VietNamNet Bridge - The daily life in old apartments in Hanoi through the lens of photographers become both familiar and strange.

Hanoi has many old apartment blocks, which were built in the period from 1954 to 1965, such as Kim Lien, Nguyen Cong Tru, Tho Lao, Quynh Loi and Van Chuong, or in the period from 1965 to 1986 like Truong Dinh , Trung Tu and Giang Vo.

Kim Lien was the first apartment blocks in Hanoi that was arranged in the form of sub-regions, with the system of kindergartens, schools, stadiums, department stores for each group of apartments. Nguyen Cong Tru was also built in this type. Meanwhile, Van Chuong apartment blocks were designed with schools and kindergartens.

In the period 1965-1986, Hanoi began to develop prefabricated apartments. The first two-storey prefabricated apartments were built in 1971-1972 in Truong Dinh, Yen Lang. After that five-storey prefabricated apartments were built in Trung Tu, Khuong Thuong, Giang Vo, Vinh Ho... It can be said that the apartment architecture reflects the economic conditions in each period.

Through ups and downs, a number of old apartment blocks have been demolished to build modern high-rise buildings. However, some old apartments are still the home to thousands of people in Hanoi. Most of them are severely degraded.

Let’s have a look at the daily life at Hanoi’s old apartments: 

Apartment building B1 in Van Chuong.  

An old man brushes his teeth in the morning on the balcony.

Having a wash in the morning on the first floor. 

The living room is the most spacious room but sometimes it is used as the bedroom too.

Old apartments are small but many apartments are the home to families with 2-3 generations.  

A woman lights a fire with their coal cookers, preparing dinner.  

Taps in the toilet.  

Water in the old apartments is always a problem. Many families have to store water.

A man washes vegetables. Due to the old design, the kitchen is stuck between two toilets.

The corridor to an apartment.

Hanging out the washing on the balcony.

A woman measures, preparing to make a new door for her toilet.

Clearing houses, repairing motorcycle.

Although the space is very narrow, many people still make use of the rare space to plant flowers and trees.

Children play on the yard.

Kids play badminton.

Old ladies.   

Small shops are an integral part of old apartments.

Waiting for a haircut.