The architecture of early 20th-century Hanoi is a kind of eclectic blend of traditional ethnic Vietnamese motifs and European style. But to fully understand how the Vietnamese lived at the beginning of the last century, it is worth visiting the so-called Ancient House, located in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
It occupies two buildings at once, which are connected by a shared courtyard and balcony. The first floor, by tradition, is intended for work and trade. The bathrooms and kitchen are also located here. The second floor is reserved for private life; here you will see bedrooms, a living room, and a hall for ancestor worship.
The interior of the house is very cozy, and the walls are painted a pleasant yellow color. The wooden furniture is decorated with traditional Vietnamese mother-of-pearl inlays. Overall, the setting suggests that the residents of the house were not poor.
