Hanoi Colonial Architecture: A Hiden Small Paris

It is not the modern infrastructure or increasingly westernized life style that make Hanoi beautiful but its old things such as the image of women carrying rattans of bamboo frame on their shoulders, conical hats looming in the streets, especially the old French architecture buildings here and there all over the city. You can not see a small Paris right in front of you, yet if you find yourselves secrecy discoverers, then the secret parts are waiting for you to come and appreciate them.

Typically Paris alignment law

The French important works in Hanoi were mostly designed by the French architects in the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. Coming to the ever- Governor-General Building, Hanoi Building of City’s mayor, it is easy for tourists to recognize the common Paris alignment law, which may induce a feeling of nostalgic.

Photo : hanoi1000.vn

Together with the alignment architecture, a building's height is limited according to the width of the streets it borders. Under the regulation, it is difficult to get an approval to build a taller building. As a result, the Hanoi buildings carried out by French are at medium high, which is quite familiar to Paris visitors too.

There is a fact that Hanoi high rise buildings are growing too fast and the old architecture is gradually downgrading. Some tourists are hastily heading to Hanoi after visiting Paris before what remains of French Vietnam vanishes under the rising tide of modernization. A small Paris expected by tourists is still there in between Hanoi, yet it need a closer look with more reservation considerations. It should be called now a secret small Paris, which requires secret discovering visitors.

French Baroque and Classism architecture

Though the main characteristic of these buildings in Hanoi are more vividly reflected, the French classic and Baroque style of architecture can also be seen in old French buildings in Hanoi. Bold, curving, and not all symmetrical buildings using marble, gilt and bronze in abundance are easily seen. Visitors can find this characteristic at Hanoi Cathedral and the Opera House, where oval style is common as well.

Photo : tripsavvy.com

This western style however is combined with a typically yellow color, or more precisely, imperial yellow, which was traditionally associated with royalty in Vietnam, China and Korea, creating a strange interaction between the two different cultures.

The small Paris, in your eyes, therefore would be a bit different from your imagination. Visiting these places, you will not only see a miniature of Paris but discover many interesting architecture interactions as well. A small Paris through intangible things indeed.

The year 1873 was a milestone marking the French invasion into Hanoi and shortly after, they began the construction of permanent works on the concession area in Hanoi, showing the power of protection government and the French intention to stay long in Vietnam.

Photo : ashui.com

Along with the infrastructure, French music, French art and French life style stay with Vietnamese when the French left. Though the French influence on Hanoi is gradually losing its color, yet landing Hanoi today you can find numerous French ways of living. Wandering along Hanoi streets in the night time, you may hear a French melody resound faintly from an old building; you may also see an old man leaning on a walking stick with a beret on his head. That is the exact small Paris that may induce tourists comprehend the complicated and miserable link the French war had left.