A touch of time in Hanoi ancient houses
An exhibition, entitled “Traditional Customs”, at the Hanoi Museum shows the elegant lifestyle of Hanoians in the old time, from home decoration, to costumes and traditional rituals on holidays. Traditional customs revived Tradition is alive: A typical house of a well-off family in Hanoi in early 20th century. Photo: Jenna Duong The exhibition introduces nearly 200 documents and artifacts to the public, showcasing the lives of fairly affluent urban families, which may help them better understand the Hanoian lives of the time, according to the organizer. In the first half of the 20th century, the French built the seats of the colonial government agencies and urbanized Hanoi. At the same time, well-off families built their manors in the French quarter. With French architectural imprints, these manors are a harmonious east-west combination, creating a unique Hanoi cityscape. The exhibition featuring artifacts donated by domestic and foreign collectors is divided into fo...