A Social History of Hanoi’s Old Quarters: Community Participation in Preserving Hanoi’s Architectural Heritage

Hanoi’s old quarters are a crucial site when considering the question of urban development alongside cultural heritage preservation. With a history reaching back to the 11th century, its architecture carries stories of village-city craft relations; French colonialism, as well as Chinese and Soviet influences; and most importantly of the desires, hopes and challenges its residents faced throughout the different periods. Today, deteriorating buildings, high population density, lacking infrastructure, and the replacement of houses with modern hotels, restaurants, and tourist offices, pose a threat to maintaining the historical landscape and a challenge to the livelihood of its inhabitants. While several studies have been conducted on the unique history and development of the old quarters, there is limited research on the participation of community members in this process. Using interviews, surveys, and photography, this study hopes to provide insights in residents and shop owners perception and participation in architectural heritage preservation. Findings suggest that while community members see architectural preservation as important, they are not involved in decision making processes and paths for their participation in preservation efforts are unclear. The study also highlights 51 Hàng Bạc Street as a successful example of community engaged preservation, and shows how community members impact the space in informal ways. Through its results, it hopes to provide a foundation for further research and the development of preservation policies/programs targeting community engagement.