Hanoi revives century-old French-built villa

The authorities of Hoan Kiem District and PRX Vietnam, a cooperation office between the People's Committee of Hanoi and the Île-de-France region, has launched a project to maintain and renovate a villa at the corner of Tran Hung Dao and Hang Bai streets.

It was built by the French in the early 20th century.

Peeling walls on a side of the villa.

The frame of the building remains intact.

The villa spreads across 993 square meters in total, including 400 square meters of floor area.

A wall outside the building has lost its plaster.

Duong Duc Tuan, deputy chairman of Hanoi, said Hoan Kiem District will review all buildings constructed before 1954 and list those in need of maintenance, etc.

A structure inside the villa.

A room on the first floor of the villa is now used to house its caretakers.

The second floor has four rooms and a balcony.

A fireplace on the second floor.

The roof of the building.

Walls dividing rooms are over 10 centimeters thick.

A wall surrounding the building on Tran Hung Dao Street.

An artist’s impression of the building after renovation.

The renovation project started this week and is expected to be completed in March next year for the villa to be used as a center for organizing culture exchange as well as trade promotion activities between Vietnam and France.