Hanoi authorities have decided not to sell 206 villas that were built in the colonial era, thus committing to the preservation of Vietnam’s history.

An old villa in Hanoi.

French villas – forgotten cultural heritages

French villas – the charm of Hanoi

Hanoi loses French connection

The fate of the old villas in Hanoi has been a controversial issue in the media and at local People’s Council sessions since city authorities proposed selling over 600 villas earlier this year.

Many voices – ordinary citizens as well as experts – were raised against the city’s plan to manage the villas as ordinary real estate. They argued that these villas were an irreplacable part of the city’s heritage. Architects have asked the city to classify old French-style villas into three kinds: villas that ought to be maintained as is (dozens of villas), those that need to be updated and the villas that require complete reconstruction.

Now the city government has decided to preserve at least 206 of the villas by banning their sale. Concerned agencies have been directed to investigate the remaining villas and add them when appropriate to the list of those not to be sold.

Of the 206 villas identified for preservation, 45 are rented by companies and 105 are state offices. Four of them have a total area of over 500 square meters and four others have already been noted for their special architectural value.

PV