The picture of Hanoi’s old apartment blocks

The picture of Hanoi’s old apartment blocks. 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: 

 

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

 

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

 

Apartment building B1 in Van Chuong.  

 

Children play on the yard.

 

Waiting for a haircut. 

Children play on the yard.

 

Hanging out the washing on the balcony. 

 

Kids play badminton. 

 

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

 

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

 

Old ladies.  

 

Small shops are an integral part of old apartments. 

 

Taps in the toilet.  

 

The corridor to an apartment. 

 

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

 

Having a wash in the morning on the first floor. 

 

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

Source: AN NINH THU DO

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Bai Tu Long Bay: A national treasure

Located in the northern province of Quang Ninh, Bai Tu Long National Park comprises 40 islands, either earth or limestone, scattering across three communes, Ha Long, Van Yen and Minh Chau of Van Don district. 

The bay covers a total area of 15,783 hectares, including 6,125 hectares of land, and is home to 1,090 species of fauna and flora. The park is considered a priceless national treasure.

According to Dr. Bui Tat Thang from the Strategic Development Institute of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Bai Tu Long includes all three fundamental ecosystems: forest, wetlands and sea – a diverse area for different species to live and develop.

Ha Long Bay – a lifetime must-go destination

In the park, 102 rare and precious species, including 72 species of fauna and 30 varieties of flora listed in Vietnam’s red book of endangered species can be found.
The park also has 1,000 hectares of wetlands, which includes mangrove forest, sandy and rocky tidal banks and seaweed that provide food and shelter for animals.

The wetlands ecosystem, with its impressive scenery and biodiversity, has attracted many eco-tourism, environmental education and research activities.
The area of coral accounts for only a minor section of the park, but has an important role to play as an aquatic resource. It has high biological productivity and is a gene bank for many types of sea species.
Besides the extremely diverse biological environment, the park also has archeological value, with evidence of ancient Viet people residing here 14,000 years ago.
Operational since April, 2002, Bai Tu Long National Park is a stunning tourism spot with a rich ecosystem, therefore it should receive sustainable protection, conservation and development.

VNA/VOV online  

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