Hanoi Hidden Houses And Stories Behind The Doors

Accompanied by a Canadian storyteller who has called Hanoi home for more than 20 years, you will walk on the quiet streets of the Mandarin Quarter and take a closer look at the unique and elegant architecture, homes of the Vietnamese elite that were designed in the 1930s and 1940s by Vietnamese architects who graduated from the École Supérieure de Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine. The journey takes you back in time through Hanoi’s captivating recent history. It’s a Hanoi that even the locals know very little about.

Hanoi Hidden Houses is a two-hour walking tour that tells intimate stories of a lesser-known Hanoi that is completely different from the infamous Old Quarter. This walk is accompanied by a Canadian storyteller, the author of two books about Hanoi, who relocated to Hanoi in the 1990s but never stopped being curious about the city.

The walk starts at the office of the Hanoi Press Association which houses a bunker, that survived the Vietnam War. From here, you’ll walk on the quiet streets of the Mandarin Quarter and take a closer look at the unique and elegant architecture, homes of the Vietnamese elite that was designed in the 1930s and 1940s by Vietnamese architects who graduated from the École Supérieure de Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine. They were successful in designing the most modern dwellings in this VIP section of Hanoi. From the gorgeous villa of one the most powerful mandarins to the homes of intellectuals, artists, and diplomats throughout the last century, this journey takes you back in time through Hanoi’s captivating recent history. It’s a Hanoi that even the locals know very little about. 

The walk is based on the experience of our storyteller who researched and met these houses’ residents over endless cups of green tea to listen to their tales. It is not just for architecture lovers but is also meant to pique the interest of those who want to gain a deeper understanding of Hanoi’s past and present. Sweet memories and challenging times will be revealed along the walk and you will recognize that these homes, just like the city in which they reside, have style, beauty, and soul.

The establishment of École Supérieure de Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine (EBAI), under French colonial rule in 1925, made a turning point for Vietnamese art after thousands of years were dominated by Chinese influence and was responsible for training many of Vietnam’s leading artists. To Ngoc Van, Nguyen Gia Tri, and Bui Xuan Phai are named as a few.

What makes it different than other walking tours?

• A Hanoi through the curious eyes of an expat
• A quarter that completely different than the famous  Old Quarter and French Quarter
• Beautiful architecture showcases talented Vietnamese architects 
• Stories and memories, shared by house residents