Log in
Life

Hanoi's 129-year-old architecture opens to public

The interior of the Hang Dau Water Tower (Hanoi) will be renovated and open to the public from November 17 to December 31.

The exhibition Water Installation and Heritage of Hang Dau Water Tower will open on November 17 as part of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023.
It is an art space of light installation made of recycled materials and a unique water sound system that reproduces the natural sound of water. The light installation expands the vision of the beautiful enclosures, while the materials, recycled from urban waste, emphasize the impact of the city on the natural environment.
Open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the project was realized by architect Cao The Anh and artist Nguyen Duc Phuong.
Through the exhibition, the artists hope to highlight the role of water in life and the connection between man and nature and to make people aware of the importance of preserving the natural environment.
This exhibition also aims to allow people to admire the beauty inside an architectural work that has been dormant for decades.
Hang Dau Water Tower is located at the intersection of Hang Than, Hang Luoc, Hang Giay, Hang Dau, Quan Thanh, and Phan Dinh Phung Streets.
Built in 1894, together with the Yen Phu Water Plant, it was a public work of the French to provide clean water for Hanoi's dwellers during the French colonial period.
Hang Dau Water Tower has a cylindrical shape, 19m in diameter, three stories high, a conical roof, and a lightning rod in the middle. The tower has a huge steel water tank with a capacity of 1,250m3, which stands on eight stone walls.
The piping system with iron valves is still intact and covered with dust. So far, the original state of the tower has been preserved, but 17 windows on the first floor have been sealed.

The artists want to highlight the role of water in life and the connection between man and nature. Photos: The Hanoi Times
 A foreign visitor takes a photo of the Hang Dau Water Tower. 
 The project was realized by architect Cao The Anh and artist Nguyen Duc Phuong. 
 The light installation expands the vision of the beautiful enclosures. 
A visitor takes a look at the art installation. 
 It is an art space with a light installation made of recycled materials and a unique water sound system that recreates the sound of water in the natural world. 
 So far, the tower has remained in its original state, but 17 windows on the first floor have been sealed. 
 Artworks are made from recycled materials. 
Hang Dau Water Tower is located at the intersection of Hang Than, Hang Luoc, Hang Giay, Hang Dau, Quan Thanh, and Phan Dinh Phung streets. 
Reactions:
Share:
Trending
Most Viewed
Related news
Exhibition traces Vietnam’s revolutionary milestones through rare artifacts and historic memories

Exhibition traces Vietnam’s revolutionary milestones through rare artifacts and historic memories

The new thematic exhibition in Hanoi brings together rare artifacts from Vietnam’s revolutionary era, offering insight into how documents, elections and currency shaped the country’s path to independence.

Golden mustard flowers by Long Bien Bridge herald Hanoi’s gentle transition to spring

Golden mustard flowers by Long Bien Bridge herald Hanoi’s gentle transition to spring

Before spring fully arrives, a stretch of riverbank beneath Long Bien Bridge quietly signals change, as mustard flowers light up Hanoi’s winter landscape with warmth and color.

Hanoi leads national effort to seek UNESCO recognition for pho, water puppetry

Hanoi leads national effort to seek UNESCO recognition for pho, water puppetry

Hanoi is moving to elevate two defining symbols of Vietnamese culture onto the world stage, leading a nationwide effort to nominate pho and water puppetry for UNESCO intangible heritage status.

Weekend jazz opens 2026 in Hanoi with warmth and quiet optimism

Weekend jazz opens 2026 in Hanoi with warmth and quiet optimism

As 2026 begins, soft jazz drifting through a historic garden offers Hanoi a moment to pause, reflect and step forward with calm confidence.

Culture, tech experiences drive Hanoi’s strong New Year tourism surge in 2026

Culture, tech experiences drive Hanoi’s strong New Year tourism surge in 2026

Hanoi’s tourism sector kicked off 2026 on a strong note with cultural festivals, technology-enhanced attractions drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors, including a growing number of international travelers.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter turns street food into a global tourism draw

Hanoi’s Old Quarter turns street food into a global tourism draw

Data show that travelers are choosing destinations for what’s on the plate, putting Vietnam’s capital at the center of Asia’s culinary travel boom.

Red hues of Tet brighten Hanoi’s Hang Ma Street 

Red hues of Tet brighten Hanoi’s Hang Ma Street 

Hang Ma Street is alive with seasonal color as shoppers gather ahead of the Vietnamese Tet holiday for popular decorations, such as lanterns, red envelopes and traditional couplets.

New Year calm reveals a quieter Hanoi

New Year calm reveals a quieter Hanoi

As 2026 began, Hanoi briefly set aside its familiar rush, revealing a quieter city shaped by light, space and unhurried movement.