 state-owned villas, which are functioning as residences and offices. Then, Hanoi will auction the 10-15-year tenancy rights of these buildings.

With this move, the city will raise funds for conservation while preserving the precious architectural heritage that, if lost, will never be restored.