Restoring French architectural heritage to promote urban heritage in Hanoi

After completing the restoration, the French villa at 46 Hang Bai - 49 Tran Hung Dao has become a new cultural address of Hanoi . Photo: Hoang Lan.

The project to restore the villa at 46 Hang Bai - 49 Tran Hung Dao is the result of a process of cooperation and careful research from French and Vietnamese experts, with the coordination of the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District, lasting from 2007 to 2023. From January 26, 2024, the villa was officially opened to visitors and gradually became a new creative art space in Hanoi. Here, cultural exchange activities, exhibitions, and attractive architectural paintings regularly take place.

At the workshop “Villa 46 Hang Bai: Restoring French architectural heritage to promote urban heritage in Hanoi” recently held in Hanoi by the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with the French Embassy, ​​the Francophone University Agency, and the French Institute in Vietnam, experts once again identified the results of great values ​​from preserving and promoting the values ​​of Hanoi's architectural heritage.

The villa has become a cultural and creative address, hosting many attractive exhibitions and events. Photo: Hoang Lan.

Dr. Architect Emmanuel Cerise, Chief Representative of the Ile-de-France Region in Hanoi, Director of the Paris Region International Cooperation Support Agency in Vietnam, provided detailed information on the restoration process of the project. Accordingly, experts have strictly implemented the process and methods of preserving and restoring this ancient French villa as well as interpreting the heritage for the public.

Previously, in many cultural events held at this villa, Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People's Committee Nguyen Tuan Long said that the preservation and restoration of the villa is of great significance not only in terms of architecture but also in creating more creative cultural space in the district. The villa has become a cultural address for organizing exhibitions and events and a meeting place for the creative community of the capital.

In more than 1 year of opening to welcome guests, there have been dozens of cultural events and exhibitions taking place here, the most recent being an art exhibition called "Through the Northwest and Hanoi People"; displaying and arranging space with the theme " Discovering Heritage"... Currently, on the first floor of the villa, there is still a space displaying paintings, photos, and artifacts about the history and restoration process of this villa.

Currently, on the first floor of the villa, there are still pictures and artifacts about the restoration process. Photo: Hoang Lan

According to Professor Le Van Lan, the acquisition and promotion of the value of the villa at 46 Hang Bai has created an attractive cultural address for Hanoi to attract tourists. The villa has the typical appearance of a typical French architectural work in Hanoi, and at the same time, it has a prime location, with the advantage of space to organize cultural events for the community.

Speakers, delegates, experts and students attended the talk show “Villa 46 Hang Bai: Restoration of French architectural heritage to promote urban heritage in Hanoi” recently held in Hanoi. Photo: Organizing Committee

In the context of rapid urbanization, the preservation and promotion of urban heritage values ​​are posing many challenges, requiring a harmonious approach between preservation, development and community awareness. Through the example of the villas at 46 Hang Bai - 49 Tran Hung Dao, the story of heritage preservation and restoration is of particular interest.

The re-evaluation of the restoration results and the preservation and promotion of the value of the French villa opens a series of events of the project "Heritage Tourism Journey of Hanoi" sponsored by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities Hanoi to research, train and develop heritage tourism in Hanoi.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/trung-tu-di-san-kien-truc-phap-de-thuc-day-di-san-do-thi-tai-ha-noi-703159.html